1. Unit 1: Introduction LS 1: The History of Wildlife Management in America

2. Objectives – Do Not Write
Describe the development of wildlife management in America.
List specific actions that led to modern wildlife management.
Understand the role that wildlife has played in the development of America
Describe the era of exploitation of America’s wildlife.
Understand the role outdoor enthusiasts have played in the conservation movement in America.

3. Define Wildlife Management
the care of wildlife and its environment in such a manner as to ensure the continuation of the species
Wildlife
all non-domesticated animals

4. Wildlife Management Development
Has evolved during the past 75 – 100 years
Wildlife was abused & exploited in the early America
This resulted in a loss of habitat and species
1st attempt of wildlife management
Closed season on white-tailed deer in 1694 in MA
Largely ignored

6. American Settlers & Wildlife
New land teeming with wildlife
No idea how to use it, many died due to starvation and malnutrition
They could not hunt, fish or farm
In 2 generations, they were prospering from wildlife and the environment
They exploited the abundant wildlife
It took 200 years to get farming firmly started
There are many differences between America and Europe.

8. 1700s to 1900s in America Greatest abuse of wild animals in N. America
Shot to provide for growing populations
Millions of acres of habitat lost due to cities
In 1748, SC traders shipped 160,000 deer skins
There were no seasons or regulations
By 1776, all states but GA had a closed season on deer
This was ignored due to the fact that deer were considered pests to farmers

9. Rural families made up 90% of the population
They lived off what they shot or trapped
They shot anything that would provide meat or clothing or if it competed with them for their livelihood
Land practices were beneficial to wildlife
Added edges and cleared spaces for deer
Deer numbers increased

10. Losses in the 1700s – 1900s Elk and woods bison
In the mid-1800s, market and pioneer hunters exterminated them east of the Mississippi River
Turkeys and passenger pigeons
Loss of forests for farming resulted loss of habitat
Lowered reproduction areas
They were also being shot to feed the population

11. Exploitation of Wildlife
The English did not want to adapt to wilderness
They wanted towns and cities – cleared forests
They changed the environment to their ideals
The French adapted to their environment
They became hunters, fisher, and gatherers
They embraced the peace and bounty of the wilderness

12. Lewis & Clark in 1804 Journey into the American Heartland
50-60 million plains bison roamed
Billions of passenger pigeons
~40 million pronghorn antelope

14. Alexander Wilson Early observer of American wildlife
Native to Scotland
1810 witnessed a massive flock of passenger pigeons in Kentucky
Estimated around 2,230,272,000 birds

15. End of the Passenger Pigeon
May have been the largest concentration of birds
Shot, clubbed, and netted by the millions
Cutting of hardwood forests was the biggest hit
Last one died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914

17. End of Plains Bison
Slaughter started with the end of the beaver trade in the mid-1830s
In 1840, over 65,000 buffalo skins were shipped
The railroad cut the herd in two and brought hunters with modern guns & ammunition
The US gov’t encouraged the slaughter of bison to defeat the Native Americans
In 1878, the vast herds were gone forever

19. Tribute to Conservationists
They are responsible for the present numbers of bison and pronghorn
There are many other species that benefited from conservationists and sport hunters

20. Serious Conservation Begins
Began in early 1870 with sport hunters
Began by working to change the views of Americans on the commercialization of wildlife
Market hunters played a major role in eliminating much of america’s wildlife
Sport hunters never endangered a single species to extinction

21. Sport versus Market Hunters
All wildlife produces a surplus that allows for some harvest without damaging the population
Market hunters slaughter the surplus & start cutting into the breeding stock
Sport hunters use only sporting methods & regulate their harvests
Market hunters do not care and kill just to kill

22. Sport versus Market Hunters -- 2
Any species is vulnerable when unsporting tactics are used
Baiting
Driving with dogs
Staking out the breeding grounds
Led to the dramatic decline in numbers of several species
These losses were reported in early versions of the Field and Stream magazine

23. Sport versus Market Hunters -- 3
Sport hunters sought to protect nongame animals as well as game
1870s – fashionable to have feathers or whole birds on hats
Nesting colonies were invaded due to the color and number at breeding season
Young starved or were eaten by predators
Led to the elimination of colony after colony

24. Commercialization of Any is Bad
Sport hunters worked through the Boone & Crockett Club and magazines to get the information to the public
This was early wildlife management but called wildlife protection
Sport hunters worked to change opinions
They wanted enforcement of laws and passage of new ones.

25. Progress is Made Lacey Act of 1900
Ended market hunting and the interstate shipment of wildlife and their products
Work of John F. Lacey – Hunter & Fisher

26. Theodore Roosevelt Tremendous impact on conservation
Deep love of big game hunting
Strong responsibility to preserve wildlife
1870s to 1890s
Created 50 wildlife refuges, 5 national parks, and 17 national monuments
In the manner of saving forests for building
Father of American conservation

28. Aldo Leopold An avid outdoorsman & hunting enthusiast
First professional wildlife manager
Book – Game Management – in 1933
Ideas
Taking a census of game animals
Animals have a home range
Manage a population by controlling predators, food, water, cover , & other factors
Father of Modern Wildlife Management

29. Yellowstone National Park -- 1872
First national park signed in by President Grant
Established through the efforts of sport hunters
Preserve a unique piece of American West
Took 20 years to get the protection it has today
Finally in 1890, there was protection from poachers

30. National Parks & Wildlife
Thought to be sanctuaries for wildlife, not always the case
Restocking began in the 1900s
Breeding stock came from parks & wildlife refuges
Today’s system of national parks & forest ensures the preservation of at least some of the wildlife

31. Helpful Laws Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929
Agreement between US, Canada, & mexico
Manage waterfowl populations
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934
Provided millions of dollars for management
Earned through sale of stamps to hunters
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937
aka – The Pittman-Robertson Act
Called for a 10% excise tax on firearm & ammo