WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

State jurisdiction

Hunting regulations (legal animals, methods (weapons, bait, seasons)), which wildlife should reside within boundaries

Federal jurisdiction

Wildlife specified by constitution, legislative acts, or international treaties

Marin v. Waddell (1842)

Supreme court case; landowner does not have the right to prevent others from taking natural resources from his land; identified wildlife as a public trust

Federal control over wildlife

Importation or interstate commerce in wildlife (Lacey Act), migratory birds (migratory bird treaty), threatened and endangered species (endangered species act), wildlife habitat on federally controlled lands (hires wildlife managers)

U.S. fish and wildlife service

Works with migratory birds, endangered species (enforces endangered species act)

CITES (convention on international trade and endangered species)

Trade that impacts animal life, regulations on ivory

USGS (U.S. geological survey, biological resources division)

Wildlife research, inventory, and monitoring, cooperative fish and wildlife research units, national wildlife research centers (studying wildlife diseases from people to people or animals to animals)

National Park Service

Manages wildlife habitat on national park lands, manages national lakeshores, seashores, monuments, hands-off preservationist management philosophy (“keep things the way they are”)

BLM (bereau of land management)

Manages wildlife habitat on BLM lands in western states and alaska, majorly desert lands, multiple-use management philosophy

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Assists with habitat development on private lands, implements conservational reserve protection and wetlands reserve program (works wit farmers to replace unusable farmlands to become wildlife habitats)

EPA (environmental protection agency)

Majorly protects human health in relation to the environment (toxic waste dumping, air pollution), assesses effect of environmental contaminants on wildlife (pesticides)

Department of defense

Manages military bases on valuable wildlife habitat (humans excluded from land for safety)

State control over wildlife

Resident wildlife animals, state-owned public lands (state parks, forests, wildlife areas), wild animals on federal lands (not animals’ habitats), marine zone (0-3 miles offshore)

State agencies

Located in every state, some just responsible for wildlife (others broader reasons), emphasis on game management, most overseen by citizens board or commission that sets policy

State agency funding

Hunting licenses and special permit fees (annual elk hunt), excise taxes on hunting equipment