Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & WildlifeMassachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlifewww.masswildlife.orgwww.masswildlife.org

Pam Landry, MassWildlifeEducation Coordinator

pam.landry@state.ma.us

Photos by Bill Byrne, MassWildlife Photographer, unless otherwise

noted

Wildlife in MassachusettsWildlife in Massachusetts

This presentation is not intended to This presentation is not intended to address all possible strategies for address all possible strategies for preparation. The primary approach to preparation. The primary approach to preparation for taking and passing preparation for taking and passing the test is…adequate study!the test is…adequate study!

What is Wildlife?What is Wildlife?

Undomesticated species of plants Undomesticated species of plants and animals; includes but is not and animals; includes but is not limited to, insects, spiders, birds, limited to, insects, spiders, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and reptiles, fish, amphibians, and mammals; mammals;

ie. those species that do not rely on ie. those species that do not rely on humans for food, water, or shelterhumans for food, water, or shelter

Essential Wildlife TopicsEssential Wildlife Topics

Knowledge of WildlifeKnowledge of Wildlife

Understanding Wildlife EcologyUnderstanding Wildlife Ecology

Conservation & ManagementConservation & Management

Issues Involving Wildlife & SocietyIssues Involving Wildlife & Society

Natural History & DistributionNatural History & Distribution(characteristics, food habits, habitat, breeding, (characteristics, food habits, habitat, breeding,

behavior)behavior)

Identify Wildlife by Bio-factsIdentify Wildlife by Bio-facts

Role within the EcosystemRole within the Ecosystem

Habitat AssessmentHabitat Assessment

Knowledge of WildlifeKnowledge of Wildlife(natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within ecosystem, habitat assessment)ecosystem, habitat assessment)

Understanding Wildlife EcologyUnderstanding Wildlife Ecology

Conservation & ManagementConservation & Management

Issues Involving Wildlife & SocietyIssues Involving Wildlife & Society

UnderstandingUnderstanding Wildlife Wildlife EcologyEcology

Basic wildlife needsBasic wildlife needs AdaptationsAdaptations Predator-PreyPredator-Prey Food Webs/Food ChainsFood Webs/Food Chains Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity PopulationsPopulations

(science of the interrelations between living organisms & their environment)

Basic Wildlife NeedsBasic Wildlife Needs(food, water, shelter,

space)

AdaptationsAdaptations(anatomical)(anatomical)

AdaptationsAdaptations (physiological)(physiological)

Adaptations (behavioral)Adaptations (behavioral)

Predator - PreyPredator - Prey

Food Chains/Food WebsFood Chains/Food Webs

Limiting FactorsInfluences in the life history of any animal, population of animals, or species

Influences = food, water, shelter, space, disease, predation, climatic conditions, pollution, hunting, poaching, accidents

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

cultural

biological

Populations not IndividualsPopulations not Individuals

Knowledge of WildlifeKnowledge of Wildlife(natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within ecosystem, habitat assessment)ecosystem, habitat assessment)

Understanding Wildlife EcologyUnderstanding Wildlife Ecology(basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food (basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food webs, limiting factors, carrying capacity, webs, limiting factors, carrying capacity, populations)populations)

Conservation & ManagementConservation & Management

Issues Involving Wildlife & SocietyIssues Involving Wildlife & Society

Conservation & ManagementConservation & Management

ConservationConservation The use of natural The use of natural

resources in a way resources in a way that ensures their that ensures their continued continued availability to availability to future generationsfuture generations

ManagementManagement The application of The application of

scientific knowledgescientific knowledge & & technical skillstechnical skills to to protect, preserve, protect, preserve, conserve, limit, conserve, limit, enhance or extend enhance or extend the value of wildlife the value of wildlife & its habitat& its habitat

Conservation & Management of Conservation & Management of WildlifeWildlife

MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife

Environmental Law Enforcement

Natural Heritage & Endangered Species

Hunting, Fishing, TrappingHunting, Fishing, TrappingHighly regulated activities with seasons & bag limits

Game & Non-Game SpeciesGame & Non-Game Species

Methods used to Determine Methods used to Determine Abundance & DistributionAbundance & Distribution

Knowledge of WildlifeKnowledge of Wildlife (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within

ecosystem, habitat assessment)ecosystem, habitat assessment)

Understanding Wildlife EcologyUnderstanding Wildlife Ecology(basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food webs, (basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food webs, limiting factors, carrying capacity, populations)limiting factors, carrying capacity, populations)

Conservation & Management Conservation & Management (conservation, management, agencies, hunting, fishing, (conservation, management, agencies, hunting, fishing, trapping, game & non-game, wildlife management)trapping, game & non-game, wildlife management)

Issues Involving Wildlife & Issues Involving Wildlife & SocietySociety

Listed SpeciesListed Species Endangered:

Native Species which are in danger of extinction throughout all or part of their range, or which are in danger of extirpation from MA, as documented by biological research & inventory

Threatened:Native species which are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future, or which are declining or rare as determined by biological research & inventory

Special Concern:Native species which have been documented by biological research or inventory to have suffered a decline that could threaten the species if allowed to continue unchecked, or which occur in small numbers or with restricted distribution or specialized habitat requirements that they could easily become threatened

Missing from native range but not extinctMissing from native range but not extinct

Extirpated:

Special Concern, Threatened, Special Concern, Threatened, EndangeredEndangered

Habitat loss, unregulated or illegal killing or collecting, pesticides, pollution, competition with other species, disease,

predation

Habitat Loss & FragmentationHabitat Loss & Fragmentation

Non-native Species, Invasive Non-native Species, Invasive Species, Introduced SpeciesSpecies, Introduced Species

Donald Duerr, USDA Forest Service

Wildlife DiseasesWildlife Diseases RabiesRabies Lyme DiseaseLyme Disease West Nile VirusWest Nile Virus Chronic Wasting DiseaseChronic Wasting Disease Avian InfluenzaAvian Influenza Raccoon RoundwormRaccoon Roundworm White-nose syndromeWhite-nose syndrome

www.masswildlife.orgwww.masswildlife.org

Living with WildlifeLiving with WildlifeManaging people, wildlife & habitatManaging people, wildlife & habitat

Knowledge of WildlifeKnowledge of Wildlife (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within (natural history & distribution, bio-facts, role within

ecosystem, habitat assessment)ecosystem, habitat assessment)

Understanding Wildlife EcologyUnderstanding Wildlife Ecology(basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food webs, (basic needs, adaptations, predator-prey, food webs, limiting factors, carrying capacity, populations)limiting factors, carrying capacity, populations)

Conservation & Management Conservation & Management (conservation, management, agencies, hunting, (conservation, management, agencies, hunting, fishing, trapping, game & non-game, wildlife fishing, trapping, game & non-game, wildlife management)management)

Issues Involving Wildlife & SocietyIssues Involving Wildlife & Society(listed species, habitat loss/fragmentation, non-native, (listed species, habitat loss/fragmentation, non-native, invasives, diseases, living with wildlife, current issue)invasives, diseases, living with wildlife, current issue)