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Wild birds and mammals are among our most valuable
renewable natural resources
•*Wildlife•* Food•* Furs
Understanding Wildlife Management
Wildlife serves as monitors of the quality of our environment
Impact of individual and community use decisions on wildlife and habitat
Stewardship=implies the development of a
personal ethical approach to wildlife conservation
Food Web= a diagram showing how all living things are
interdependentPredatorsPrey
Herbivore-an animal that eats only plants
Carnivore-an animal that eats only other animals
Omnivore-an animal that eats both plants and animals
Generalist- an animal that eats a great variety of food types
Specialist- an animal that eats only one or a few kinds of food
HabitatAll living things including people, have basic needs for survival
-Food -Air -Water -Cover -Space
Habitat-place where a plant or animal lives which provides these needs
Place where a wild animal lives and grows
4 Essential Elements:Food WaterCover Space
Mast-seeds and fruits of trees
Specialist are more subject to declines in population
Do not have the ability to switch over and start eating a different kind of food
Availability, abundance and quality of foods change with the seasons and between years
Primary Ways Animals react to Seasonal Change:
Migration-BirdsHibernation-WoodchucksChange of DietColor Shape Habit Travel
Protection from predators
Development has caused a great loss of cover
Food Increases=Space DecreasesFood Decreases=Space Increases
Different kinds of cover may be used for different purposes
Water
Need water to surviveMinimal requirements to major
SPACE
Is a certain sized area that every animal needs to live
Varies from species to speciesWolf-60 square milesRabbit-1 acre
Some species are territorial and will mark off boundaries
Space needs are affected by food, cover and water
Cover can change with the seasons. Many species need a cover/variety of cover types through the year or through their life cycle
Camouflage=is an adaptation of an animal which helps it blend in with its habitat and helps it survive
Coat & Markings
Habitats are dynamic-always changing natural actions that become limiting factors
Wild fires Hurricanes -Floods
Browse-leaves, twigs and young shoots of trees or shrubs which animals eat.
Wildlife Management- the manipulation of habitats, populations and people to meet some human purposes for wildlife
FoodCover Water SpaceFood
Is any material taken into an animal’s body that provides energy to carry out necessary life functions
Plants and animals in a habitat are interrelated
Food Web-is an exchange of material and energy
Store FoodInadequate amounts, inconsistent supplies or low quality of food may be a cause for low animal populations in a local area
CoverThe kind of protection available within an animal’s habitat
Breed Hide NestSleep Feed
Habitat that is good for one animal may not be good for others
Different animals can share the same habitat
Some animals live in a variety of habitats throughout their life cycle
Wildlife Populations-a group of individuals of the same species
The health of wildlife populations is linked to the abundance and quality of 4 primary needs:
FoodCover Water Space
CARRYING CAPACITYThe number of animals an area of land can support over some period of time
*Not a constant number*
Any area of land has a limit to the number of animals of a particular wildlife species that it can support at a given point in time
This is determined by limiting factors which include the quantity, quality and distribution of food, cover, water and other habitat needs of the species.
Habitat-place where a plant or animal naturally lives
Limiting Factors-any element of habitat that is deficient and prevents an animal population from increasing
SIZEPOPULATION FOODCOVER SPACE WATER
Regulated Hunting-is used as a means of keeping populations at or below the carrying capacity in order to prevent over population and damage to their habitat
Space availability is the key in: CARRYING CAPACITY
ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION: the natural process of changing of site from one form of vegetation to another; a progression of plant communities through several stages of growth
Carrying Capacity: highest during summer months-lowest during the winter
Populations reach highest point in the summer
Surplus-the number of animals in a population in excess of the carrying capacity of the land they live in/on
Items that contribute to carrying capacity:
Move Die Starve MortalityDiseasePredation
Accidents
History of Hunting, Human Land Use and Wildlife Management
Useful: meant any bird or mammal that could be eaten, used by settlers for clothing, tools or sold for its meat, fur and feathers
Commercial/Marketing Hunting: hunting of wildlife for their flesh or other parts which are sold for profit in the marketplace
Predators: any birds or mammals that eat meat
Why to Hunt: to engage in an activity that is challenging in terms of knowledge of wildlife
Pittman-Robertson Act: Placed a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
Money used for restoration of habitat and educational programs
1960’s & 1970’s: laws passed to protect native endangered species
Wildlife Management emerged in the 1930’s-due to Dr. Aldo Leopold-Father of Wildlife Management
Ecosystem-a community of plants and animals together with their physical environment that interact as a unit
Loss of habitat poses a serious threat to wildlife today
Uncontrolled hunting and trapping combined with the elimination of habitat led to sharp declines in wildlife-Hunters, Trappers and Fisherman were the first to notice
Wildlife Stewards: people who assume responsibility for the land and wildlife
Need to provide more protection to wildlife habitat (waterfowl-was given 1st consideration)
1937-Pittman-Robertson Act
Hunter Ethics: a self or culturally imposed set of rules or norms of hunter behavior
Fur Bearers: are a renewable resource in that a portion of their population can be harvested yearly without harming the overall health of the population
Hunting: is a method used in management to control and maintain the populations of species at sustainable levels
Recreational Hunting: regulated hunting for recreational and cultural tradition reasons rather than out of necessity
Reasons for Hunting: To share a mutually valued outdoor experience with friends and family
To experience the beauty of hunting which includes contact with nature
Conservation: wise use of our natural resources
Roosevelt: leader in the conservation movement which accelerated in the protection and restoration or wildlife
KEY POINTS IN HISTORY1920-Market hunters are put out of business by federal laws
-making it illegal to transport wildlife across state lines
1929-National Wildlife Refuge System
1930-Began paying new license feesUsed to manage wildlifeSet hunting/trapping seasonSet bag limits
Wildlife management is accomplished through the monitoring, manipulation and regulation of wildlife populations, habitats and people
Principal goal of wildlife management is maintaining a diversity (variety) of wildlife habitats and species with healthy, reproducing populations
Threatened Species: species that are no immediate danger of extinction, however have declined enough to merit close attention
Endangered Species: A species that is in immediate danger of extinction
Over Exploitation: overuse of a population resulting in its decline to below a desirable level
Habitat Loss Contamination Game Species: wildlife species that are hunted
Harvest: to catch, shoot or trap wildlife
Surplus: the number of animals in a population exceeding the carrying capacity of the land they live in/on
Control human use in particular areas
Major aspect of wildlife management is improving people’s knowledge:
Influences attitudes and behaviorsWork to maintain, improve and create habitat
Education is an important way to accomplish management goals that seek to maximize the benefits of wildlife to people
Promotion of the long term conservation of animal species
Monitoring: identify the status of wildlife populations
(#’s, reproduction, health)
Census: a complete count of an animal population in an area
Survey: a count of a portion of an animal population in an area:
-animal’s health-quality of its food
Game Populations-populations of wildlife species that are existing in an area
Set Hunting SeasonsBag LimitsDetermines harvestable surplus for each season
Bag Limits: Quotas of game animals that can be legally taken daily or seasonally
Used to regulate animal populations
annual and daily harvest
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Federal Agency
Regulation of interstate and international traffic in wildlife and wildlife products
Enforcing regulations pertaining to migratory birds
Population Dynamics-the seasonal and annual changes in wildlife
Limiting Factors: any element of habitat that is deficient and prevents an animal population from increasing
All management programs are built on a foundation of BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Biological Research: careful, well-studied and investigated in the field of biology, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles
Manipulation: the purposeful improvement or change in habitat elements to influence wildlife
Affect animal populationsHabitat StructureWildlife Diversity
Tradeoffs: the idea that to manage habitat for one use limits its capacity for other uses
Informed Decisions: making a choice or judgement based on solid information rather than opinions or emotions
Area Sensitive Species: a species that requires a relatively large tract of high quality habitat to maintain viable populations of that species
Modern Hunting: governed by principles of wildlife management
Market Hunting: Hunting of wildlife for their flesh or other parts which are sold for profit in the marketplace
Regulation: Control of human use of wildlife, usually through enforcement
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: administers the Endangered Species Act & Wildlife Refuge System
Sport hunting and trapping: provide funding for the nation’s wildlife management programs
-Hunting License-Ammo-Other hunting related items
and outdoor equipment11% manufacturer’s tax
on spring arms, ammo and equipment
Used for research, habitat acquisition and management programs
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp:Preservation of vital habitats
ManagementThe manipulation of habitats, wildlife populations and people to meet specific goals for wildlife
5 Management Elements:
Goals:Describe the purpose of managementDescribe the results
Objectives:Clear, measureable definition of the planDescribe specific end results necessary to meet the goalsIdentify a time frame for events to be completed
Problem Identification:Helps to detect those problems that will prevent managers from meeting their objectives
Actions:Implemented to solve the problems that are identified
Evaluation:Actions taken and their results is conducted as a part of the management process
Featured Species:Special interest wildlife species
StewardshipStewardship: practicing responsibility for the welfare of wildlife-Individuals-Community Groups-Government Agencies
Ecology: Study of an organism in relation to its environmentCharacteristicsHabitsRequirements
Management of living things can be used that affect animal species either directly or indirectly
Direct Management: Hunting of species
Indirect Management: Manipulation of plants and habitat
Management of Non-Living Things
Used to benefit wildlife speciesBuilding a pondDamming a stream
These activities could enhance the wildlife populations
Education to influence human behavior
Education indirectly influences wildlife
Important in gaining support for wildlife conservation
Educated public can greatly benefit wildlife
Informed Decisions:monitoringmanipulationregulationcreate food sourcesplanting fruit bearing shrubspromoting certain types of plant growth
Government agencies manage state & national parks, wildlife refuge, wilderness areas and public forests
Personal & Community action are important stewardship of wildlife because without support wildlife conservation would not exist
Being an informed supporter is important-up to date on local, state and national issues regarding wildlife
The abundance of wildlife species in an area is directly related to the quantity & quality of their habitat requirements
About 90% of the potential woodland wildlife habitat in Northeastern U.S. is privately owned
-depends on private landowners
Support federal, state and local efforts to develop land-use plans
Urge public officials to consider wildlife programs
Insist on government subsidizes to fund these programs
Reject plans to restore wildlife on unscientific emotions