History of Fish & wildlife management

Where did it all start? Organized fish and wildlife conservation was first practiced in England during the Middle Ages. Though maybe not as organized, it was also being practiced across the ocean by the Native Americans at the same time.

Native Americans Contrary to popular belief, Native Americans managed the land and water for fish and wildlife. The Americas was not the pristine wilderness as portrayed in most history books.

Native Americans cont. Native Americans built traps and fence to capture wild game and fish. Native Americans learned that if the plains were burned every year they would grow larger thus enabling the bison herds to expand.

Columbus Discovers the Americas 1492: Columbus first lands on the island of San Salvador and then visits several other islands. After his first voyage Columbus brought cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and horses to the Americas. These animals changed the landscape of America forever.

European Exploration Early Spanish explorers reported huge native populations but when most of the explorers arrived the population had declined due to new diseases. 1539-1542 de Soto explored what is now the Southeast United States. They brought swine with them for food thus creating the feral swine population.

European Exploration cont. The Spanish and English (but especially the Spanish) placed livestock on barrier islands so that the island would act as a natural pen. At one time there were feral swine, horses, cattle, sheep, and goats in America; the livestock put a strain on the land.

British Move In 1607: British found the settlement of Jamestown starting the colony of Virginia. They bring livestock and different farming methods. Tobacco becomes a major cash crop thus creating farms that grow nothing but tobacco.

British Move In cont. The Spanish came, visited, left a few missions, and then went about their way. The British and Dutch came and stayed, using all of the resources around them. Native Americans were not accustomed to this kind of land management.

Colonial & Early America The further the settlers moved in the more land they cleared. Timber brought good prices in European markets. Instead of hunting and harvesting from the wild just what they needed some settlers hunted and harvested to sale on markets. George Washington was one of the first voices for conservation.

Late 19th Early 20th Century People started noticing a decrease in wild game and timber. Efforts began to restore wildlife populations. Teddy Roosevelt done more for conservation politically than any other president up until that time.

Conservation Legislation The Lacy Act, 1900 Protects game, prohibits interstate shipping of illegally taken wildlife, and the importation of species. The first legislation of its kind. Federal Bird Reservation, 1903 Pelican Island, Florida First bird reservation. Established by Theodore Roosevelt.

Conservation Legislation Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 1918 Between the U.S. and Great Britain (Canada) for the protection of migratory birds. Pittman-Robertson Act, 1937 Provided funding for wildlife habitat, research, and information distribution. Dingell-Johnson Act, 1950 Created to help restore and improve fisheries.

Conservation Legislation The Endangered Species Act, 1973 Created to help protect endangered plants and wildlife.

Conservation Organizations U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, 1871 Originally called the U.S. Commission on Fish & Fisheries. Boone & Crockett Club, 1887 Oldest organization. Sierra Club, 1892 National Wildlife Federation, 1936

Conservation Organizations cont. Ducks Unlimited, 1937 Delta Waterfowl Foundation, 1938 National Wild Turkey Federation, 1973 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 1984 Quality Deer Management Association, 1988