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Wildlife ScienceWildlife Science
Chapter 5 Chapter 5
Our Wildlife ResourcesOur Wildlife Resources
A Historyof Wildlife Management
in the United States
A Historyof Wildlife Management
in the United States
To think straight on recreational quality, a historical perspective is essential
To think straight on recreational quality, a historical perspective is essential
- Aldo Leopold, 1942
Neither luck nor accidentNeither luck nor accidentNeither luck nor accidentNeither luck nor accident
Hard, purposeful workHard, purposeful workHard, purposeful workHard, purposeful work
The Abundance We Enjoy…The Abundance We Enjoy…
All of us have some level of wildlife experiences All of us have some level of wildlife experiences and appreciation for wild thingsand appreciation for wild things
But there was a timeBut there was a time- when the 19th century was drawing to a close -- when the 19th century was drawing to a close -
when we almost lost it all…when we almost lost it all…
America’s wildlife law has as its foundation America’s wildlife law has as its foundation English common lawEnglish common law
English common law was based on principles English common law was based on principles found in early Roman lawfound in early Roman law
English common law was based on principles English common law was based on principles found in early Roman lawfound in early Roman law
Wild animals, by their very nature,Wild animals, by their very nature,do do not not have an ownerhave an owner
““Modern” English governmentModern” English governmentwas a succession of kingswas a succession of kings
I think I’ll keep the I think I’ll keep the good stuff for myself!good stuff for myself!
1215 - The Magna Carta1215 - The Magna Carta
Uh, ohUh, oh
For Centuries, the class struggle continued…For Centuries, the class struggle continued…
The wolfThe wolf
Poaching was rampant…Poaching was rampant…
Six species of British Isles wildlifeSix species of British Isles wildlifeslipped into extinction…slipped into extinction…
The beaverThe beaver
The aurochThe auroch
The wild boarThe wild boar
The reindeerThe reindeer
The brown bearThe brown bear
As Europeans settled the shoresAs Europeans settled the shoresof North America, hunting and fishingof North America, hunting and fishing
became routine chores, with little discussion over became routine chores, with little discussion over whether such activities were rights or necessitieswhether such activities were rights or necessities
However, the clear impression was that wildlife However, the clear impression was that wildlife ownership still did not rest with the peopleownership still did not rest with the people
14921492
A man digging oysters along the Raritan RiverA man digging oysters along the Raritan River(New Jersey) brought the issue to a head(New Jersey) brought the issue to a head
1842 U.S. Supreme Court…1842 U.S. Supreme Court…
became immediately and became immediately and rightfully vested in the rightfully vested in the statestate
Thus was established the concept ofThus was established the concept of
There are some things so valuable to all of usThere are some things so valuable to all of usthat they cannot be owned by any individualthat they cannot be owned by any individual
In the United States, these things are:In the United States, these things are:
AirAir
WaterWater
FishFish
WildlifeWildlife
Public TrustPublic Trust
The concept was liberally appliedThe concept was liberally appliedand market “hunters” took advantageand market “hunters” took advantage
The concept was liberally appliedThe concept was liberally appliedand market “hunters” took advantageand market “hunters” took advantage
Wildlife was consideredWildlife was considereda limitless “crop” to be harvested a limitless “crop” to be harvested
Wildlife was consideredWildlife was considereda limitless “crop” to be harvested a limitless “crop” to be harvested
We turned our wildlife over to commerceWe turned our wildlife over to commerceto make decisions regarding its futureto make decisions regarding its future
We turned our wildlife over to commerceWe turned our wildlife over to commerceto make decisions regarding its futureto make decisions regarding its future
Wildlife was owned by no oneWildlife was owned by no oneand available to everyoneand available to everyone
Wildlife was owned by no oneWildlife was owned by no oneand available to everyoneand available to everyone
Continent-wide,it was wildlife’s darkest hour…
Continent-wide,it was wildlife’s darkest hour…
Subsistence hunting and commercial killingSubsistence hunting and commercial killing(that is, for sale) was a plague upon this new land(that is, for sale) was a plague upon this new land
Probably no other species represents this sad page in Probably no other species represents this sad page in America’s wildlife management history like the bisonAmerica’s wildlife management history like the bison
Prior to the arrival of European man,Prior to the arrival of European man,there were an estimated 100 million bisonthere were an estimated 100 million bisonroaming the high plains of North America,roaming the high plains of North America,
from sub-arctic Canada to Mexicofrom sub-arctic Canada to Mexico
1801 - Colonel John Kelly kills1801 - Colonel John Kelly killsthe last Pennsylvania bison,the last Pennsylvania bison,
three years before Lewis and Clark three years before Lewis and Clark began their historic journey westbegan their historic journey west
1871 – Montana law closed bison hunt1871 – Montana law closed bison hunt
1872 – YNP established1872 – YNP established
200,000 bison die200,000 bison die
1876 – buffalo hide shipments from Fort Benton 1876 – buffalo hide shipments from Fort Benton (Montana Territory) peak at 80,000(Montana Territory) peak at 80,000
1884 – buffalo hide shipments drop to zero1884 – buffalo hide shipments drop to zero
With bison difficult to find, commercial killers With bison difficult to find, commercial killers turned their sights on other game animalsturned their sights on other game animals
In 1881:In 1881:
5,000 elk hides5,000 elk hides
20,000 deer hides20,000 deer hides
53,000 pronghorn hides53,000 pronghorn hides
As the 20As the 20thth Century approached, Century approached,John Phillips tracked a deerJohn Phillips tracked a deer
““I am doneI am done””
““I think I have killedI think I have killedthe last deer in the last deer in Pennsylvania”Pennsylvania”
Some species never emerged from the darkness…Some species never emerged from the darkness…
1904 – Carolina Parakeet1904 – Carolina Parakeet
Audubon’s Sheep – 18??Audubon’s Sheep – 18??
18501850Passenger Pigeons numbered in the billons…Passenger Pigeons numbered in the billons…
64 years later – there were none…64 years later – there were none…
As the 19As the 19thth Century drew to a close Century drew to a close……
Trumpeter SwanTrumpeter Swan
Snowy EgretSnowy Egret
PronghornPronghorn
White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer
Wild TurkeyWild Turkey
BeaverBeaver
Wood DuckWood Duck
Even as these tragedies unfolded acrossEven as these tragedies unfolded acrossthe North American Continent, an extraordinarythe North American Continent, an extraordinary
American was taking up residence in North Dakota…American was taking up residence in North Dakota…
Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
HunterHunter ConservationistConservationist
1888 – Bison hunting in 1888 – Bison hunting in MontanaMontana
““I gazed on these bison, themselves part of the I gazed on these bison, themselves part of the last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished race. Few, indeed, are the men who now have, race. Few, indeed, are the men who now have, or ever more shall have, the chance of seeing or ever more shall have, the chance of seeing the mightiest of American beasts, in all his the mightiest of American beasts, in all his wild vigor, surrounded by the tremendous wild vigor, surrounded by the tremendous desolation of his far-off mountain home”desolation of his far-off mountain home”
Hunting experiences shapedHunting experiences shapedRoosevelt’s conservation ethic…Roosevelt’s conservation ethic…
““above all else, we should realizeabove all else, we should realizethat the effort toward this endthat the effort toward this end
is essentially a democratic is essentially a democratic movement. It is…in our power…movement. It is…in our power…
to preserve large tracts of to preserve large tracts of wilderness… and to preserve wilderness… and to preserve
game…for…all lovers of nature,game…for…all lovers of nature,and to give reasonable opportunities and to give reasonable opportunities
for the exercise of the skillfor the exercise of the skillof the hunter, whether he isof the hunter, whether he isor is not a man of means”or is not a man of means”
Others felt the same wayOthers felt the same way
““Not In America”Not In America”
They had seen the European “model”They had seen the European “model”of wildlife management and found it lackingof wildlife management and found it lacking
They concluded:They concluded:
1901 – Hunting in the Adirondacks1901 – Hunting in the Adirondacks
Gifford PinchotGifford PinchotFather of ConservationFather of Conservation
Together, they coined the term “Conservation”Together, they coined the term “Conservation”
““There can be no greater issueThere can be no greater issuethan that of conservation in this country”than that of conservation in this country”
U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service
1910 – Forest Reserves1910 – Forest Reserves
150 National Forests150 National Forests
172 million acres172 million acres
1905 – Forest Reserves1905 – Forest Reserves
60 Units60 Units
56 million acres56 million acres
Game laws and law enforcementGame laws and law enforcementwere the focus in those early yearswere the focus in those early years
““Dirty Thirties”Dirty Thirties”and the Depressionand the Depression
““Dirty Thirties”Dirty Thirties”and the Depressionand the Depression
Jay “Ding” DarlingJay “Ding” Darling
From this period emerged a newFrom this period emerged a newgeneration of conservation leadersgeneration of conservation leaders
Aldo LeopoldAldo LeopoldFirst Director USFWSFirst Director USFWSFirst President NWFFirst President NWF
Father of Wildlife ManagementFather of Wildlife Management
Wildlife Restoration ActWildlife Restoration Act
19371937
90 days - drafting to signing90 days - drafting to signing
Last PieceLast PieceWildlife Conservation PuzzleWildlife Conservation Puzzle
September 2, 1937September 2, 1937
Broaden Wildlife Broaden Wildlife Conservation Focus:Conservation Focus:
Legislation produced millions of dollarsLegislation produced millions of dollarsfor state wildlife agenciesfor state wildlife agencies
Wildlife ResearchWildlife Research
Hunter EducationHunter Education
Habitat AcquisitionHabitat Acquisition
Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management
And Wildlife Has Responded…And Wildlife Has Responded…
In 1940, the entire deer harvestIn 1940, the entire deer harvestin Oklahoma was 318 deerin Oklahoma was 318 deer
Today, deer management in OklahomaToday, deer management in Oklahomasustains an annual harvest of 50,000 animalssustains an annual harvest of 50,000 animals
In Pennsylvania where the last deerIn Pennsylvania where the last deerwas killed around 1899was killed around 1899
The state now sustains annual harvestThe state now sustains annual harvestof nearly 400,000 animalsof nearly 400,000 animals
1n 1920, fewer than 25,0001n 1920, fewer than 25,000pronghorn in the U.S.pronghorn in the U.S.
750,000+ pronghorn today750,000+ pronghorn today
Some Species Needed More Help…Some Species Needed More Help…
Citizen Organizations stepped inCitizen Organizations stepped in
1997 – 604,000 members1997 – 604,000 members
7.5 million acres of wetlands created7.5 million acres of wetlands created
15,000 miles of waterfowl shoreline15,000 miles of waterfowl shoreline
If you are under 40 years of age,If you are under 40 years of age,you were witness to the largest flightyou were witness to the largest flight
of waterfowl in North Americaof waterfowl in North America(1997) than during any other year(1997) than during any other year
in your lifetimein your lifetime
Wood Duck…Wood Duck…Once on the brink of extinction, it is now the most Once on the brink of extinction, it is now the most
common breeding species in the eastern U.S.common breeding species in the eastern U.S.
When Roosevelt was in the White House…When Roosevelt was in the White House…
41,000 elk left in North America41,000 elk left in North America
<100,000 wild turkeys<100,000 wild turkeys
Today – 4 millionToday – 4 million
Today – 800,000Today – 800,000
<500,000 white-tailed deer<500,000 white-tailed deerToday – 18 millionToday – 18 million
(124,000 in Idaho)(124,000 in Idaho)
The United States is the Global LeaderThe United States is the Global Leaderin the Area of Wildlife Conservationin the Area of Wildlife Conservation
and Managementand Management
Additional work remains to be done…Additional work remains to be done…
Habitat is the KeyHabitat is the Key
Lessons Learned…Lessons Learned…
Wherever the environment is not overrunWherever the environment is not overrunby civilization, hunters, landownersby civilization, hunters, landownersand wildlife managers are sustainingand wildlife managers are sustaining
a precious value: wildness and the wildlifea precious value: wildness and the wildlifeit can sustain, all across North Americait can sustain, all across North America
Sustaining wildlife in the faceSustaining wildlife in the faceof continued human growth and habitat lossof continued human growth and habitat lossSustaining wildlife in the faceSustaining wildlife in the faceof continued human growth and habitat lossof continued human growth and habitat loss
The Challenge Ahead…The Challenge Ahead…
Since the 1820s,Since the 1820s,some 35 species of birds and mammalssome 35 species of birds and mammals
have become extinct in the United Stateshave become extinct in the United Statesas a result of human activities…as a result of human activities…
What will the tally be tomorrow?What will the tally be tomorrow?