Wildlife Laws

A historic perspective

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1639 - The earliest game law was enacted when the colony that would become Rhode Island closed the hunting season for white-tailed deer from May to November– Other colonies followed suit and created game

laws to protect animals such as wild turkeys and grouse

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1871 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (originally the United States Commission on Fish and Fisheries) was created by Congress to study and recommend solutions to declines in “food fish” population

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1900 Lacey Act – prohibited the transportation of illegally killed game across state lines, helped reduce trafficking of feathers/animal parts, and reduced the introduction of exotic (non-native) species– introduced by Iowa Rep. John F. Lacey– signed into law by President William McKinley on

May 25, 1900

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1935 - Cooperative Wildlife Research Units were established in 1935 to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to facilitate research between natural resource agencies and universities on topics of mutual concern – Today, there are 40 Cooperative Research Units in 38

states. Each unit is a partnership among the U.S. Geological Survey, a State natural resource agency, a host university, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• Current Staff– Federal Staff: 3– Masters Students: 4– PhD Students: 4– University Staff: 3

• 5 Year Summary– Students graduated: 21– Scientific Publications: 104– Presentations: 229

Cooperative units in Idaho (University of Idaho)

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1937 - The Wildlife Society was founded, a non-profit organization dedicated to “Excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education”

• 1937 - Journal of Wildlife Management began publishing

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1937 – the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act) was passed, placing a 10% tax on sales of guns and ammunition– Funds generated by the Act were

distributed to the states for use in wildlife management activities and research

– This law is still in effect today

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1940’s – 1950’s (Post World War II) – post-war increases in recreational hunting expanded the growth of wildlife management across the U.S.

• 1950 – Dingell –Johnson Act placed a 10% tax on the purchase of fishing gear

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1960’s-1970’s – an environmental movement raised awareness of issues facing our environment and resulted in the creation of many laws that influence wildlife management today

• 1980’s-present –wildlife management increasingly includes conservation biology, meaning that more focus is placed on ecosystem maintenance and biodiversity than producing “crops” of animals

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1980’s-1990’s – Northern Spotted Owl controversy in the Pacific Northwest results in significant restrictions on logging activities

Wildlife Biology – A Historical Background

• 1992-present – ongoing Federal court battle over the impact of hydroelectric dams on endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest

Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies and Laws

• A variety of laws influence the management of wildlife and habitat. – Listed next are some of the major federal laws

that control the activities of people and industry and protecting species and habitat

– These laws both directly and indirectly impact wildlife management

– Notice the large quantity of laws created in the 1960’s and 1970’s – a result of the environmental movement of those decades

Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies and Laws

• 1899, Refuse Act• Prohibited "dumping of refuse" into navigable waters,

except by permit.

• 1900 Lacey Act• 1918, Migratory Bird Treaty Act

• The statute makes it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill or sell birds listed therein ("migratory birds")

• 1937, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act ($$)• 1948, Federal Water Pollution Control Act• 1950, Dingell-Johnson Act ($$)

Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies and Laws

– 1963, Clean Air Act– 1964, Wilderness Act– 1965, Solid Waste Disposal Act– 1965, Water Quality Act– 1967, Air Quality Act– 1969, National Environmental Policy Act– 1970, Clean Air Act– 1972, Clean Water Act– 1973, Endangered Species Act– 1976, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies and Laws

• 1980, CERCLA (Superfund)• Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act , provides broad federal authority to clean up releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment

• 1990, Oil Pollution Act• Companies must have a "plan to prevent spills that may

occur" and have a "detailed containment and cleanup plan" for oil spills

• 2003, Healthy Forests Initiative