Fish and Wildlife in America - Forestry Natural Resources and Wildlife - Lecture Slides, Slides of Wildlife Ecology

Download Fish and Wildlife in America - Forestry Natural Resources and Wildlife - Lecture Slides and more Slides Wildlife Ecology in PDF only on Docsity! Fish and Wildlife in America Docsity.com Renewable resources • usually taken for granted • we have developed an attitude that there will always be more • Animals fall into this category Docsity.com Wildlife • we will concentrate on higher life forms • vertebrates • lower forms of plant and animal life are also important in maintaining a balance Docsity.com United 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 Docsity.com Early Pioneers • depended on these birds, mammals and fish to survive • meat supplied food • skins used for shelter and clothing • oil kept firearms usable Docsity.com Wildlife killed • many because they appeared hostile • bears, wildcats - danger to people • many species were killed because they threatened the safety of domestic animals Docsity.com Wrongly accused • hawks were thought to kill chickens • mass destruction of hawks took place Docsity.com hawks • stomach contents found to contain • 40% insects, 30% frogs • 23% rats and mice, 3.4% small birds • 2% aquatic wildlife Docsity.com Rare or Endangered • few in number • 1966 Endangered Species Preservation Act • 1969 - Endangered Species Conservation Act Docsity.com Congressional Acts • protect fish and wildlife on a worldwide basis • protection and conservation of species of native fish known to be threatened with extinction Docsity.com 1969 amendment • dealt with importation of endangered species into the US from anywhere in the world • called for formation of an endangered species list Docsity.com Rare species • one that is no longer common • in in danger of becoming extinct • zoos may hold the last examples of the species Docsity.com Extinct 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 Docsity.com Passenger Pigeon • large flocks would strip all the foliage • leaving the area bare • people declared war on the birds • killing all they could find Docsity.com Passenger Pigeon • body of last passenger pigeon is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC Docsity.com Extinct Species • Carolina Parakeet • Heath Hen • Labrador Duck Docsity.com Carolina Parakeet • sought for their colorful feathers which were used in women’s hats • final extinction came in 1914 Docsity.com Labrador Duck • became extinct before anyone realized it was gone • most birds were killed for their feathers which were used to stuff pillows Docsity.com Endangered Mammals • 133 on the endangered list distributed by the US Dept. of the Interior Docsity.com Common endangered • big horn sheep, polar bears, • key deer, wolves • mountain lions • most hunted extensively without considering extinction Docsity.com Big 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 Docsity.com Polar 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 Docsity.com Polar Bears • Females produce only 2 young each year • stay with mother for 10 months • Canada and Soviet Union have laws to protect these animals Docsity.com Wolves • feed on domestic livestock • there have been bounties on wolves • now bounties can only exist if the population endanger the deer population Docsity.com Mountain 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 Docsity.com Endangered 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. Docsity.com Bald 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 Docsity.com Bald 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 Docsity.com Ivory-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 Docsity.com