F or more than 400 years, from the time our European forefathers stepped off wooden ships onto the dark, rich soils of North America, we have come full circle utilizing our wildlife populations and the lands they inhabit. With the abundance of wildlife North America once offered, to the decline of hundreds of species, we have finally reached a point where proper management of wildlife is as important to preserve as any other natural resource. Many would like to forget some of the early history of devastation in this country regarding wildlife, but we have learned many valuable lessons that will likely never be forgotten. White-Tailed Deer Photo by Donald M. Jones Back To by Dale Deckman Nature DECLINING WILDLIFE One of the most common wildlife misconceptions was the belief that certain species like the passenger pigeon, bison and beaver were so abundant, their numbers would not be affected by overharvesting through market hunting, misuse of land and lack of wildlife management. We were very wrong. As recently as the mid-1800 s, many states and territories did not realize several of our wildlife species were declining. Many animals were driven from their former range by continuous settling and the destruction of our wilderness. What had taken centuries to create was now on the verge of collapse for several species. Wildlife was viewed from a commercial standpoint where the economic value outweighed the actual value of the resource. From this catastrophe we learned that wildlife and its habitat have limitations, but can still be enjoyed and utilized by everyone. Cover
T he first documentation of sportsmen attempting to control wildlife populations occurred on the East Coast in the mid-1800 s. Declining numbers prompted local citizens to take a closer look at the value of wildlife. By the early 1900 s most states had passed laws to regulate the harvest of many game animals. THE IMPORTANCE OF HABITAT In the early part of the century, concerns about land and wildlife habitat grew in popularity. Many viewed our last tracts of wilderness as places to be preserved for everyone; to travel to, breath the clean air and to enjoy a protected population of wildlife. Places like Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks were set aside by acts of congress for this purpose. As the steel plow turned native grasslands under, natural wildlife habitats were replaced by agriculture, urbanization and industrialization. As human populations expanded, early conservationists expressed concern that fragile native species and their habitat would be negatively affected. In many cases, their worst fears came true. Animals like the grizzly bear could not tolerate the destruction of its range or live in close proximity to humans. All bears, especially the grizzly, need hundreds of square miles to hunt and forage to survive. Coupled with habitat destruction and low birth rates, grizzlies haven t fared well. Their cousin, the black bear, is more adaptable and has thrived in many parts of the country. COSTLY LESSONS It has taken decades to understand wildlife and we continue to learn more each day about their specific needs. In some cases, like the passenger pigeon and the heath hen, our efforts were too late and we lost them through extinction. As our awareness for the natural community around us heightened, so did legislation and enforcement laws. With the enactment of the Lacy Act in 1900, which was the law forbidding shipment of wild game over state lines, unregulated market hunting was now against the law. By the 1920 s and early 30 s a movement by citizens encouraged better management of the land and our wildlife resources. Some of the first modern attempts at management did well initially but soon became classic examples of how not to manage wildlife. MANAGEMENT FAILURES The 1920 s Arizona Kiabab Plateau experiment was an effort to conserve the mule deer population Moose for hunting and viewing. It was a classic example of a wildlife management catastrophe. As the natural predators were removed and regulated hunting restricted, deer numbers soon flourished and drastically overpopulated the available habitat. The end result was a poor quality animal, mass starvation and a habitat so devastated through overuse that it took years to regenerate. Other examples of this were documented in elk populations in Yellowstone Park, whitetailed deer in Pennsylvania and moose on an island in Lake Superior. The best intentions to protect the welfare of each of these animal populations resulted in management failures. To completely protect all species from natural predators and regulated hunting has proven to be a serious mistake. The mid-1800 s were the first documented attempts to control populations of wildlife.
M odern wildlife management evolved in the late 1930 s and 40 s. Until this time the rampant expansion of human populations had devastated woodlands, plowed under much of the natural grasslands, and abused wildlife resources. We had consumed a great part of native America without thinking about replacing what we had used. TAX FOR WILDLIFE The country was looking for serious answers to difficult questions regarding wildlife. The most serious effort by the government to restore wildlife and its habitat came in 1937. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed legislation passing the Pittman-Robertson Act, a measure that would earmark a 10 per- Elk cent tax on firearms and ammunition to directly aid and benefit wildlife and its habitat in all states. This measure alone is one of the major reasons our wildlife populations and associated habitats rebounded to the manageable numbers we see today. The history of this country regarding our wildlife is a tale of both success and failure. Most failures can be associated with the past. The lack of data, research and professionals working in the field certainly was a major reason our wildlife populations suffered in those early years. True success and understanding came as little as 50 years ago. MODERN MANAGEMENT As we entered the 1950 s, wildlife management had truly modernized with the development of state game and fish departments, special interests within the federal government and private conservation groups. Research entered a new era with the modernization of equipment, computers, airplanes and a basic goal of sustaining, understanding and improving wildlife and wildlife habitats. The road to recovery took decades. By learning from our mistakes we ve All wildlife populations need three basic requirements for survival food, water and cover. Most failures can be associated with the past. entered an era where the wellbeing of wildlife is not only critical to preserving the North America of centuries ago, but essential to the wellbeing of the citizens of this country, especially the young people who will one day be responsible for the prosperity of our natural resources.
B ecause of earlier efforts by true conservationists, today s wildlife populations are in great shape. Animals such as rabbits, quail, squirrels and whitetailed deer who have easily adapted to our steadily changing environment will continue to do well and maintain healthy populations. Other wildlife species will not be so fortunate due to the alarming rate of habitat disappearing in the United States. These species will have to be closely monitored by wildlife professionals so their basic needs for survival can be met. REQUIREMENTS FOR LIFE Quality habitat is the most important element needed for the survival of wildlife. Ideal habitat provides everything an animal requires for life. These basic needs include food, water, cover and space. All animals rely on us to both protect existing habitat from being destroyed or developed and to improve or create new habitat. This will be the key to the future success of wildlife survival. Big Horn Sheep Requirements For Ideal Wildlife Habitat Ideal wildlife habitat provides animals with proper amounts of food, water, escape cover and space. If these requirements are met, they contribute to a healthy environment in which wildlife can survive. When one or more of the requirements are lacking, there will be a direct effect on the health and number of animals living in the area. This is nature s way of controlling wildlife populations. The requirements for ideal wildlife habitat are defined below. Escape Cover Food Space Water Escape cover provides wildlife with space to feed, sleep, nest, rest and breed. This area should consist of natural formations of trees, bushes and other plant life. For many animals, escape cover provides crucial protection from their predators. Food requirements of animals vary. However, it is essential to meet the nutritional requirements of a given animal to maintain a healthy population. The quality and quantity of a food source is dictated by the seasons of the year. Habitat must provide adequate space for wildlife to survive. This space requirement depends on the specific needs of the particular form of wildlife. The area available determines the number of animals that can live in that space without causing harm to their health or to the habitat itself. All forms of wildlife need water to survive. This essential requirement is made available to wildlife in many ways, which can include rain, snow, dew and green vegetation. Turkey
Mule Deer Wildlife programs concentrate on maintaining the proper balance between wildlife populations and their available habitat. Does Hunting Affect Wildlife? Hunting has always played in important role in history. The North American Indians hunted to provide their families with food, clothing and shelter. When European settlers landed in North America, they too were faced with hunting wild animals to provide them with the essentials needed for survival. The tradition of hunting has been handed down from generation to generation and is today a form of outdoor recreation for millions of Americans. For the most part, however, hunting plays a different role today then for people years ago. Today, hunting is an important tool for wildlife management plans that concentrate on maintaining the proper balance between wildlife populations and the available habitat. The sport of regulated hunting allows state game managers a way to harvest surplus game to prevent damage to farm crops, orchards, trees and plant life and in certain instances, family vegetable gardens. Because hunting is so well-regulated today, it will in no way have a negative effect on the future of wildlife populations in the United States. T he term wildlife includes all wild animals. These animals are broken into two different categories game and nongame. Game animals are those which are hunted for removing the excess numbers. The number of animals harvested is controlled by regulated seasons, bag limits and other regulations. Hunting is considered to be a legitimate technique of wildlife management for controlling many wildlife animals and protecting their habitat from damage. Nongame animals are typically those not generally hunted to control their populations. All wildlife, whether game or nongame, must be controlled by a specific wildlife management plan. Wildlife management is the science of managing wildlife and its habitat, including man, for the benefit of the entire environment. SUCCESS STORIES Almost everyone enjoys the sight of a cottontail rabbit, a flock of geese in flight or the beauty of a white-tailed deer bounding through the woods. It is this love for wildlife that has led man to study, understand and appreciate the needs of our nation s wildlife. Most animals are very sensitive to change, and certain wildlife populations serve as indicators to wildlife managers of the overall quality of our environment. There are several basic concepts to adhere to when developing wildlife management programs. They include techniques based on sound biological fact, plans that take the entire environment into consideration and regulations to alter people s activities where they have a negative effect on wildlife management.
Pronghorn Antelope Now is the time for you to become concerned about wildlife in our country. S uccessful wildlife management programs have had a positive effect on our nation s wildlife. Federal and state agencies continue to regulate harvest levels for game animals, perform research studies and develop programs to improve wildlife habitat. But the true success of any program is measured by citizens like yourself becoming involved. You can make the difference and provide the assistance needed to enhance the future of wildlife. Learning about wildlife gives you the facts you need to take a stand on issues relating to wildlife. Whether you study wildlife from books or firsthand in the wild, you will agree that information learned about nature is both interesting and self-rewarding. Make a commitment to understanding proper wildlife management principles so the current trend of healthy wildlife populations is carried on for future generations to enjoy. Successful Wildlife Management White-tailed Deer There are few success stories as great as that of the white-tailed deer. The whitetail was given its name because of a long white tail it raises when running away from danger. Its primary diet consists of twigs, leaves, buds, acorns, nuts and certain farm crops. It lives in wooded areas and is common throughout North America. At the turn of the century, their population level was estimated at between 300,000 and 500,000 animals. Today wildlife experts estimate their numbers to exceed 28 million. Wild Turkey Wild turkey populations have responded favorably to improved management programs which were based on research studies. Wild turkeys are usually seen in flocks as a defense mechanism against predators. They are considered a bird of the forest and feed on grasses, twigs, fruits, nuts, wheat, corn and insects. In the early 1930 s, the wild turkey was scarce. Today, due to restoration efforts by wildlife managers and sportsmen s groups, their population is estimate at over five million and they range in nearly all 50 states. Remember, the future of wildlife depends on you! North American Elk At one time the elk was considered to be the most widely distributed member of the deer family in North America. A mature bull elk is a large animal weighing nearly 1,000 pounds, and requires a large range in which to roam. Their diet consists mainly of grasses, but they will eat anything from willow twigs to black sage. In 1905 there was an estimated elk population of only 50,000. Today their numbers have grown to over one million. Wood Duck The rainbow-like plumage of the male wood duck is considered by many to be the most eye-catching plumage of all waterfowl. Wood duck s unique nesting site selection has caused it some serious problems. It prefers to nest in a hollow tree or an artificial man-made nest. With the loss of suitable wetland habitat in the late 1800 s it was headed on a course towards extinction. Several decades have passed since the wood duck last faced a desperate battle to survive. Today, wood ducks are the leading waterfowl species which breeds in the eastern United States.
T hroughout the years, Whitetails Unlimited has built a reputation based on conservation measures tailored to our nation s wildlife and natural resources, with major emphasis on the white-tailed deer. WTU has established strategies and implemented programs to sustain traditional values and promote the philosophy that wildlife is a cherished resource. Our belief is that future programs must continue to be fostered to ensure that the delicate balance between man and nature is maintained. A National Organization Working For An American Tradition Whitetails Unlimited, Inc. National Headquarters P.O. Box 720, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 (800) 274-5471 www.whitetailsunlimited.com 1999; 2002