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Renewable resourcesRenewable resources
• usually taken for granted
• we have developed an attitude that there will always be more
• Animals fall into this category
Renewable resourcesRenewable resources
• ability to reproduce
• many species have died out
• management of wildlife resources is important
WildlifeWildlife
• living things that are neither human or domesticated
• especially birds, mammals, fishes
• includes both plant and animal life
WildlifeWildlife
• we will concentrate on higher life forms
• vertebrates
• lower forms of plant and animal life are also important in maintaining a balance
United StatesUnited States
• estimated that the continental U.S. contains over 2,300 different vertebrate species.
• Game animals make up only a small portion of this number
Early PioneersEarly Pioneers
• depended on these birds, mammals and fish to survive
• meat supplied food
• skins used for shelter and clothing
• oil kept firearms usable
Early PioneersEarly Pioneers
• oil used to light cabins
• with out wildlife resources the wilderness would have never been conquered.
World Fur TradeWorld Fur Trade
• America was well established
• at the cost of wildlife
• trappers took the animals faster than they could multiply
• treated the resources as a crop
Wildlife killedWildlife killed
• many because they appeared hostile
• bears, wildcats - danger to people
• many species were killed because they threatened the safety of domestic animals
Wrongly accusedWrongly accused
• hawks were thought to kill chickens
• mass destruction of hawks took place
hawkshawks
• stomach contents found to contain
• 40% insects, 30% frogs
• 23% rats and mice, 3.4% small birds
• 2% aquatic wildlife
Red Tail hawksRed Tail hawks
• poultry parts were discovered but those parts were only a small percentage of the diet
• original premise was unfounded.
Rare or EndangeredRare or Endangered
• few in number
• 1966 Endangered Species Preservation Act
• 1969 - Endangered Species Conservation Act
Congressional ActsCongressional Acts
• protect fish and wildlife on a worldwide basis
• protection and conservation of species of native fish known to be threatened with extinction
1969 amendment1969 amendment
• dealt with importation of endangered species into the US from anywhere in the world
• called for formation of an endangered species list
1969 amendment1969 amendment
• list is updated every 5 years
• 1970 the list contained 133 species of mammals
• 124 birds, 24 reptiles
• 25 fish, 1 mollusk
Rare speciesRare species
• one that is no longer common
• in in danger of becoming extinct
• zoos may hold the last examples of the species
Extinct SpeciesExtinct Species
• Passenger Pigeon
• at one time the population was thought to be in the billions
• flew in enormous flocks
• John Audubon estimated on flock he saw at over one billion
Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon
• large flocks would strip all the foliage
• leaving the area bare
• people declared war on the birds
• killing all they could find
Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon
• captured the young and killed them, shipped them to cities as food
• flocks soon disappeared
• NY, PA and MA passed laws to protect them
Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon
• laws were too late
• birds held in captivity would not breed
• last known passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914
Passenger PigeonPassenger Pigeon
• body of last passenger pigeon is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC
Carolina ParakeetCarolina Parakeet
• sought for their colorful feathers which were used in women’s hats
• final extinction came in 1914
Heath HenHeath Hen
• relative of the prairie chicken
• used for food by early settlers
• bird sanctuary set up in the early 1900’s
Heath HenHeath Hen
• Fire swept through the sanctuary
• a few males survived
• last bird died in 1932
Labrador DuckLabrador Duck
• became extinct before anyone realized it was gone
• most birds were killed for their feathers which were used to stuff pillows
Endangered MammalsEndangered Mammals
• 133 on the endangered list distributed by the US Dept. of the Interior
Common endangeredCommon endangered
• big horn sheep, polar bears,
• key deer, wolves
• mountain lions
• most hunted extensively without considering extinction
Big Horn SheepBig Horn Sheep
• threatened by extinction from two sides
• humans and disease
• large sheep, relatives of domestic sheep
Big Horn SheepBig Horn Sheep
• live high in the mountains
• above the tree line
• 6-7 feet in length
• have long curved horns
Big Horn SheepBig Horn Sheep
• are hunted for trophies• many carcasses are found with head
removed• very alert• are under protection of game laws• some are being kept in wildlife reserves
Polar BearsPolar Bears
• important source of food for Eskimos
• fur is used for clothing
• meat is used for food
• airplane hunting is being used to kill vast amounts each year
Polar BearsPolar Bears
• Females produce only 2 young each year
• stay with mother for 10 months
• Canada and Russia have laws to protect these animals
Key DeerKey Deer
• smallest white tail deer
• killed for trophies
• strict laws prohibiting hunting
• population increased from 30 to 300 because of wildlife refuges
WolvesWolves
• wolves resemble dogs
• hunt in packs at night
• pack consists of young and old
• female bears 5-14 pups in a den guarded by the male
• male and female mate for life
WolvesWolves
• feed on domestic livestock
• there have been bounties on wolves
• now bounties can only exist if the population endanger the deer population
Mountain LionsMountain Lions
• has been eliminated in eastern US
• hunt at night
• feed mainly on deer
• humans hunt frequently
• are hunted for skins and heads.
• Hunting is not allowed in national parks, but are hunted in forest areas
Endangered BirdsEndangered Birds
• there are 124 birds on the endangered species list.
• The most common are the whooping crane, bald eagle, ivory-billed woodpecker, and prairie chicken.
Whooping CraneWhooping Crane
• migrate from Texas to Canada each year
• many are hunted during migration
• nest up to two young per year
• the young fly south with adults
Whooping CraneWhooping Crane
• when birds return to Arkansas Wildlife Refuge each year they are counted.
• The count has steadily increased
• at the present time there are only 51 whooping cranes
Bald EaglesBald Eagles
• Has a white head and tail
• bald eagles feed on dead salmon
• bounties have been places for their talons
• are now protected by law
Bald EaglesBald Eagles
• $500 fine for tampering with an eagle or its nest
• the number to bald eagles continues to drop
• take young 4 years to mature
• can live up to 100 years
Ivory-billed WoodpeckerIvory-billed Woodpecker
• largest woodpecker in North America
• lives in southern states
• nests in tops of old forests
• eat insects and grubs found in old and dying trees
Ivory-billed WoodpeckerIvory-billed Woodpecker
• are being held in secret reserves and one day they will be reintroduced to the public
Prairie ChickensPrairie Chickens• is a type of grouse
• Indian dances imitated their mating dances
• oil drilling and drought dwindled the population
• in 1959 the Prairie Chicken Foundation was formed to protect them