VALUABLE WILD LIFE 11 



Local extinction means the complete blotting out 

 of a species over certain specified areas, while the 

 species may exist elsewhere. Thus, in the state of 

 Ohio, the bison, elk, white-tailed deer, puma, black 

 bear, gray wolf, lynx, otter, beaver, wild pigeon, 

 wild turkey, pinnated grouse, pileated woodpecker 

 and Carolina parrakeet all are locally extinct. 

 Throughout fully nine-tenths of its entire former 

 range, the elk has been locally exterminated. 



The practical extinction of a species means the 

 destruction of its members to an extent so wide- 

 spread and so thorough that the species disappears 

 from view, and no living specimens can be found 

 by seeking them. In the United States this is 

 to-day the status of the whooping crane, upland 

 plover, wolverine, California grizzly bear and other 

 species. If any individuals of any of these species 

 are living, they will be found only by accident. 



The extermination of a species in a wild state of 

 course means that no individuals of that species are 

 living anywhere save in captivity. This is the case 

 with David's deer of Manchuria, and the passenger 

 pigeon and Carolina parrakeet of North America. 



The absolute extermination of a species means 

 that not one individual of it remains alive. Judg- 

 ment to this effect is based upon the lapse of time 

 since the last individual was seen or killed. When 

 five years have passed without a living "record" of 

 a wild specimen, it is time to place that species in 

 the class of the totally extinct. 



