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?