Wildlife Management Important & Methods

AG-WL-5

Application of scientific knowledge and technical skills to protect, conserve, limit, enhance, or create wildlife habitat

Includes the implementation of laws regulating the use, kinds, and amounts of wildlife people can harvest. Laws that protect existing habitat are

considered wildlife management tools. Wildlife management should focus on all

plant and animal species.

What is wildlife management?

To match wildlife numbers with available food, cover, and water sources so that healthy populations exists Healthy populations: have the capability of increasing or

maintaining stable numbers. Declining population: receive no gains, but lose numbers

yearly. To manage wildlife, one must determine the

population status. Number of animals is determined by the difference in birth

rate and death rate. Reproductive potential: ability of a population to increase.

Why is the management of wildlife populations important?

To mitigate significant economic loss To control the spread of transmittable

diseases To minimize or prevent severe habitat

alteration To prevent human injury or death To protect or sustain endangered,

threatened or native species

What are some reasons for controlling wildlife populations?

Conservation Perspective Focus is on populations, species and

ecosystems Believes that other species have a “right” to

exist Recognizes dependency of wildlife on their

habitats Recognizes that human intervention is

sometimes necessary to sustain species of habitats

What are ethical concepts/perspectives influencing wildlife population control?

Animal Rights Perspective Focused on individual sentient animals Species and ecosystems are not morally

considerable, but have “inherent value” Believes that wild animals and ecosystems will

survive if we simply “let them be”

What are ethical concepts/perspectives influencing wildlife population control?

Animal Welfare Perspective Focus on individual sentient animals Aimed at preventing cruelty Believes pain, suffering, and loss of life should

be minimized

What are ethical concepts/perspectives influencing wildlife population control?

Lethal Methods Shooting, poisoning, lethal trapping, reintroduction of

natural predators Non-lethal Methods

Live trapping followed by translocation Chemical or surgical sterilization Physical barriers (fences) Vegetation management Behavioral deterrents (Scare Devices – dogs,

repellents) All methods have benefits and limitations

What are methods of manipulating wildlife populations for management

purposes?

1. What is wildlife management?2. Why is the management of wildlife

populations important?3. What are some reasons for controlling

wildlife populations?4. What are the ethical concepts/perspectives

influencing wildlife population control?5. What are methods of manipulating wildlife

populations for management purposes?

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