What is Wildlife Science? ECOLOGY CONSERVATION BIOLOGY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Threatened & Endangered species Reserve Design RestorationHabitat Population Growth Community Organization Ecosystem Organization Processes & Interactions Increase or Decrease Populations Sustainable Harvest Monitor Population Status AppliedEcology

Information Needs for Wildlife Conservation Habitat requirements Habitat requirements Assessment of past and current populations Assessment of past and current populations Growth or decline? Growth or decline? Major limiting factors Major limiting factors Ability to survive, reproduce and disperse Ability to survive, reproduce and disperse How to manage the population(s)? How to manage the population(s)? Habitat protection Habitat protection Captive breeding Captive breeding Legal protection Legal protection

Examples of Success in Wildlife Conservation American Bison American Bison From the surviving 150 From the surviving 150 individuals, there are now over 30,000 bison in many different herds Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present

Examples of Success in Wildlife Conservation White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule deer (W. of Cascades to Dakotas) White-tailed (E. U.S.) and mule deer (W. of Cascades to Dakotas) Suffered from loss of habitat and overharvesting Suffered from loss of habitat and overharvesting Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present Habitat restoration and better protection resulted in many recovered populations and even over- population in places Habitat restoration and better protection resulted in many recovered populations and even over- population in places

Examples of Success in Wildlife Conservation Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present Elk (wapiti) Elk (wapiti) Suffered from over- harvesting and loss of habitat Suffered from over- harvesting and loss of habitat Habitat restoration & better protection have led to many recovered populations Habitat restoration & better protection have led to many recovered populations

Examples of Success in Wildlife Conservation Era of Environmental Management: 1966-present Gray wolf Gray wolf Persecuted for centuries, ongoing in some places Persecuted for centuries, ongoing in some places Change of attitudes has made restoration efforts possible (e.g. Yellowstone NP) Change of attitudes has made restoration efforts possible (e.g. Yellowstone NP) Still controversial species, especially with respect to ranching Still controversial species, especially with respect to ranching

Today: Human Relationships with Wildlife

Permanent settlements, transportation dramatically change where wildlife can survive Permanent settlements, transportation dramatically change where wildlife can survive Humans move around a lot of species to areas they were never found before Humans move around a lot of species to areas they were never found before Technological advances – allow us to harvest more wildlife Technological advances – allow us to harvest more wildlife Pollution from human activities directly and indirectly (climate change) influences wildlife Pollution from human activities directly and indirectly (climate change) influences wildlife Today: Human Relationships with Wildlife

In other words... Habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation Habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation Biological invasions Biological invasions Overexploitation Overexploitation Climate change Climate change

Why does it matter? Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970 (Zoological Society of London) Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970 (Zoological Society of London) Wildlife has value for humans Wildlife has value for humans Economic Economic Recreational Recreational Intrinsic Intrinsic

Human Attitudes Toward Wildlife Scientific: curiosity, study, knowledgeScientific: curiosity, study, knowledge Ecological: ecosystem, species interdependenceEcological: ecosystem, species interdependence Naturalistic: wildlife exposure, contact with natureNaturalistic: wildlife exposure, contact with nature Humanistic: pets, love for animalsHumanistic: pets, love for animals Moralistic: ethical concern for animal welfareMoralistic: ethical concern for animal welfare Aesthetic: artistic and displayAesthetic: artistic and display Utilitarian: practicality, usefulnessUtilitarian: practicality, usefulness Dominionistic: mastery, superiorityDominionistic: mastery, superiority Negativistic: avoidance, dislike, indifference, fearNegativistic: avoidance, dislike, indifference, fear

Different Views of Wildlife Wildlife means different things to different people: Traditional view: Species that are hunted or trapped Traditional view: Species that are hunted or trapped In last 25 years: In last 25 years: All species

Historical perspectives: Hunting Subsistence hunting million years Subsistence hunting million years Protein Protein Bone for implements Bone for implements Sinew for cordage Sinew for cordage Fur and feathers for warmth Fur and feathers for warmth and ornament and ornament Rawhide and leather for clothing Rawhide and leather for clothing and shelter and shelter

Historical perspectives: Hunting Early colonists Early colonists Access to land in New World Access to land in New World Tradition established Tradition established “Birth right” “Birth right” Percentage of hunters declined since 1960s Percentage of hunters declined since 1960s

Hunting vs. No Hunting Controversy Hunters Hunters Hunt legal game species by trapping or shooting Hunt legal game species by trapping or shooting Non-hunters Non-hunters Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose or interrupt those that do Do not hunt or trap, but do not oppose or interrupt those that do Anti-hunters Anti-hunters Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and try to disrupt hunting Do not hunt or trap, but do oppose and try to disrupt hunting

Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation Philosophies Animal Rights Humans should cause no pain, suffering or death to sentient animals Humans should cause no pain, suffering or death to sentient animals Animals should be treated with same ethical standards as humans Animals should be treated with same ethical standards as humans Rights of individual animals of primary importance; integrity of ecology and populations, other concerns secondary Rights of individual animals of primary importance; integrity of ecology and populations, other concerns secondary

Animal Rights vs. Wildlife Conservation Philosophies Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic “A thing is right if it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do otherwise.” (1949 A Sand County Almanac) “A thing is right if it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends to do otherwise.” (1949 A Sand County Almanac) Hunting is permissible Hunting is permissible

Hunting terms Harvest Harvest Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”) Game legally shot and retrieved (“bagged”) Bag limit Bag limit Max. number of legally taken game animals (daily, possession, season limits) Max. number of legally taken game animals (daily, possession, season limits) Surplus Surplus Proportion of population in excess of the number of breeders required to maintain the population at a desired level Proportion of population in excess of the number of breeders required to maintain the population at a desired level Poaching Poaching Illegal take or possession of animals Illegal take or possession of animals Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, threatened and endangered species, age/sex of animal Closed season, closed area, illegal methods, threatened and endangered species, age/sex of animal

Go Hunt: Hunting areas of Washington

The premise behind game harvest Without harvest Without harvest Growth and recruitment of population are balanced by natural mortality Growth and recruitment of population are balanced by natural mortality Average growth rate of a population at its carrying capacity (k) = 0 Average growth rate of a population at its carrying capacity (k) = 0 Harvest Harvest Reduces number of animals in a population Reduces number of animals in a population Increases growth rate (decreased competition) Increases growth rate (decreased competition) Results in “harvestable surplus” Results in “harvestable surplus”

Annual surplus: without harvest Deaths Births =

Compensatory mortality: with harvest Births = +

Game species of WA Big game Big game Deer, Elk, Black Bear Deer, Elk, Black Bear

Game species of WA Predators Predators Cougar, Coyote Cougar, Coyote

Game species of WA Small Game Small Game Cottontail, Snowshoe Hare Cottontail, Snowshoe Hare Furbearers Furbearers Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat, Lynx Ex. Red Fox, Mink, Beaver, Marten, Badger, Bobcat, Lynx

Game species of WA Upland game birds Upland game birds Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain Quail Ex. Blue (now Dusky), Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California and Mountain Quail Waterfowl Waterfowl Ducks, Coots, Snipe, Geese Ducks, Coots, Snipe, Geese

Examples of hunted species White-tailed deer Population extremely high through much of its range Population extremely high through much of its range Recent declines due to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Recent declines due to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

Examples of hunted species Mule deer Primary deer species in Rocky Mountain states Primary deer species in Rocky Mountain states Populations fluctuate but most are healthy Populations fluctuate but most are healthy

Examples of hunted species Black-tailed deer Coastal form of mule deer Coastal form of mule deer Hybridize with mule deer in North Cascades Hybridize with mule deer in North Cascades Populations mostly stable but may suffer from overlap with elk in part of range Populations mostly stable but may suffer from overlap with elk in part of range

Factors important to successful game management Populations stable or slightly increasing Populations stable or slightly increasing Animals in population are healthy Animals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulated Harvest and access regulated Habitat management and conservation Habitat management and conservation Educate public (Peterson 2004) Educate public (Peterson 2004)

What do we actually do to have successful game management? Populations stable or slightly increasing Populations stable or slightly increasing Animals in population are healthy Animals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulated Harvest and access regulated Habitat management and conservation Habitat management and conservation Educate public (Peterson 2004) Educate public (Peterson 2004)

Populations stable or slightly increasing Populations stable or slightly increasing Animals in population are healthy Animals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulated Harvest and access regulated Habitat management and conservation Habitat management and conservation Educate public (Peterson 2004) Educate public (Peterson 2004) What do we actually do to have successful game management?

Chronic Wasting Disease Signs: Slobbering Tremors Low appetite Reduced coordination

Populations stable or slightly increasing Populations stable or slightly increasing Animals in population are healthy Animals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulated Harvest and access regulated Habitat management and conservation Habitat management and conservation Educate public (Peterson 2004) Educate public (Peterson 2004) What do we actually do to have successful game management?

Populations stable or slightly increasing Populations stable or slightly increasing Animals in population are healthy Animals in population are healthy Harvest and access regulated Harvest and access regulated Habitat management and conservation Habitat management and conservation Educate public (Peterson 2004) Educate public (Peterson 2004)

Examples of hunted species American Woodcock Forest-dwelling shorebird Forest-dwelling shorebird Population stable in most of range Population 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)

Examples of hunted species How many waterfowl are there? Declines in the 1980s Declines in the 1980s Recovery 1990s – fall flight 105 million Recovery 1990s – fall flight 105 million North American goose population: 6-8 million Hunting harvests million ducks/year million ducks/year 1-2 million geese/year 1-2 million geese/year

Waterfowl annual cycle

How harvest levels are obtained

Benefits of hunting Deepens appreciation and understanding of land and its wildlife Deepens appreciation and understanding of land and its wildlife Hunting organizations contribute millions of dollars and volunteer time to conservation causes Hunting organizations contribute millions of dollars and volunteer time to conservation causes Hunting important tool for wildlife management to prevent negative aspects of overpopulated species Hunting important tool for wildlife management to prevent negative aspects of overpopulated species

Hunting recap Hunting is traditional Hunting is traditional Can take the place of natural predation in some places Can take the place of natural predation in some places Hunting is regulated Hunting is regulated In recent history of N. America, no game species has become threatened or endangered because of overharvesting In recent history of N. America, no game species has become threatened or endangered because of overharvesting

More Information on Hunting U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Washington Department of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: