Wildlife

Biodiversity Three levels – Genetic, species, & community/ecosystem All connected, all important Important for ecological reasons: food, waste decomp., oxygen, cleans enviro Economically important: forestry, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, boating

Biodiversity What’s here now isn’t exactly what has always been here 1600s marked change from natives to nonnatives Vertes & plants are only 17% of PA species

Ecosystem Diversity Forests – Young & old are rare Grassland & Herbaceous Openings – Only 26% of PA – Mostly human created Barrens – Gravel/rock outcrops Subterrain Wetlands Aquatic Urban & Suburban

Habitat Where animal lives Four components: food, water, shelter, space Limiting factors- regulates a population size and prevents a population from growing Carrying capacity- the number of animals of one or more species a habitat can support at a given time.

Succession gradual, progressive, natural “aging” of an ecosystem Fields  forest edge  deciduous forest

Foundations for Life Soil Climate & Weather Sunlight & Heat Water Air Biotic Zones Food Space Shelter Water

Biotic Zones

Succession

Why Populations Change Natality- production of new individuals Mortality- loss of individuals Immigration- moving in Emigration- moving out

Population Characteristics High producers, short lives- birds, rabbits, mice; high repro rate, low space; high mortality Medium producers, medium lives- ducks & geese; medium repro, more space, mid-level mortality Low producers, long lives- deer, bear, large mammals; low repro, lots of space, low mortality

Harvesting Tool for managing populations near carrying capacity Works well if all factors are monitored If mortality suddenly increases, harvesting can be problematic

Steps to Management Determine distribution & habitats Determine quality of animals in habitat Manage population, habitat, or both Help threatened and endangered species Establish management areas/refuges

Skulls Teeth and eyes give clues to niche Teeth – Incisors- sharp, but flat; cut and snip – Canines- pointed and conical; pierce, hold, tear – Pre-molars- crush or slice – Molars- flat to grind, or serrated to cut Milk teeth= deciduous because they fall out

More Teeth Carnivores- incisors are small & sharp, well- developed canines Herbivores- flat premolars and molars – Rodents (and cottontails)- incisors continuously grow on upper and lower jaw; gap behind incisors called diastema – Ruminants- multiple stomachs, chew cud; incisors only on one jaw – Perissodactyls or odd-toed ungulates- incisors and canines Onmivores- variety of teeth

Eyes Prey- eyes on side of head, gives good view to sides to spot predators Predators- eyes face forward to give good depth perception & visual acuity

Aging Deer Jaws ngdeerjawbones.pdf ngdeerjawbones.pdf

Deer Management Not just about big deer, hunting, out hunting last year Health of heard is important, balance in ecosystem Adaptive management starts by establishing clear and measurable objectives, then implementing management actions, monitoring those management actions and whether they achieved the objectives, and adapting policy and management actions as necessary.

Deer Management Goals Healthy heard Human/deer conflicts Habitat impacts Provide recreational opportunity Promote public knowledge

Deer Info Food needs depend on sex, season, & age Northern hardwood, mixed oak support most deer Pole timber support no deer For sustainable hunting, population must be 50-60% below carrying capacity Healthy deer can fast for weeks Cover is most important in bad winters

Chronic Wasting Disease affects the brain and nervous system of infected cervids 2012 a captive deer; Fall 2013 three free range from 2012 harvest were identified, and 1 road killed buck in 2013 Management- targeted sampling, don’t group feed, don’t transport carcasses, don’t shoot sick deer, cleanliness Spread direct and indirect Symptoms- emaciation, drooling Spread began in midwest

Hunter Safety Do not shoot, handle or consume any animal that is acting abnormally or appears to be sick. Contact your state game and fish department if you see or harvest an animal that appears sick. Wear latex or rubber gloves when field dressing your deer or elk. Bone out the meat from your animal. Don't saw through bone, and avoid cutting through the brain or spinal cord (backbone). Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues. Wash hands and instruments thoroughly after field dressing is completed. Avoid consuming brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes of harvested animals. (Normal field dressing coupled with boningout a carcass will remove most, if not all, of these body parts. Cuttingaway all fatty tissue will remove remaining lymph nodes.) Avoid consuming the meat from any animal that tests positive for the disease. If you have your deer or elk commercially processed, request that your animal is processed individually, without meat from other animals being added to meat from your animal.

White Nose Syndrome White fungus on nose, wakes bats, sapping energy, hibernation ceases early Found in New York, now spread to Oklahoma % of bats dead in hibernacula Still working to ID spread, source, and cause Report bats

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) A virus Most common deer disease Transmitted by biting midges More likely in warm weather Lethargic, lame, unresponsive, blue tongues, stop drinking, bloody discharge Not harmful to humans, but increases chance of secondary infections that may be Frequent exposure allows immunity to develop Frost kills midges, ending outbreaks, and increases chance of outbreaks in warm places Affects other hoofed mammals, but not as severely