Chapter 2: Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife Management and Conservation Principles
The wildlife manager’s job is to maintain the number of animals in a
habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity so that no damage
is done to the animals or to their habitat.
In a sense, a wildlife manager’s task is similar to a rancher’s.
Just as a rancher will limit the number of animals in a cattle herd to a level
that the habitat can tolerate, wildlife managers try to keep the number of
animals in balance with their habitat. In addition to looking at the total
number of each species in a habitat, wildlife managers also monitor the breeding
stock—the correct mix of adult and young animals needed to sustain a
population.
To manage a habitat, wildlife managers must consider historical trends, current
habitat conditions, breeding population levels, long-term projections, and
breeding success. With that knowledge, wildlife managers have a variety of
practices at their disposal to keep habitats in balance.
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