Early History, Prehistory

Transcription

1 History of Management of Large Mammals in North America What experience and history teach us is this that nations and governments have never learned anything from history, or acted upon any of the lessons they might have drawn from it. G.W.F. Hagel Early History, Prehistory North America Hunters, hunter-gatherers, farmers Big game important for food, trade, best nutrition Farming: support large populations, reduced nutrition Advent of horses: Plains people abandoned farming No domesticated large mammals Pleistocene survivors unsuitable for domestication Early History, Prehistory Distribution and abundance of species varied Climate, rainfall patterns Use by natives, native population size Landscape changes by native use Fires set by natives Farming, farmland Early History, Prehistory Use, exploitation, long history of admiration (artwork, symbolism, etc.) Some knowledge of natural history, behavior No organized efforts to control populations Wildlife Management involves human effort to control wildlife through specific population or habitat management practices. The road to modern wildlife management was a long and winding path. 1

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3 Abundance and Exploitation Early colonization period: Huge abundance of wildlife Commercial value Food Danger to stock Values Commodity Nuisance Use open to all No sense of sport hunting Basic Formula for the Era of Abundance and Exploitation Colonists arrive Exploit wildlife resources Wildlife populations decline Colonists move west, begin again Occurred repeatedly as the continent was settled At some point- nowhere left to go Continuing Settlement, Exploitation Colonization of the western US Louisiana Purchase Trapping Homestead Act Gold rushes Mining, farming, grazing, logging Effects on populations, habitats Subsistence, market hunting Erosion, overgrazing, clear-cutting Response to Exploitation Depleted populations, realization Restrictions on hunting, take Ineffective Not enforced Not all species: deer, but not elk, wood bison, carnivores Rise of sport hunting After settlement of western US, pioneer era 3

4 Rise of Conservation Rapid declines and reduced abundance = wake-up call for many Sportsmen s clubs, game organizations Boone & Crockett, Audubon Society First sporting magazines, journals Field and Stream, etc. First books on natural history Rise of Conservation Hunting regulations Laws, licenses, bag limits, seasons Enforcement was a problem First game agencies founded Law enforcement, not active conservation Lack of funds, coordination Pittman-Robertson Act Lack of training Rise of Conservation Focus on predator control Establishment of refuges Active efforts Restocking Translocation Winter feeding Rise of Conservation Increased federal involvement US Army management of Yellowstone Legislation extended, clarified federal role National Forest Reserves Act Formation of US Forest Service Only trained personnel (Forest Service) Gifford Pinchot, Aldo Leopold Rise of Conservation State-federal clashes Kaibab, Pisgah (overpopulation) Public mindset Indoctrinated to conservation Pre Smokey the Bear syndrome Federal authority clear, but. Policy of state-federal cooperation Resident game animal management as a state-federal partnership Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act 4

5 Birth of Science-based Management ( ) Aldo Leopold Science of game management Goal of sustained yield (hunting) Preservation gives way to management, use Preservation/protection alone insufficient Created Kaibab, Pisgah No theory of wildlife ecology No scientific studies/articles prior to 1920! Birth of Science-based Management ( ) Professional game management programs Trained professionals First standardized surveys Accumulation of scientific literature, texts Theory developed Carrying capacity Realization big game = large influence on plant, animal communities Harvest recommendations Birth of Science-based Management ( ) Problems with public perception Preservation ingrained, traditional Not ancient history still happening!! Opposed to liberal harvests Bag limits Either-sex permits Hard to convince the public Inexperienced persons can t see browse lines Expanded research and information programs Intensive Management ( ) Intensive Management ( ) Management objectives: Develop and sustain populations, habitat Ensure maximum production and use of game Provide maximum recreational opportunity Concentrated on popular or abundant species Deer, elk Later focus on others such as sheep, antelope, etc. Monitoring systems established Herd units Refined survey techniques Harvest data, trends Objective often maximum populations Multiple use management Understand interaction of game, habitat, etc. Coordinate game and land management Landowner assistance programs 5

6 Intensive Management ( ) Most populations restored Management focus and emphasis changed Different policies Refuges not as important as safe haven Harvest regulations and bag limits Predator control declined Most populations restored Overabundance problems Exotic species Management focus and emphasis changed Endangered Species Act = federal mandate Protection, management of large carnivores Trend from individual species landscape, ecosystem New Challenges Mule deer declines, Caribou fluctuations Current knowledge couldn t explain Theory and practice developed under 1 set of conditions (increasing populations) were not applicable when conditions changed Need for more data New Challenges = new technology Radiotelemetry Increases in computers, computer power GIS Genetic markers Better data on movements, behavior, survival Analyze more complex problems Predict changes Tie population changes to landscape, habitat Public perceptions, involvement Early: hunters, sportsmen Now: all aspects of public involved, fewer hunters Legislation National Environmental Policy Act Endangered Species Act Federal Land Policy and Management Act Change in how public lands, wildlife administered Management, recovery programs for grizzly, wolf, etc. Most scientific knowledge of wildlife generated in the past 50 years Also, management agencies, funding, training What will happen in the next 50 years? Overabundance Changes in land use Disease concerns 6

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