what is wildlife science? ecology conservation biology wildlife management threatened &...

What is Wildlife Science?What is Wildlife Science?

ECOLOGYECOLOGYCONSERVATION CONSERVATION BIOLOGYBIOLOGY

WILDLIFE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENT

Threatened & Endangered speciesThreatened & Endangered speciesReserve DesignReserve DesignRestorationRestorationHabitatHabitat

Population GrowthPopulation GrowthCommunity OrganizationCommunity OrganizationEcosystem OrganizationEcosystem OrganizationProcesses & InteractionsProcesses & Interactions

Increase or Decrease PopulationsIncrease or Decrease PopulationsSustainable HarvestSustainable HarvestMonitor Population StatusMonitor Population Status

Applied Applied EcologyEcology

Information Needs for Wildlife Information Needs for Wildlife ConservationConservation

Habitat requirementsHabitat requirements Assessment of past and current Assessment of past and current

populationspopulations Growth or decline?Growth or decline?

Major limiting factorsMajor limiting factors Ability to survive, reproduce and disperseAbility to survive, reproduce and disperse

How to manage the population(s)?How to manage the population(s)? Habitat protectionHabitat protection Captive breedingCaptive breeding Legal protectionLegal protection

Examples of Success in Wildlife Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationConservation

American BisonAmerican Bison From the surviving 150From the surviving 150

individuals, there are individuals, there are

now over 30,000 bison now over 30,000 bison

in many different herdsin many different herds

Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present

Examples of Success in Examples of Success in Wildlife ConservationWildlife Conservation

White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule deer (W. of Cascades to deer (W. of Cascades to Dakotas)Dakotas)

Suffered from loss of habitat Suffered from loss of habitat and and overharvestingoverharvesting


Habitat restoration Habitat restoration and better and better protection resulted protection resulted in many recovered in many recovered populations and populations and even even over-over-population population in in placesplaces



Elk (wapiti)Elk (wapiti) Suffered from Suffered from

over-harvesting over-harvesting and loss of habitatand loss of habitat

Habitat Habitat restoration & restoration & better protection better protection have led to many have led to many recovered recovered populationspopulations



Gray wolfGray wolf Persecuted for centuries, Persecuted for centuries,

ongoing in some placesongoing in some places Change of attitudes has Change of attitudes has

made restoration efforts made restoration efforts possible (e.g. Yellowstone possible (e.g. Yellowstone NP)NP)

Still controversial Still controversial species, especially with species, especially with respect to ranchingrespect to ranching

Today:Today:Human Relationships with Human Relationships with

WildlifeWildlife

Permanent settlements, transportation Permanent settlements, transportation dramatically change where wildlife can dramatically change where wildlife can survivesurvive

Humans move around a lot of species to Humans move around a lot of species to areas they were never found before areas they were never found before

Technological advances – allow us to Technological advances – allow us to harvest more wildlifeharvest more wildlife

Pollution from human activities directly Pollution from human activities directly and indirectly (climate change) influences and indirectly (climate change) influences wildlifewildlife

Today:Today:Human Relationships with Human Relationships with

WildlifeWildlife

In other words . . .In other words . . . Habitat degradation, loss and Habitat degradation, loss and

fragmentationfragmentation Biological invasionsBiological invasions OverexploitationOverexploitation Climate changeClimate change

Why does it matter?Why does it matter?

Between a quarter and a third of the Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since world's wildlife has been lost since 1970 1970 (Zoological Society of London) (Zoological Society of London)

Wildlife has value for humansWildlife has value for humans Economic Economic RecreationalRecreational Intrinsic Intrinsic

Human Attitudes Toward Human Attitudes Toward WildlifeWildlife

• ScientificScientific: curiosity, study, knowledge: curiosity, study, knowledge• EcologicalEcological: ecosystem, species : ecosystem, species

interdependenceinterdependence• NaturalisticNaturalistic: wildlife exposure, contact : wildlife exposure, contact

with naturewith nature• HumanisticHumanistic: pets, love for animals: pets, love for animals• MoralisticMoralistic: ethical concern for animal : ethical concern for animal

welfarewelfare• AestheticAesthetic: artistic and display: artistic and display• UtilitarianUtilitarian: practicality, usefulness: practicality, usefulness• DominionisticDominionistic: mastery, superiority: mastery, superiority• NegativisticNegativistic: avoidance, dislike, : avoidance, dislike,

indifference, fearindifference, fear

Different Views of WildlifeDifferent Views of Wildlife

Wildlife means Wildlife means different things to different things to different people:different people:

•Traditional view: Traditional view: Species that are Species that are hunted or hunted or trappedtrapped

•In last 25 years: In last 25 years:

AllAll species species

Historical perspectives: Historical perspectives: HuntingHunting

Subsistence hunting - 1.8 million Subsistence hunting - 1.8 million yearsyears ProteinProtein Bone for implementsBone for implements Sinew for cordageSinew for cordage Fur and feathers for warmth Fur and feathers for warmth

and ornamentand ornament Rawhide and leather for clothing Rawhide and leather for clothing

and shelterand shelter

Historical perspectives: Historical perspectives: HuntingHunting

Early Early colonistscolonists Access to Access to

land in New land in New World World

Tradition Tradition establishedestablished

““Birth right”Birth right” Percentage Percentage

of hunters of hunters declined declined since 1960ssince 1960s

Hunting vs. No Hunting Hunting vs. No Hunting ControversyControversy

HuntersHunters Hunt legal game species by trapping or Hunt legal game species by trapping or

shootingshooting Non-huntersNon-hunters

Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose or interrupt those that door interrupt those that do

Anti-huntersAnti-hunters Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and

try to disrupt huntingtry to disrupt hunting

Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation PhilosophiesConservation Philosophies

Animal RightsAnimal Rights Humans should cause no pain, Humans should cause no pain,

suffering or death to sentient animalssuffering or death to sentient animals Animals should be treated with same Animals should be treated with same

ethical standards as humansethical standards as humans Rights of individual animals of Rights of individual animals of

primary importance; integrity of primary importance; integrity of ecology and populations, other ecology and populations, other concerns secondaryconcerns secondary

Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation PhilosophiesConservation Philosophies

Aldo Leopold’s Land EthicAldo Leopold’s Land Ethic ““A thing is right if it tends to A thing is right if it tends to

preserve the integrity, stability and preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do is wrong when it tends to do otherwise.” (1949 otherwise.” (1949 A Sand County A Sand County AlmanacAlmanac))

Hunting is permissibleHunting is permissible

Hunting termsHunting terms HarvestHarvest

Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”)Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”) Bag limitBag limit

Max. number of legally taken game animals Max. number of legally taken game animals (daily, possession, season limits)(daily, possession, season limits)

SurplusSurplus Proportion of population in excess of the Proportion of population in excess of the

number of breeders required to maintain the number of breeders required to maintain the population at a desired levelpopulation at a desired level

PoachingPoaching Illegal take or possession of animalsIllegal take or possession of animals

Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, threatened and endangered species, age/sex of threatened and endangered species, age/sex of animalanimal

Go Hunt:Go Hunt: http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/index.hthttp://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/gohunt/index.ht

mlml

Hunting areas of Washington

The premise behind game The premise behind game harvestharvest

Without harvestWithout harvest Growth and recruitment of population are Growth and recruitment of population are

balanced by natural mortalitybalanced by natural mortality Average growth rate of a population at its Average growth rate of a population at its

carrying capacity (k) = 0carrying capacity (k) = 0 HarvestHarvest

Reduces number of animals in a populationReduces number of animals in a population Increases growth rate (decreased Increases growth rate (decreased

competition)competition) Results in “harvestable surplus”Results in “harvestable surplus”

Annual surplus: without harvest

DeathsBirths =

Compensatory mortality: with harvest

Births = +

Game species of WAGame species of WA Big gameBig game

Deer, Elk, Black BearDeer, Elk, Black Bear

Game species of WAGame species of WA

PredatorsPredators Cougar, CoyoteCougar, Coyote


Small GameSmall Game Cottontail, Snowshoe HareCottontail, Snowshoe Hare

FurbearersFurbearers Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat, Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat,

LynxLynx


Upland game birdsUpland game birds Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-

necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain QuailQuail

WaterfowlWaterfowl Ducks, Coots, Snipe, GeeseDucks, Coots, Snipe, Geese

Examples of hunted Examples of hunted speciesspecies

White-tailed deerWhite-tailed deer Population Population

extremely high extremely high through much through much of its of its rangerange

Recent declines Recent declines due to Chronic due to Chronic Wasting Wasting Disease (CWD)Disease (CWD)


Mule deerMule deer Primary deer Primary deer

species in Rocky species in Rocky Mountain statesMountain states

Populations Populations fluctuate but fluctuate but most are healthymost are healthy


Black-tailed deerBlack-tailed deer Coastal form of mule deerCoastal form of mule deer HybridizeHybridize with mule deer in North with mule deer in North

CascadesCascades Populations mostly stable but may Populations mostly stable but may

suffer from overlap with elk in part suffer from overlap with elk in part of rangeof range

Factors important to Factors important to successful game successful game

managementmanagement Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly

increasingincreasing Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and

conservationconservation Educate public (Peterson 2004)Educate public (Peterson 2004)

What do we actually do to What do we actually do to have successful game have successful game

management?management? Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly



Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly increasingincreasing

Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and


What do we actually do What do we actually do to have successful game to have successful game

management?management?

Chronic Wasting DiseaseChronic Wasting Disease

Signs:

Slobbering

Tremors

Low appetite

Reduced coordination

Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly increasingincreasing

Animals in population are healthyAnimals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulatedHarvest and access regulated Habitat management and Habitat management and


What do we actually do What do we actually do to have successful game to have successful game

management?management?

What do we actually do to What do we actually do to have successful game have successful game

management?management? Populations stable or slightly Populations stable or slightly




American WoodcockAmerican Woodcock Forest-dwelling shorebirdForest-dwelling shorebird Population stable in most of rangePopulation stable in most of range

“The woodcock is a living refutation of the theory that the utility of a game bird is to serve as a target, or to pose gracefully on a slice of toast. No one would rather hunt woodcock in October than I, but since learning of the sky dance I find myself calling one or two birds enough. I must be sure that, come April, there be no dearth of dancers in the sunset sky.”(Leopold, p. 34)

“The woodcock is a living refutation of the theory that the utility of a game bird is to serve as a target, or to pose gracefully on a slice of toast. No one would rather hunt woodcock in October than I, but since learning of the sky dance I find myself calling one or two birds enough. I must be sure that, come April, there be no dearth of dancers in the sunset sky.”(Leopold, p. 34)


How many waterfowl are there?How many waterfowl are there? Declines in the 1980sDeclines in the 1980s Recovery 1990s – fall flight 105 millionRecovery 1990s – fall flight 105 millionNorth American goose population: 6-8 millionNorth American goose population: 6-8 millionHunting harvestsHunting harvests 10-20 million ducks/year10-20 million ducks/year 1-2 million geese/year1-2 million geese/year

Waterfowl annual cycleWaterfowl annual cycle

How harvest levels are How harvest levels are obtainedobtained

Benefits of huntingBenefits of hunting

Deepens appreciation and Deepens appreciation and understanding of land and its understanding of land and its wildlifewildlife

Hunting organizations contribute Hunting organizations contribute millions of dollars and volunteer millions of dollars and volunteer time to conservation causestime to conservation causes

Hunting important tool for wildlife Hunting important tool for wildlife management to prevent negative management to prevent negative aspects of overpopulated speciesaspects of overpopulated species

Hunting recapHunting recap

Hunting is traditionalHunting is traditional Can take the place of natural Can take the place of natural

predation in some placespredation in some places Hunting is regulatedHunting is regulated

In recent history of N. America, no In recent history of N. America, no game species has become threatened or game species has become threatened or endangered because of overharvestingendangered because of overharvesting

More Information on More Information on HuntingHunting

•U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:

http://www.fws.gov/huntinghttp://www.fws.gov/hunting

•Washington Department of Washington Department of

Fish and Wildlife:Fish and Wildlife:

http://wdfw.wa.govhttp://wdfw.wa.gov

what is wildlife science? ecology conservation biology wildlife management threatened &...

Documents

wildlife slide

wildlife science

present habitat restoration

places habitat restoration

present slide

ranching slide

current populations

over population