Talk:Wildlife management

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I have made some changes to this page. I am not a professional ecologist, but it is clear that the page was written from a pretty one-sided view. It may be that others have greater ability than I to turn this into a true NPOV page. Mike Hobday

[edit] Wildlife Management Definition Lacking

Mike Hobday,

I agree that you are not an ecologist, and that someone needs to step up and make this page useful, but I doubt you will allow that to happen. You are not allowing anyone to improve this page in a meaningful way. I teach Wildlife Management, and everytime I try to insert a textbook definition of wildlife management, you revert to your own opinion on wildlife management outcomes. You have a narrow view of wildlife management that is not based on science. You may be allowing your personal biasis on animal welfare to prevent anyone from defining what wildlife management is scientifically. You will force anyone wanting true information on this topic to look elsewhere, since you insist that your opinion supercedes over 100 years of successful wildlife management.

Tell me, so that I can understand better. How does the setting of snares to protect introduced pheasants from foxes "balance the needs of wildlife"? Surely a significant amount of "wildlife management" is just about predator control? Since when were pheasants an "endangered and threatened species"? MikeHobday 06:49, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Predator Control

The concept of carry capacity was discovered by the removal of cougars and wolves from the Kaibab National Forest. The deer population went from 8,000 individuals to over 100,000. The deer over browsed the forest (exceeding the carrying capacity of the land) and there was a massive dieoff due to starvation over the winter. Ecologists learned the importance of predators in the balance of nature.

I don't think Chinese Ringneck Pheasant need protection from foxes (I could be wrong). Foxes are trapped for their pelts for human use or because humans are protecting their chickens. Modern wildlife management understands the importance of predators. If there is an over population of foxes in an area, and it conflicts with human needs, its great to have scientists working to figure out a safe level of fox harvest. In my opinion, the real problem with wildlife management is when scientists are ignored due to political special interest. Citizens have the right to speak up againt policies they believe are unjust. If fox populations in your area are being exterminated, you have a right to challenge that process, and deserve a satisfactory explanation, or a legal day in court.

The Florida panther population was at about 50 individuals a decade ago, and now the population is over 100 individuals. Protection of Florida panther habitat, Wildlife corridors under Alligator Alley to prevent auto fatality, genetic mixing with the Texas Cougar to prevent inbreeding depression, public education to prevent pouching, has contributed to this wildlife management success story despite the rapid growth Florida has experienced.