FOREWORD 



The population of the United States has doubled in 

 the last 50 years; the gross national product has 

 doubled in the last 20 years. These developments, 

 acconnpanied by advances in transportation and in- 

 creases in leisure time, have brought greater de- 

 mands on natural resources and ever-increasing 

 problems in wildlife conservation. 



Wildlife problems are mostly manmade--conaplex 

 yet challenging to conservationists, wildlife adminis- 

 trators, research scientists, and resource managers 

 alike. And they are of concern to all of us. The inter- 

 est of hunters and fishermen may be in more game 

 and fish to catch; the tourist, camper, hiker, bird 

 watcher, or suburban housewife may be pleased nnerely 

 to see wildlife; the student may w^ant to learn some 

 technical detail about a given species; the conserva- 

 tionist may find satisfaction in knowing that a remnant 

 of the whooping crane population still exists; and the 

 farmer, the forester, or the jet plane passenger, 

 while generally appreciative of wildlife, may with 

 ample justification want to have methods devised for 

 controlling animal depredations or elinainating bird 

 aircraft hazards. 



We are living in a changing world, a dynanaic age. 

 Changes in agricultural or forestry practices, changes 

 in land use or transportation systems, or in almost 

 any phase of our economy or mode of living, affect 

 wildlife in some way. To keep pace with these changes 

 and to ensure sound management of the Nation's wild- 

 life resources, continued research is essential. The 

 role of the Branch of Wildlife Research of the Bureau 

 of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in providing informa- 

 tion and improved methodology for wildlife conser- 

 vation, with particular reference to the period July I960 

 to December 1961, is the subject of this report. 



Daniel L. Leedy 

 Chief, Branch of 

 Wildlife Research 



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