Wildlife Management & Conservation Strategies

• Experimental Population refers to certain animal populations designated as 'experimental' under the ESA allowing for flexible management.

Bear Mortality Factors

• Many bears die from train collisions, especially near Glacier and Highway 2.
• Vehicle accidents also contribute to bear deaths.
• Wildlife crossings and speed reductions in known bear habitats can reduce incidents.
• Bears entering human residential zones pose threats, leading to lethal control measures.
• Bears accustomed to human environments may exhibit more aggressive behavior.
• Grizzly bears sometimes kill other species like cows and sows.
• There were six reported cases of human self-defense involving bears in 2024.

Legal and Conservation Updates

• On 1/27/2025, the USFWS announced a decision to not delist a species, which was later revoked.
• Delisting removes a species from the Endangered Species list, implying recovery or error in listing.
• Legislative actions can dramatically impact conservation policies.

System Commentary

• Wildlife management systems often don't align with expectations or rules.

Bear Population Estimations

• GYE: ~700
• NCDE: ~1,000
• Cabinet-Yaak: ~50
• Selkirk: ~80
• North Cascade: ~20
• Bitterroot: Officially none, but potentially exist
• Limited crossover of bears into Canada often occurs due to major roads and rivers.

Conservation Implications

• Data highlights the need for continued monitoring and adaptive management.

Seven Pillars/Sisters of Wildlife Management

• Wildlife management guidelines ensure wildlife is managed effectively for public benefit.
• The Key Case Martin v. Waddell (1841): Supreme Court case establishing that wildlife cannot be privately owned.
• The Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) recognizes wildlife is managed by the government.
• This prevents privatization and ensures wildlife conservation for collective benefit.
• A principle avoids overexploitation, by prohibition on selling wild game.
• Some exceptions may contribute to conservation funding, like fur bearing animals
• Wildlife resources are managed through legislation.
• This ensures fair access, addressing public interest and ecological needs.
• In 1874, Congress condemned "useless" killing of bison.
• Hunting mainly for food, self-defense and protection of property.
• "No Wanton Waste" laws in 13 states stress ethical hunting.
• Wildlife doesn't adhere to political borders.
• Global efforts are needed for migratory species and shared habitats.
• Wildlife management should be evidence-based.
• A science-driven approach enables adaptive management.
• Hunting and wildlife should be available to everyone.
• This promotes inclusivity and equitable resource use.

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

• Understanding the values of stakeholders in wildlife fields encompasses human interaction.
• Focusing on enhancing satisfaction in wildlife interactions can drive conservation efforts positively.
• Wildlife management often intersects with political agendas.
• Promoting actions that align with wildlife conservation goals.
• Non-users include those who don't directly engage with wildlife but impact conservation.
• Non-users' opinions can shape broader public policies and perceptions.

Demographic Insights

• Approximately 5% or less of the US population hunts.
• Conservation efforts must consider hunters' influence on ecosystems.
• Approximately 11-15% of the US population fishes.
• Fishing regulations can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems.
• Human actions must align with conservation goals for true progress.
• Shifting from viewing wildlife for utility to mutual coexistence is key.
• Incorporating human dimensions in Wildlife Biology curricula improves understanding.
• Collective efforts must overcome barriers for effective conservation.
• The Free Rider Problem involves some benefiting without contributing to conservation efforts.
• The Production Function relates to conservation outcomes.

Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) and Wildlife Conservation

• The Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) guides wildlife species protection beyond the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• States are bound by the PTD, and they cannot privilege private interests over public beneficiaries.
• Prevention of impairment of the trust includes protecting wildlife species
• Governments act as trustees of natural resources, preserving them for public use.
• If PTD is believed to be violated, legal action might be pursued.
• Public participation and legal advocacy play critical roles in enforcing the doctrine.

Principles of Land Management

• Land management policies aim to balance environmental and developmental goals.
• Successful land management requires understanding both policy frameworks and the practical challenges faced by stakeholders
• Managing land involves addressing current needs while conserving resources for future generations.

Role of Science and Democracy

• Science should play a role in wildlife resource management decisions.
• Implementing these decisions requires adherence to laws and democratic processes.

Audubon Society Context

• The Audubon Society, initially associated with Grinnell, failed to sustain.
• It was revitalized by two women in Massachusetts, continuing to thrive.

Fact vs. Value Statement: Hume

• Fact-Based Questions ("Is"): How species interact with the environment.
• How might that species respond to management?
• Ethical Consideration ("Ought"): Addresses ethical considerations in environmental management.
• These emphasize desired outcomes such as sustainability and biodiversity.
• Human values shape our understanding of knowledge which shows how values influence our interpretation and goals in science.
• Both sides of an issue often claim scientific backing.
• Science isn't always definitive, focusing on short-term results.
• Human values and errors exist in science.
• Subjectivity exists in scientific research, advocating for inclusion.
• Reliance on scientific logic, data, and professionalism can overshadow other perspectives.

Early Conservation Efforts

• 1900-1910: Teddy Roosevelt contributed to conservation.
• 230 million acres were set aside for national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges

Legislation and Acts

• 1913: Migratory Bird Act protected migratory species.
• 1934: Duck Stamp Act funded conservation efforts.
• 1941: Pittman-Robertson Act taxed hunting gear for conservation funding.

Key Environmental Movements

• The 1960s-1970s saw rise of modern environmentalism
• 1964: Wilderness Act protected undeveloped federal land.
• 1970: Establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took place.
• There was the 1973 Endangered Species Act

Federal Natural Resource Agencies

• U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages national forests.
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees public lands.
• National Park Service (NPS)preserves national parks and historic sites.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)manages fish, wildlife, and natural habitats.
• Logging vs. conservation in the Pacific Northwest is an environmental conflcit.
• Water rights disputes in the western U.S. are also an environmental conflict.
• Wildlife protection vs. land development is an issue.

Key Figures in Conservation

• John Muir was advocate for national parks, and founder of the Sierra Club.
• Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and promoted sustainable forestry.
• Aldo Leopold was the author of A Sand County Almanac, and introduced land ethic principles

Modern Challenges

• Climate change impacts on public lands need to be addressed.
• There are necessary wildfire management strategies.
• The extraction of balancing resource with extraction with conservation efforts is important.
• A Ball and Cup Resilience Diagram, represents the stability and change.
• Ball is the current state of the system.
• Cub/basin = stability landscape.
• Stability measures how much stress a system can take before shifting states.
• A shallow basin equals less resilence.
• A deep basin equals more resilience.
• Thesholds are the points where small changes push the system into a new state.
• Application helps people understand ecosystem resilience

Core Principles of Public Engagement

• Inclusivity – Engage diverse stakeholders in decision-making
• Transparency – Open and clear communication about processes and decisions
• Deliberation – Encourage informed discussion and debate
• Collaboration – Work with stakeholders to find solutions
• Accountability – Decision-makers are responsible for outcomes
• Adaptability – Adjust approaches based on feedback and changing conditions
• Manipulation is when authories "educate" public to sway opinions
• Informing means providing information with no public input..
• Consultation means asking for feedback, with no real influence.
• Placation is when the public gas some role, power stays with authorities.
• Partnership includes shared decision making between the public and the audhorities.
• Delegate Power: Public has meaningful authority in decisions
• Citizen Control: Public holds full decision-making power

Public Trust Doctrine

• Legal principle that natural resources (wildlife, air, water) are held in trust by the government for public use Wildlife is a public resource that is not privately owned

North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

1. Wildlife as a Public Trust Resource – Government manages wildlife for the public
2. Elimination of Markets for Game – Laws prevent the sale of wildlife products
3. Allocation of Wildlife by Law – Regulation of hunting and conservation efforts
4. Kill Only for Legitimate Purposes – Ethical hunting practices
5. Wildlife as an International Resource – Cooperation between countries for species conservation
6. Science-Based Wildlife Policy – Management decisions rely on scientific research
7. Democracy of Hunting – Hunting access is available to all, not limited to elites

Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones (Map Summary)

• Six Primary Recovery Zones in the U.S.:
  • Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
  • Northern Continental Divide
  • Cabinet-Yaak
  • Selkirk Mountains
  • North Cascades

Key Issues in Grizzly Bear Recovery

• Habitat fragmentation and loss
• Human-wildlife conflicts
  • Genetic isolation of populations
• Debate over delisting from Endangered Species Act protections

Why Stories Matter (Role of Narrative in Conservation & Decision-Making

• Shapes Public Perception – Stories influence how people understand environmental issues Builds Connection to Nature – Emotional engagement fosters support for conservation
• Simplifies Complexity – Narratives help communicate scientific concepts to the public . Dr ives Policy Change – Personal stories can push decision-makers to act
• Examples:
• Indigenous knowledge and storytelling in conservation
• Media framing of endangered species recovery efforts
• Personal testimonials in public engagement processes

Explore wildlife management approaches, from utilitarian to mutualist views. Understand the motivations of non-users and the significance of human dimensions in wildlife biology. Strategies for fostering conservation-friendly behaviors among communities are discussed.