Wildlife Introduction
South Gibson Co.
Wildlife / NRM
Wildlife
• Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals, and other organisms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife
Domestication
• Brings species under human control
Humans Use Wildlife for…
• Consumptive – harvesting– Example: hunting, trapping, fishing
• Non-consumptive – interaction whereas wildlife is not harvested– Example: bird watching
Game Species• Generally considered to be hunted or
trapped
Non-game Species
• Animals that are not hunted, trapped or fished in a traditional sense
Value of Wildlife
• Commercial Value: profits from wildlife• Game Value: individuals send considerable
amounts of money on hunting and fishing• Aesthetic Value: the value people place on
wildlife for its beauty and appeal• Scientific Value: value of wildlife for research and
study – one example is the use of deer antlers to measure radiation levels in the environment
• Ecological Value: each species has certain roles in nature, many are interdependent on one another
Economic Importance of Wildlife
• Cost of hunting, fishing…etc:– Licenses– Camouflage / orange
vest– Weapon of choice– Ammunition– Rods– Bait– Boat if necessary
– Tree stand
– Land lease / Land Preparation
– Deer processing fees
– Taxidermy fees
Exercise 1
• License
• Rifle
• Bow
• Muzzleloader
• shotgun
• Ammo for each
• Camo
• ATV
• Cost of gas
• Deerstand / duck blind
• Decoys
• Trained dog
• Mounting fee
• Blaze orange vest / hat
• Calls
• Scents
• Scope
• Binoculars
What does it cost you when you go hunting?
Wildlife Management
• The application of scientific and technical principle to wildlife populations and habitats to maintain such populations (particularly mammals, birds, and fish) essential for recreational and/or scientific purposes
• Examples of species management: bird banding, trapping and transplanting, land management, wildlife population surveys, vegetation surveys, wildlife extension work and implementation and regulations
Wildlife Management
• All agricultural sciences are based on sound, scientific research.
• Today’s wildlife management techniques are based on proven research
Wildlife Management Approaches
• Preservation: allowing nature to take its course, this practice is used often in National Parks
• Management: is the manipulation of populations or habitats to achieve desired goals
• Conservation: is the effort to maintain and use natural resources wisely
4 Significant Areas of Wildlife Conservation
• Research
• Education
• Law enforcement
• Wildlife management
Potential Wildlife Management Goals
• Increase in population size
• To remove individuals from the population on a continuing basis, which requires that enough individuals be left to reproduce and so replace those removed
• To stabilize or reduce the population
• Combinations of these goals can be used to better manage an area
Game Management Objectives Used in the United States to Manage
Wildlife• Components of Game Management:
– Restriction of hunting– Predator control– Reservations of game lands (ex. Parks, National
Forests, Refuges)– Artificial replenishment (ex. Restocking, Game
Farming)– Environmental Controls (ex. Control of food,
special factors and disease)
