For 400 years, European settlers plundered the North American landscape of forests and wildlife so that by the late nineteenth century only remnants remained. Then, in the twentieth century, an incredible turnaround took place. Today, more people live in closer proximity to wild animals, birds, and trees in America than anywhere on the planet at any other time in history. This should be wonderful news. Unless, perhaps, you are one of four thousand drivers who will hit a deer today. 

In his “Nature Wars” talk, Jim Sterba tells the story of how how children stopped turning over rocks in streams and got their ideas about nature and wildlife from anthropomorphized images served up in films and TV shows. These images sharpened their instincts to save their favorite critters – such as deer, geese, and birds -- from human harm. Award-winning journalist and reporter Sterba pulls back the curtain on how well-meaning efforts to protect animals allowed wild populations to grow out of control, touching off disputes that have divided neighborhoods, polarized communities, and wreaked havoc on local politics.

On October 24 at 7pm, Mr. Sterba will also participate in a Deer Management Forum, to begin a dialogue about coordinated deer management within Tompkins County.