Wildlife Administration Wildlife Management Course

Land of Plenty Pennsylvania = “Penn’s Woods” 1610: Moose, caribou, bison, timber wolves, beaver, lynx, bobcat, fisher marten

Attitudes of the American Indians Had been here for more than 10,000 years Took what they needed, not what they didn’t Lived in harmony

Attitudes of Early Colonists 90% of the colonists lived in rural areas Believed the land “owed” them a living and did not adapt to wilderness –Cleared land –Hunted for food –Killed predators

Conservation Efforts Market Hunting vs. Sport Hunting Lacey Act: made market hunting illegal Aldo Leopold: father of wildlife management

Theodore Roosevelt Desired to preserve America’s wildlife American attitude prevented this Created National Park System, more than 50 wildlife refuges Elk, bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National) First created in 1871 to study decline of fish 6,000 employees Responsible for: –Migratory birds –Endangered species –Fisheries –Marine Mammals –Wildlife Refuges –Research –Law Enforcement –Habitat Protection

Protection of Wildlife Resources U.S. Forest Service: manages 190 million acres of forest Bureau of Land Management: 270 million acres of land U.S. Department of Agriculture: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

Pennsylvania Game Commission (State) Started in manages all birds/mammals in PA with 3 goals: –Management –Education –Law Enforcement 700 Employees –6 regions –22 WMUs (Wildlife Management Units) –350 square miles per WCO (Wildlife Conservation Officer)