1. PROTECTING ANIMAL WILDLIFE
Chapter 11

2. Population Status
Population Status – the overall health condition and numerical count of wildlife populations
Healthy Populations – those that have the capability of increasing and maintaining stable numbers from year to year
Declining Populations – receive no gains and lose numbers from year to year
Reproductive Potential – the ability of a population to increase
Limiting Factor – any one action working alone, or in combination, to decrease the population

3. Major Limiting Factors Affecting Wildlife Populations
Habitat – area that wildlife needs to perform daily, seasonal, and yearly activities
Habitat – includes food, water, space, and cover
Habitat Loss – the single most important threat (limiting factor) to wildlife on earth.
Land Use – how humans use or treat land (factories, ball parks, crop production, livestock, grazing, timber production, roads, homes, schools, power lines, dams, canals, channels, etc.)
Habitat Destruction – land use that results in total loss of wildlife habitat

5. Habitat Degradation
Degradation is the second most important factor impacting wildlife
Degradation is reducing the quality of the habitat
Generally results in reduced wildlife populations, but can result in total loss of population if severe.

6. Accidents

7. Overpopulation
Carrying Capacity – maximum number of healthy animals a habitat can support
Controlled hunting – to keep wildlife populations from exceeding carrying capacity

8. Causes of Population Losses
Age – animals become more susceptible to disease, predators, extreme weather, etc.
Health – animals may suffer from disease, parasites, malnutrition, old age, etc.
Pollution – toxins (pollutants) may affect health, and if severe, death
Predation – the capture and consumption of one animal by another
Hunting – legal hunting usually helps populations whereas illegal hunting usually does not

14. Population Enhancement through Management
Human activities have reduced and even eliminated many wildlife species
Intensive farming eliminated many birds that nest on the ground
Intensive timber harvesting reduced populations of squirrels, deer, and turkeys in many areas
Hunting birds (herons and egrets) for their feathers to be used in hats reduced their numbers
However, proper management has brought back some species
For example…

15. Pronghorn antelope
Around 1910, there were only around 13,000…today there are over 750,000

16. Bison
In 1895, fewer than 1,000 were surviving from what used to be millions…now they number over 100,000

17. Giant Canada Goose
In 1954, this race was believed to be extinct. A few were found on remote farms. Today there are over 100,000.

18. Whitetail Deer
In 1895, less than 500,000 deer in the U.S. Today they number over 15,000,000

19. Sea Otter
In 1907, the sea otter was nearly extinct. Today they number over 100,000