Some Accomplishments of 

 Modern Wildlife Management 



To appreciate the present, one must understand the past. Around 

 1900, most authorities did not have much hope for any of the larger 

 forms of wildlife surviving far beyond the 1920's. This pessimistic view 

 failed to foresee the scientific wildlife management programs that de- 

 veloped in the early 1930's and which have been expanded through 

 subsequent decades. Here are a few historical comparisons: 



• Beaver: 1900 — Eliminated from the states of the Mississippi Valley 

 and all eastern states except Maine: common only in Alaska and a few 

 localities in the Pacific Northwest and Rockies. Today: Common to 

 abundant in nearly all states except Hawaii. 



• Pronghorn Antelope: 7925— Authorities estimated 13,000 to 26,000 

 in U.S.A., most in Wyoming and Montana. Today: Minimum population 

 in all western states is 500,000. 



• Bison: 7595—800 survivors. Today: Population about 6,000 in 

 U.S.A.; all available range fully stocked. 



• Elk: 7907 — Common only in and around Yellowstone National 

 Park; estimated total south of Canada, 41,000. Today: About 1 million in 

 16 states. 



• White-tailed Deer: 7595— About 350,000 south of Canada; extir- 

 pated from more than half the states. Today: Approximately 12 million 

 in 48 states. 



• Wild Turkey: 1930 — Common in only a few southern states, elimi- 

 nated from most. Today: Restored to 43 states, including establishment 

 in several outside original range of species. 



• Fur Seal: 7977— Official census in Pribilof Island showed 215,900. 

 Today: Herd maintained at around 1.5 million under a scientific man- 

 agement program. 



• Egrets and Herons: 7970 — Several species on the brink of extinction 

 because of slaughter on their nesting grounds by feather collectors to 

 supply the millinery trade. Today: Most species common to abundant 

 over most of the United States. 



• Trumpeter Swan: 7955 — 73 survivors south of Canada on one 

 wildlife refuge. Today: Thriving populations on two national parks and 

 several national wildlife refuges. Removed from endangered status in the 

 late 1960's. 



• Wood Duck: 7975 — Greatly reduced in numbers and considered a 

 candidate for early extinction. Today: The most common breeding 

 waterfowl in eastern U.S.A. 



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