Wildlife Conservation

The concept of wildlife management is by no means anything new.  In 13ths century China, it was the Kublai Khan who controlled the harvesting and populations of wildlife.  But to understand the consequences of not properly maintaining wildlife, one can look at early American history.  During the early settling years of North America, the lack of hunting laws, growing needs for fresh meat, and a loss of natural habitat, was the primary reasons for a very rapid decline of the wildlife populations.  In the early 1800’s large numbers of wildlife was taken to be sold in the markets of rapidly growing towns and cities.

By the early 1900’s, the ongoing destruction of habitat and commercial exploitation, had placed the future of many species of animals in America into question.  In 1900, there were less then half a million white-tailed deer in the entire nation.  The wild turkey population was under 100,000.  A nation wide census to measure the size of the Elk population was taken in 1907.  Only 41,000 could be found.

But it was the American hunters who began to speak up for the environment.  As they began to understand the effects of the lack of proper wildlife management, they pushed for regulations and environmental improvements.  One avid hunter, and staunch conservationist, President Theodore Roosevelt supported the passage of laws to create National Parks, and Wildlife Refuges.  He introduced legislation that elevated the management and control of wildlife as a public resource.  That means that although land and bodies of water could be privately owned, the wildlife could not.  This re-classification empowered professional biologists and law enforcement so they may protect and preserve wildlife as a valuable natural resource.

Known as the father of modern game management, Aldo Leopold’s philosophy was that wildlife could be managed as a renewable resource into infinity, by understanding and managing the habitat upon which all wildlife depends upon.  Today, we define modern wildlife management as “the application of scientific knowledge and technical skills to protect, conserve, limit, enhance, or extend the value of wildlife and it’s habitat.”  It is the goal of wildlife management to achieve a balance between the habitat, and its local residents.

The various species and size of acceptable populations depend on the habitats physical and climatic features that include elevation, rainfall, and topography.  Such factors are what determine the types and amounts of food, water, and shelter that a habitat can provide.  The amounts and organization of these resources that are used by wildlife are what determine a habitats “Carrying Capacity”.  Much in the same way that a bucket has a maximum amount of water that it can hold, areas carrying capacity is the maximum amount of wildlife a habit can support at any given time.

When wildlife population grows beyond the habitats carrying capacity, the results can be catastrophic.  Animals suffer from out of control disease, starvation, or other causes of death.  The habitat can also suffer damage that can effect future generations of animals, such as overgrazing, and erosion.  Population control is the first benefit that ethical hunting provides.  While other options have been debated, professional biologists agree that well managed and ethical hunting is the most effective way to remove excess wildlife, and promote healthy animal populations.

Another contribution that hunters make to wildlife management is financial.  Hunting and fishing licenses have raised over $6.5 billion since 1923.  These funds pay for state fish and wildlife agencies who are responsible for monitoring wildlife populations, determine the necessary level of hunting that should take place, and enforce law that protect wildlife.  Excise taxes on arms and ammunition have raised $3 billion since 1937.  

This pays for wildlife restoration projects, such and improving habitats to increase their carrying capacity. In addition, these taxes fund hunter education programs, to encourage safe and ethical hunting.

Many hunters also join various wildlife conservation groups, which are working hard to improve or increase habitat, monitoring wildlife populations, and participate in scientific studies aimed at improving the overall health and wellness of these populations.  A few examples of such organizations include:

·         Delta Waterfowl

·         Ducks Unlimited

·         Pheasants Forever

·         Quail Unlimited

So what has wildlife management done for animal populations over the last 100 years?  Remember the rather grim population numbers from the early 1900’s mentioned earlier?  Back then, there were only 500,000 white tailed deer; Today there are more then 36 million.  Turkey populations are now some 5.6 million birds. Elk have rebounded from the 41,000 nationally, to now exceeding 1.2 million over 10 western states.  These examples highlight the reasons as to why wildlife management, including safe responsible hunting, is vital to the preservation of wildlife.

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