A forgotten fossil from beneath Toronto reveals a new species of deer — and a missing chapter in North American history. In this episode, Aaron Shafer explains how his lab used ancient DNA to uncover the Toronto ceris deer, an ancestor of modern whitetail and blacktail deer.

They explore what Toronto looked like 12,000 years ago, how mass extinctions unfolded after the Ice Age, and what genetics can tell us about why species disappear. From raccoon-free forests to genetic meltdowns, this story isn’t just about a deer — it’s about what we might be losing next.

And yes, they talk about cloning it.

GUEST:
Aaron Shafer

Originally aired on 2025-11-17