THE ADMINISTRATION OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Methods that Agencies Use to Protect Wildlife

Objectives

Identify the major federal agencies directly involved in wildlife management.

Describe the methods these agencies use to protect wildlife resources.

Understand the need for these agencies. Discuss these agencies and their roles in

protecting wildlife resources.

Endangered Species

FWS in charge Animals that meet the criteria are placed

on the official List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants that is maintained by the Dept. of the Interior

FWS biologists work with universities, other federal and state agencies and private organizations to develop a plan to save the species.

Endangered Species Recovery Plans Habitat preservation Habitat management Captive breeding Research Law enforcement Reintroduction of a species

National Wildlife Refuges

Supervised by the FWS Established by President Teddy Roosevelt

First was when he designated Pelican Island, Florida as a bird sanctuary

Now 90 million acres located in more than 450 parcels from Maine to the Caribbean and from the Arctic Ocean to the South Pacific

Alaska contains the bulk of the acreage but they can be found in all 50 states

Migratory Birds

USFWS has international responsibility for migratory bird conservation—more than 800 species!!

The US has treaties for the protection of migratory birds with Canada Mexico Japan Russia

These agreements are vital to the welfare of migratory birds, especially waterfowl

Migratory Birds

Satellite imagery, air and ground surveys and bird banding help the FWS assess habitat conditions and estimate population trends

Migratory Birds

Hunters also play a vital role in the information gathering process. Questionnaires are sent to selected hunters

that ask for information on the number of waterfowl taken

Hunters are also asked to submit the wings of ducks and tail feathers of geese This helps the service identify the age, species

and sex of the birds taken

Migratory Birds—Bird Banding

Since 1920 4,000 certified banders band more than 1

million birds each year FWS has a bird banding laboratory in

Laurel, Maryland that maintains records on more than 45 million birds

50,000 bands are recovered each year The data gathered from the bands proves

to be an invaluable source of information for researchers regarding migratory routes, distribution, breeding age and other life history

Migratory Birds

FWS also conducts an annual Breeding Bird Survey to obtain information about songbirds and many nongame species.

Fisheries

FWS also manages the nations fisheries. They work to restore fisheries that have

been depleted. Fisheries become depleted in many ways

but the most common ones are Pollution Overfishing Other habitat damage

Fisheries

The FWS is currently focusing on four important species The major salmonid species of the Pacific

Northwest (coho, chinook, steelhead) Striped bass of the Chesapeake Bay Region

and Gulf Coast Atlantic salmon of New England Lake trout of the upper Great Lakes

Fisheries

The FWS maintains research labs to help in these efforts There they study fish genetics, health, nutrition, and

other aspects of fish ecology These labs provide vital information needed to

restore wild fish populations The information is also important to over 70 fish

hatcheries that the FWS utilizes These hatcheries produce more than 160 million fish of

50 different species that are stocked in our nations waters!!

The goal of FWS biologist is to once again make these fish populations self sustaining.

Habitat Protection

FWS works with other agencies, industry, the states and members of public to provide vital biological advice concerning the affect development activities have on wildlife.

Projects that require federal funding are studied by the FWS to asses their potential affect on wildlife.

FWS biologists make recommendations on ways to minimize, avoid, or compensate for projects with harmful affects to fish and wildlife.

FWS also works with the USDA and farmers to restore damaged or drained wetlands and to conserve the remaining acres of wetlands.

Research

Most important job of FWS. Research is vital to conserving fish and

wildlife. FWS maintains large research labs and

field operations and works with universities across the country.

FWS also provides funding to many state universities (like SDSU) to train graduate students in fish and wildlife biology.

Law Enforcement

Enforce federal wildlife laws. FWS is also responsible for enforcing

wildlife laws that arise from international agreements.

200+ special agents and inspectors are employed by the Service to help enforce permit requirements and wildlife laws.

Inspectors are stationed at major points of entry.

Law Enforcement

Inspectors are responsible for: Investigating large scale poaching and

commercial trade in protected wildlife Handling individual violations of migratory

bird hunting Inspecting shipments of live animals and

wildlife products.

Administering Federal Aid

Federal aid comes from 2 laws The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act Federal Aid in Sports Fisheries Restoration

Act

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act Commonly known as the Pittman-

Robertson Act Provides money to support a variety of

wildlife projects Monies come from federal excise taxes

on sporting arms, ammunition and archery equipment.

Funding began in 1939

Federal Aid in Sport Fisheries Act

Commonly called the Dingell-Johnson Act Comes from an excise tax on sport

fishing tackle First allotted to the states in 1952 1984 it was supplemented by the

Wallop-Breaux amendments

Federal Aid in Sport Fisheries Act

Wallop-Breaux amendment extended the excise tax to include sporting equipment that had not been previously taxed.

It also designated a portion of the existing federal tax on motorboat fuels and import duties on pleasure boats and fishing tackle to fish restoration.

Federal Aid in Sport Fisheries Act

Monies are used for Fisheries research, Access to fishing and boating areas, Managing and maintaining fish habitat, Restoring depleted fisheries Carrying out aquatic education

Funds are distributed using a formula that considers the number of fishing and hunting license holders within a state or territory and the state’s or territories' area.

Funding

Sportsmen and sportswomen have provided in excess of $2 billion dollars for fish and wildlife conservation programs since the laws were enacted.

Summary

America has an effective and efficient wildlife and fisheries management system.

We have an abundance of wildlife and fish resources—resources that will be available to our children and grandchildren if we continue to properly care for them through the support these agencies.

Agencies that work against our greatest challenge in conserving fish and wildlife—habitat loss!

Assignment

Complete Learning Activity #1- Using additional references make a chronological list of dates and events that were important to the development of wildlife conservation and management in America.

Group 1- 1900-1950—earliest were 1871 and may be included

Group 2- 1950-Present Group 1-Tyler, Alyssa, Tessa, Erika Group 2- Kyle, Ellie, Hannah, Tyler C.

Reference Website

http://www.animallaw.info/articles/arusfedwildhistory.htm#_Early_1900s:_First

http://training.fws.gov/History/TimelinesOrigins.html