Presentation Transcript

1. Understanding Wildlife Management

   Wild birds and mammals are among our most valuable renewable natural resources *Wildlife * Food * Furs
2. Wildlife serves as monitors of the quality of our environment Impact of individual and community use decisions on wildlife and habitat Stewardship=implies the development of a personal ethical approach to wildlife conservation
3. Food Web= a diagram showing how all living things are interdependent Predators Prey Herbivore-an animal that eats only plants Carnivore-an animal that eats only other animals Omnivore-an animal that eats both plants and animals
4. Generalist- an animal that eats a great variety of food types Specialist- an animal that eats only one or a few kinds of food Habitat All living things including people, have basic needs for survival -Food -Air -Water -Cover -Space
5. Habitat-place where a plant or animal lives which provides these needs Place where a wild animal lives and grows 4 Essential Elements: Food Water Cover Space Mast-seeds and fruits of trees
6. Specialist are more subject to declines in population Do not have the ability to switch over and start eating a different kind of food Availability, abundance and quality of foods change with the seasons and between years
7. Primary Ways Animals react to Seasonal Change: Migration-Birds Hibernation-Woodchucks Change of Diet Color Shape Habit Travel Protection from predators
8. Development has caused a great loss of cover Food Increases=Space Decreases Food Decreases=Space Increases Different kinds of cover may be used for different purposes Water
9. Need water to survive Minimal requirements to major SPACE Is a certain sized area that every animal needs to live Varies from species to species Wolf-60 square miles Rabbit-1 acre
10. Some species are territorial and will mark off boundaries Space needs are affected by food, cover and water Cover can change with the seasons. Many species need a cover/variety of cover types through the year or through their life cycle Camouflage=is an adaptation of an animal which helps it blend in with its habitat and helps it survive
11. Coat & Markings Habitats are dynamic-always changing natural actions that become limiting factors Wild fires Hurricanes -Floods Browse-leaves, twigs and young shoots of trees or shrubs which animals eat.
12. Wildlife Management- the manipulation of habitats, populations and people to meet some human purposes for wildlife Food Cover Water Space Food Is any material taken into an animal’s body that provides energy to carry out necessary life functions
13. Plants and animals in a habitat are interrelated Food Web-is an exchange of material and energy Store Food Inadequate amounts, inconsistent supplies or low quality of food may be a cause for low animal populations in a local area
14. Cover The kind of protection available within an animal’s habitat Breed Hide Nest Sleep Feed Habitat that is good for one animal may not be good for others Different animals can share the same habitat
15. Some animals live in a variety of habitats throughout their life cycle Wildlife Populations-a group of individuals of the same species The health of wildlife populations is linked to the abundance and quality of 4 primary needs: Food Cover Water Space
16. CARRYING CAPACITY The number of animals an area of land can support over some period of time *Not a constant number* Any area of land has a limit to the number of animals of a particular wildlife species that it can support at a given point in time
17. This is determined by limiting factors which include the quantity, quality and distribution of food, cover, water and other habitat needs of the species. Habitat-place where a plant or animal naturally lives Limiting Factors-any element of habitat that is deficient and prevents an animal population from increasing
18. SIZE POPULATION FOOD COVER SPACE WATER Regulated Hunting-is used as a means of keeping populations at or below the carrying capacity in order to prevent over population and damage to their habitat Space availability is the key in: CARRYING CAPACITY
19. ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION: the natural process of changing of site from one form of vegetation to another; a progression of plant communities through several stages of growth Carrying Capacity: highest during summer months-lowest during the winter
20. Populations reach highest point in the summer Surplus-the number of animals in a population in excess of the carrying capacity of the land they live in/on Items that contribute to carrying capacity: Move Die Starve Mortality DiseasePredation Accidents
21. History of Hunting, Human Land Use and Wildlife Management Useful: meant any bird or mammal that could be eaten, used by settlers for clothing, tools or sold for its meat, fur and feathers Commercial/Marketing Hunting: hunting of wildlife for their flesh or other parts which are sold for profit in the marketplace
22. Predators: any birds or mammals that eat meat Why to Hunt: to engage in an activity that is challenging in terms of knowledge of wildlife Pittman-Robertson Act: Placed a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition Money used for restoration of habitat and educational programs
23. 1960’s & 1970’s: laws passed to protect native endangered species Wildlife Management emerged in the 1930’s-due to Dr. Aldo Leopold-Father of Wildlife Management Ecosystem-a community of plants and animals together with their physical environment that interact as a unit
24. Loss of habitat poses a serious threat to wildlife today Uncontrolled hunting and trapping combined with the elimination of habitat led to sharp declines in wildlife-Hunters, Trappers and Fisherman were the first to notice Wildlife Stewards: people who assume responsibility for the land and wildlife
25. Need to provide more protection to wildlife habitat (waterfowl-was given 1st consideration) 1937-Pittman-Robertson Act Hunter Ethics: a self or culturally imposed set of rules or norms of hunter behavior
26. Fur Bearers: are a renewable resource in that a portion of their population can be harvested yearly without harming the overall health of the population Hunting: is a method used in management to control and maintain the populations of species at sustainable levels Recreational Hunting: regulated hunting for recreational and cultural tradition reasons rather than out of necessity
27. Reasons for Hunting: To share a mutually valued outdoor experience with friends and family To experience the beauty of hunting which includes contact with nature Conservation: wise use of our natural resources Roosevelt: leader in the conservation movement which accelerated in the protection and restoration or wildlife
28. KEY POINTS IN HISTORY 1920-Market hunters are put out of business by federal laws -making it illegal to transport wildlife across state lines 1929-National Wildlife Refuge System 1930-Began paying new license fees Used to manage wildlife Set hunting/trapping season Set bag limits
29. Wildlife management is accomplished through the monitoring, manipulation and regulation of wildlife populations, habitats and people Principal goal of wildlife management is maintaining a diversity (variety) of wildlife habitats and species with healthy, reproducing populations Threatened Species: species that are no immediate danger of extinction, however have declined enough to merit close attention
30. Endangered Species: A species that is in immediate danger of extinction Over Exploitation: overuse of a population resulting in its decline to below a desirable level Habitat Loss Contamination Game Species: wildlife species that are hunted Harvest: to catch, shoot or trap wildlife
31. Surplus: the number of animals in a population exceeding the carrying capacity of the land they live in/on Control human use in particular areas Major aspect of wildlife management is improving people’s knowledge: Influences attitudes and behaviors Work to maintain, improve and create habitat
32. Education is an important way to accomplish management goals that seek to maximize the benefits of wildlife to people Promotion of the long term conservation of animal species Monitoring: identify the status of wildlife populations (#’s, reproduction, health)
33. Census: a complete count of an animal population in an area Survey: a count of a portion of an animal population in an area: -animal’s health -quality of its food Game Populations-populations of wildlife species that are existing in an area
34. Set Hunting Seasons Bag Limits Determines harvestable surplus for each season Bag Limits: Quotas of game animals that can be legally taken daily or seasonally Used to regulate animal populations annual and daily harvest
35. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Federal Agency Regulation of interstate and international traffic in wildlife and wildlife products Enforcing regulations pertaining to migratory birds Population Dynamics-the seasonal and annual changes in wildlife
36. Limiting Factors: any element of habitat that is deficient and prevents an animal population from increasing All management programs are built on a foundation of BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH Biological Research: careful, well-studied and investigated in the field of biology, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles
37. Manipulation: the purposeful improvement or change in habitat elements to influence wildlife Affect animal populations Habitat Structure Wildlife Diversity Tradeoffs: the idea that to manage habitat for one use limits its capacity for other uses
38. Informed Decisions: making a choice or judgement based on solid information rather than opinions or emotions Area Sensitive Species: a species that requires a relatively large tract of high quality habitat to maintain viable populations of that species Modern Hunting: governed by principles of wildlife management
39. Market Hunting: Hunting of wildlife for their flesh or other parts which are sold for profit in the marketplace Regulation: Control of human use of wildlife, usually through enforcement U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: administers the Endangered Species Act & Wildlife Refuge System
40. Sport hunting and trapping: provide funding for the nation’s wildlife management programs -Hunting License -Ammo -Other hunting related items and outdoor equipment 11% manufacturer’s tax on spring arms, ammo and equipment
41. Used for research, habitat acquisition and management programs Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp: Preservation of vital habitats Management The manipulation of habitats, wildlife populations and people to meet specific goals for wildlife 5 Management Elements:
42. Goals: Describe the purpose of management Describe the results Objectives: Clear, measureable definition of the plan Describe specific end results necessary to meet the goals Identify a time frame for events to be completed
43. Problem Identification: Helps to detect those problems that will prevent managers from meeting their objectives Actions: Implemented to solve the problems that are identified
44. Evaluation: Actions taken and their results is conducted as a part of the management process Featured Species: Special interest wildlife species
45. Stewardship Stewardship: practicing responsibility for the welfare of wildlife -Individuals -Community Groups -Government Agencies Ecology: Study of an organism in relation to its environment Characteristics Habits Requirements
46. Management of living things can be used that affect animal species either directly or indirectly Direct Management: Hunting of species Indirect Management: Manipulation of plants and habitat Management of Non-Living Things
47. Used to benefit wildlife species Building a pond Damming a stream These activities could enhance the wildlife populations Education to influence human behavior Education indirectly influences wildlife Important in gaining support for wildlife conservation
48. Educated public can greatly benefit wildlife Informed Decisions: monitoring manipulation regulation create food sources planting fruit bearing shrubs promoting certain types of plant growth
49. Government agencies manage state & national parks, wildlife refuge, wilderness areas and public forests Personal & Community action are important stewardship of wildlife because without support wildlife conservation would not exist
50. Being an informed supporter is important-up to date on local, state and national issues regarding wildlife The abundance of wildlife species in an area is directly related to the quantity & quality of their habitat requirements About 90% of the potential woodland wildlife habitat in Northeastern U.S. is privately owned -depends on private landowners
51. Support federal, state and local efforts to develop land-use plans Urge public officials to consider wildlife programs Insist on government subsidizes to fund these programs Reject plans to restore wildlife on unscientific emotions