Science / Environment
WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT
When humans work to manage the wild animals in an area, it is called
wildlife management. Wildlife managers study the food, water, shelter and
space available to animals in a habitat. They want to know how many
animals a habitat can support. The goal is to establish a balance in the
number of animals and what is available in terms of food, water, shelter
and space.
Events that may affect wildlife populations in a habitat can include things
like overcrowding of wildlife populations, an outbreak of disease or humans
wanting to build in an area. An increase or decrease in the number of
natural predators can affect animal populations. Climate also has an effect.
A heavy snowfall might cover food or an extended drought might kill plants
that animals would normally eat.
There are many things wildlife managers can do to manage a habitat or the
size of an animal population. Disease, overcrowding or lack of food can
cause the death of a number of animals. This has occurred historically and
controls the size of the population. As habitat areas for wildlife shrink
because human populations increase, wildlife managers step in to help
wildlife populations survive the ups and downs of habitat changes. They
may trap animals to treat them for disease. Large wildlife populations may
be controlled by opening an area to hunting (or likewise, closing an area to
hunters). Wildlife managers may work to restore a habitat by re-planting
grasses and other plants, controlling weeds and improving
water supplies.
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Science Standard 4.2