Answer the following questions in your notes.

•What was your favorite thing about break? •What was your favorite present for

Christmas?•Why are you in this class/ What do you want

to learn in Fish & Wildlife?

Unit 1: IntroductionLS 1: The History of Wildlife Management in America

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Objectives – Do Not Write•Describe the development of wildlife

management in America.•List specific actions that led to modern

wildlife management.•Understand the role that wildlife has

played in the development of America•Describe the era of exploitation of

America’s wildlife.•Understand the role outdoor enthusiasts

have played in the conservation movement in America.

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Define Wildlife Management

•the care of wildlife and its environment in such a manner as to ensure the continuation of the species

•Wildlife▫all non-domesticated animals

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Wildlife Management Development

•Has evolved during the past 75 – 100 years

•Wildlife was abused & exploited in the early America

•This resulted in a loss of habitat and species

•1st attempt of wildlife management▫Closed season on white-tailed deer in 1694

in MA▫Largely ignored

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American Settlers & Wildlife•New land teeming with wildlife•No idea how to use it, many died due to

starvation and malnutrition•They could not hunt, fish or farm•In 2 generations, they were prospering

from wildlife and the environment▫They exploited the abundant wildlife

•It took 200 years to get farming firmly started▫There are many differences between

America and Europe.

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1700s to 1900s in America

•Greatest abuse of wild animals in N. America•Shot to provide for growing populations•Millions of acres of habitat lost due to cities• In 1748, SC traders shipped 160,000 deer

skins•There were no seasons or regulations•By 1776, all states but GA had a closed

season on deer▫This was ignored due to the fact that deer

were considered pests to farmers

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•Rural families made up 90% of the population

•They lived off what they shot or trapped

•They shot anything that would provide meat or clothing or if it competed with them for their livelihood

•Land practices were beneficial to wildlife ▫Added edges and cleared spaces for deer▫Deer numbers increased

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Losses in the 1700s – 1900s•Elk and woods bison

▫In the mid-1800s, market and pioneer hunters exterminated them east of the Mississippi River

•Turkeys and passenger pigeons▫Loss of forests for farming resulted loss of

habitat▫Lowered reproduction areas▫They were also being shot to feed the

population

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Exploitation of Wildlife

•The English did not want to adapt to wilderness

•They wanted towns and cities – cleared forests•They changed the environment to their ideals

•The French adapted to their environment•They became hunters, fisher, and gatherers•They embraced the peace and bounty of the

wilderness

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Lewis & Clark in 1804

•Journey into the American Heartland•50-60 million plains bison roamed•Billions of passenger pigeons•~40 million pronghorn antelope

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Alexander Wilson

•Early observer of American wildlife•Native to Scotland•1810 witnessed a massive flock of

passenger pigeons in Kentucky•Estimated around 2,230,272,000 birds

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End of the Passenger Pigeon

•May have been the largest concentration of birds

•Shot, clubbed, and netted by the millions•Cutting of hardwood forests was the

biggest hit

•Last one died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914

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End of Plains Bison

•Slaughter started with the end of the beaver trade in the mid-1830s

• In 1840, over 65,000 buffalo skins were shipped

•The railroad cut the herd in two and brought hunters with modern guns & ammunition

•The US gov’t encouraged the slaughter of bison to defeat the Native Americans

• In 1878, the vast herds were gone forever

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Tribute to Conservationists

•They are responsible for the present numbers of bison and pronghorn

•There are many other species that benefited from conservationists and sport hunters

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Serious Conservation Begins

•Began in early 1870 with sport hunters•Began by working to change the views of

Americans on the commercialization of wildlife

•Market hunters played a major role in eliminating much of america’s wildlife

•Sport hunters never endangered a single species to extinction

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Sport versus Market Hunters

•All wildlife produces a surplus that allows for some harvest without damaging the population

•Market hunters slaughtre the surplus & start cutting into the breeding stock

•Sport hunters use only sporting methods & regulate their harvests

•Market hunters do not care and kill just to kill

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Sport versus Market Hunters -- 2•Any species is vulnerable when

unsporting tactics are used▫Baiting ▫Driving with dogs▫Staking out the breeding grounds

•Led to the dramatic decline in numbers of several species

•These losses were reported in early versions of the Field and Stream magazine

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Sport versus Market Hunters -- 3•Sport hunters sought to protect nongame

animals as well as game •1870s – fashionable to have feathers or

whole birds on hats•Nesting colonies were invaded due to the

color and number at breeding season•Young starved or were eaten by predators•Led to the elimination of colony after

colony

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Commercialization of Any is Bad•Sport hunters worked through the Boone

& Crockett Club and magazines to get the information to the public

•This was early wildlife management but called wildlife protection

•Sport hunters worked to change opinions•They wanted enforcement of laws and

passage of new ones.

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Progress is Made

•Lacey Act of 1900▫Ended market hunting and the interstate

shipment of wildlife and their products▫Work of John F. Lacey – Hunter & Fisher

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Theodore Roosevelt

•Tremendous impact on conservation•Deep love of big game hunting •Strong responsibility to preserve wildlife•1870s to 1890s

▫Created 50 wildlife refuges, 5 national parks, and 17 national monuments

▫In the manner of saving forests for building▫Father of American conservation

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Aldo Leopold

•An avid outdoorsman & hunting enthusiast•First professional wildlife manager •Book – Game Management – in 1933• Ideas

▫Taking a census of game animals▫Animals have a home range▫Manage a population by controlling predators,

food, water, cover , & other factors▫Father of Modern Wildlife Management

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Yellowstone National Park -- 1872•First national park signed in by President

Grant•Established through the efforts of sport

hunters•Preserve a unique piece of American West

•Took 20 years to get the protection it has today

•Finally in 1890, there was protection from poachers

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National Parks & Wildlife

•Thought to be sanctuaries for wildlife, not always the case

•Restocking began in the 1900s•Breeding stock came from parks & wildlife

refuges•Today’s system of national parks & forest

ensures the preservation of at least some of the wildlife

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Helpful Laws•Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929

▫Agreement between US, Canada, & mexico▫Manage waterfowl populations

•Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934▫Provided millions of dollars for management▫Earned through sale of stamps to hunters

•Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937▫aka – The Pittman-Robertson Act▫Called for a 10% excise tax on firearm & ammo

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