In any discussion of fish and wildlife management and efforts to ensure the

existence of creatures in certain numbers throughout the nation, it seems only

fair to question why. One answer is that people simply enjoy watching and

photographing fish and wildlife, and even enjoy just knowing the creatures

exist, even if unseen. Fish and wildlife also help us understand all living things

and how all plant and animal life forms exist in relationship to each other.

There are many other reasons, but perhaps the most commonly thought of

reasons to maintain fish and wildlife are hunting and fishing.

​

HUNTING

In some areas, wildlife managers use hunting as a tool to manage our wildlife resources as well as a source of funds for further wildlife management activities. Hunting also serves as a recreational opportunity for our citizens. Some of the benefits of hunting are obvious. Hunting can help prevent overpopulation of some species, like deer, that can damage their natural habitat if they become too numerous. Individual deer in overpopulated areas would most likely die of starvation or disease unless harvested by hunters. In addition, the subsequent destruction of habitat from deer overpopulation

generally leads to massive losses of many other species because the land can no longer

provide sufficient habitat for all those species. The most significant and obvious benefit of

hunting is that it provides millions of sports enthusiasts with an opportunity to enjoy the

outdoors.

​

FISHING

People were catching fish long before recorded history. Archaeologists discovered that early humans fashioned hook-like devices made of bones, antlers, shells, and stones. One design, called a gorge, was nothing more than a short shaft tapered to a point at both ends and was embedded lengthwise in the bait. The line was attached to the middle of the gorge. When the bait was swallowed, the fisherman pulled the attached line, causing the pointed ends of the shaft to lodge in the fish’s throat. Later versions consisted of a recurved, single-pointed hook design, which bore a striking resemblance to modern fishhooks. These early fish catching efforts were intended solely to provide fish for food. Although the earliest time that people first fished for enjoyment as well as food remains shrouded in antiquity, centuries-old prints depicting a man fishing with a pole and line appear often in examples of Chinese art.

​

The quantity and diversity of fish habitat is undoubtedly the main reason for the highly successful commercial fishing industry and the popularity of recreational fishing in the United States, which has more than 90,000 miles of tidal shoreline and more than 300 species of commercially harvested fish. Freshwater fishing is available in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams scattered across the country from coast to coast and border to border. More than half the U.S. population now resides in a coastal area. This puts tremendous stress on our fragile coastal ecosystem. Professional fish and wildlife managers and other concerned citizens are taking responsibility for maintaining this excellent fishery resource. They have kept a watchful eye on our varied fishery habitat and fish populations in general. For one reason, as we become more and more industrialized, we are increasingly threatened with pollution that can ruin our waters. Also, as populations grow and fishing equipment becomes more and more sophisticated, we put a greater stress on our fish populations.

​

OBSERVING

While many wildlife enthusiasts are avid hunters and anglers, many others pursue their

wildlife interests by way of other hobbies. Some compile life lists as bird-watchers. Others

engage in fish and wildlife photography and art, both as artists and collectors. Still others

develop backyard habitats such as nesting boxes, ponds, and plantings of vegetation for

food and shelter. Many avid anglers and hunters develop additional, related fish and wildlife interests.

​

​

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Hunting, fishing, and other values of fish and wildlife are obvious uses that provide food, hobbies, and simple enjoyment. The subject of endangered species represents a very real value, though perhaps more subtle and complex. The principal reason animals are becoming endangered at an ever-increasing rate is that people are causing major changes in the natural environment. Because many animals have very specific habitat requirements, what appears to be a minor change to humans might be devastating to the animal.

​

During the past few hundred years when the human population has skyrocketed, the extinction process has accelerated drastically. Some animals became endangered species because they competed with people. Wolves and grizzly bears are examples of animals that were deliberately killed because they fed on domestic livestock. Some of the whales, sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles, spotted cats, and other species have been reduced to the endangered status because of their considerable commercial value. Others, like the badlands bighorn sheep, Merriams elk, and eastern elk were exterminated by meat and trophy hunters prior to 1910. Many of these extinct animals were destroyed before most people thought seriously about conservation.

 

The introduction of foreign (or exotic) animals has resulted in the loss of a

number of our native species. Introduced birds and animals such as European

starlings and rats, introduced diseases, and overgrazing and foraging by sheep

and cattle have drastically affected native animals and their habitats. The same

causes that contribute to the endangered status of mammals and birds also

generally apply to fish. Harmful environmental change brought about by

human activity is thought to be the most important cause. In fact, fish are even

more vulnerable than mammals or birds, as most fish are captives of their

stream or lake habitats. They are unable to move at will to the next mountain

or valley if disturbed by human activity. On the brighter side, some success

has been achieved in recent years for improving chances for survival of several

endangered species.

​

An exotic species is any plant or animal that is not naturally occurring in an

area. An invasive species is an exotic that spreads rapidly and competes

with native species.

 

A number of fish species once included on the endangered list have been

reclassified as threatened, a less critical category, though still indicating the need for continued protection. A few examples of such “downlisted” species include Alabama cavefish, snail darter, and Apache trout. Some of these species were at least partially restored as a result of successful transplants to new and undisturbed habitats where they have a better chance to survive. Others have benefited from habitat improvement and the adoption of more protective regulations. Endangered fishes reared at fish hatcheries will be useful in future restoration programs.

​

Why should people try to save endangered species, sometimes at a considerable cost? Perhaps the answer is that extinction is final. If people are responsible for endangering an animal, they have an obligation to future generations of humans to try to save that animal. Furthermore, it is in our interest to preserve all species, because a variety of living things provides a greater diversity of social, recreational, scientific, and economic benefits for everyone.

​

 

ENVIRONMENTAL BAROMETERS

A somewhat subtle fish and wildlife value is that the creatures serve humans as environmental barometers. A barometer is an instrument used to help forecast weather. Years ago, coal miners carried caged canaries with them into deep underground mines. Someone kept a constant sharp eye on the bird, because its behavior reflected the condition of the air. Canaries are much more sensitive to impure air than humans. If the canary died, the miners headed for the surface because deadly methane gas was probably present.

 

In much more subtle ways, fish and wildlife can serve to measure the quality of the environment. Clear, cool streams that ought to support trout, but do not, suggest something may be drastically wrong with the quality of the water. Similarly, the populations of frogs and other amphibians have experienced a significant drop in numbers globally. This trend has signaled an environmental concern among scientists. Ideally, we should strive to assure that most species remain in abundance. If this were the case, the quality of the environment for humans would be healthy, too.

​

The presence or absence of fish and wildlife can reflect the way people live and how well or how poorly they are treating the environment.

​

HELP CURB INVASIVE SPECIES

Over eons of time, populations of plant and animal species develop complex relationships in balance with nature. This delicate balance can easily be destroyed when an invasive species enters the picture. When nonnative, exotic plants and animals are introduced into an ecosystem, they often have no natural predators or controls to keep them in check with the established habitat. Such an environment allows them to aggressively spread out and compete with native species for food, water, shelter, and space, and to expose these native species to new diseases and other hazards. This is why invasive species are a major threat to nature—and also to recreational areas such as lakes and parks that we all enjoy.

 

You can help curb the effects of invasive species. Remember that people and human activity are the major transporters of invasive species.

• After a hike, shake out your socks and remove any weeds and seeds from your shoes before heading home.

• When you are through boating, inspect your equipment and boat before leaving the site. You don’t want to transport any plants, water, mud, leftover bait, or fish and other living things to another area.

• If you have caught any fish, release it back only to the area where it was caught. Never transport your catch and release it somewhere else. In addition, never release anything from your home aquarium to a lake, pond, or other body of water.

• If you are riding a bike, motorcycle, horse, or any other transportation across long distances, be sure you don’t pick up any “hitchhikers” along the way, such as seeds, plant parts, and bugs.