Wildlife K3: Wildlife, Conservation, and Society

ABA

American Birding Association

Organization that maintains official records of all bird species seen in North America and surrounding waters

Extirpated

Extirpated describes species that no longer exist in a specific region.

What is an endangered species?

An endangered species, as defined by Mississippi law, is any species or subspecies of wildlife whose survival and continued welfare in the state is in jeopardy or is likely to become so in the near future.

How many endangered species are in MS?

MS has 80 species and subspecies of plants and animals that are officially recognized as endangered

Where do monarchs in Eastern North America overwinter

The Eastern population of North American monarchs overwinters in the same 11 to 12 mountain areas in the states of Mexico and Michoacan from October to late March.

in oyamel fir forests at elevation of 2,400 to 3,600 meters

Where do monarchs in western North America overwinter

overwinter in California. Monarchs in west of Rocky Mountain range overwinter in California along Pacific coast near Santa Cruz and San Diego

Monarch butterfly biosphere reserve

Protection of the Oyamel Forest

The Mexican Government created the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in 1986.

what trees do monarchs often pick for roosting at night

Often pine, fir, and cedar trees are chosen for roosting

how many generations does it take from the first generation to come back to north america from Mexico?

3-4 generations

The Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper project

is a collaborative effort to map and better understand monarch butterflies and their host plants.

The Monarch Highway Poster

The I-35 corridor landscape provides natural habitat to support annual migration “Monarch highway”

Federal Duck Stamp

Required as a license for waterfowl hunting

For every dollar spent on Duck Stamps, ninety-eight cents go directly to purchase vital habitat or acquire conservation easements w/in National Wildlife Refuge System

Since 1934, almost 6 million acres of habitat have been conserved b/c of Duck Stamp funds

Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act)

• $14 billion to conservation since 1937

  • Recovery of deer, turkeys, and many non-game species -- with benefits to hunters and non-hunters alike

Passenger Pigeon

Was once one of the most abundant birds in the world, however overhunting and habitat destruction pushed it to extinction in 1914

Pigeons flew in large flocks (hundreds of miles long with billions of bird) → easily capturable at one time

Aldo Leopod’s Five Tools of Wildlife Management

Axe — refers to effective brush management

Plow -- method of creating supplemental food plots and shelter for a variety of wildlife species

Cow -- maintain proper stocking rates and enforcing rotational grazing

Fire -- clears land and creates mosaic of different successional stage

Gun -- refers to hunting

What are Feral Swine?

Feral swine (also called wild pigs, Eurasian boar, or feral hogs) are a harmful and destructive invasive species

• Early explorers brought over to U.S. as food source in 1500s

• Crossbreeding w/ domestic pigs

• 6 million feral swine across more than 31 states

feral swine destory agriculture

Target sugar cane, corn, grain sorghum, wheat, oats, peanuts, and rice

Vegetable and fruit crops: lettuce, spinach, melons, and pumpkins

Negatively impact regeneration of forests (eat seeds)

Can spread disease to livestock

Can kill calves and lambs, and adult livestock that are giving birth

Degrade pasture grasses; eat, contaminate, and destroy livestock feed; and damage farm property:

feral swine and health and public safety

Can carry at least 30 disease and nearly 40 types of parasites

• Pseudorabies are fatal to cats and dogs through direct contact w/ feral swine carcass

• Can transmit foodborne illnesses like E. coli, toxoplasmosis, and trichinosis

Can collide with vehicles and aircraft

Can show aggression to people and dogs and other pets

feral swine and natural resources

Consume large amounts of vegetation;

Increases erosion and degrades water quality

Competition for food sources and reduction of food available for wildlife

Compete with native wildlife for scarce water resources during dry seasons

Can spread diseases to wildlife