Wildlife Introduction

South Gibson Co.

Wildlife / NRM

Wildlife

• Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals, and other organisms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife

Domestication

• Brings species under human control

Humans Use Wildlife for…

• Consumptive – harvesting– Example: hunting, trapping, fishing

• Non-consumptive – interaction whereas wildlife is not harvested– Example: bird watching

Game Species• Generally considered to be hunted or

trapped

Non-game Species

• Animals that are not hunted, trapped or fished in a traditional sense

Value of Wildlife

• Commercial Value: profits from wildlife• Game Value: individuals send considerable

amounts of money on hunting and fishing• Aesthetic Value: the value people place on

wildlife for its beauty and appeal• Scientific Value: value of wildlife for research and

study – one example is the use of deer antlers to measure radiation levels in the environment

• Ecological Value: each species has certain roles in nature, many are interdependent on one another

Economic Importance of Wildlife

• Cost of hunting, fishing…etc:– Licenses– Camouflage / orange

vest– Weapon of choice– Ammunition– Rods– Bait– Boat if necessary

– Tree stand

– Land lease / Land Preparation

– Deer processing fees

– Taxidermy fees

Exercise 1

• License

• Rifle

• Bow

• Muzzleloader

• shotgun

• Ammo for each

• Camo

• ATV

• Cost of gas

• Deerstand / duck blind

• Decoys

• Trained dog

• Mounting fee

• Blaze orange vest / hat

• Calls

• Scents

• Scope

• Binoculars

What does it cost you when you go hunting?

Wildlife Management

• The application of scientific and technical principle to wildlife populations and habitats to maintain such populations (particularly mammals, birds, and fish) essential for recreational and/or scientific purposes

• Examples of species management: bird banding, trapping and transplanting, land management, wildlife population surveys, vegetation surveys, wildlife extension work and implementation and regulations

Wildlife Management

• All agricultural sciences are based on sound, scientific research.

• Today’s wildlife management techniques are based on proven research

Wildlife Management Approaches

• Preservation: allowing nature to take its course, this practice is used often in National Parks

• Management: is the manipulation of populations or habitats to achieve desired goals

• Conservation: is the effort to maintain and use natural resources wisely

4 Significant Areas of Wildlife Conservation

• Research

• Education

• Law enforcement

• Wildlife management

Potential Wildlife Management Goals

• Increase in population size

• To remove individuals from the population on a continuing basis, which requires that enough individuals be left to reproduce and so replace those removed

• To stabilize or reduce the population

• Combinations of these goals can be used to better manage an area

Game Management Objectives Used in the United States to Manage

Wildlife• Components of Game Management:

– Restriction of hunting– Predator control– Reservations of game lands (ex. Parks, National

Forests, Refuges)– Artificial replenishment (ex. Restocking, Game

Farming)– Environmental Controls (ex. Control of food,

special factors and disease)