Wildlife, a Valuable Resource 



Wild animals are an important part 

 of our environment, and for 

 centuries they have served our 

 needs in a number of ways. 

 Historically, many species were 

 used for food, clothing, or adorn- 

 ment. But in those earlier years, 

 wildlife was seldom managed. 

 Some species, such as the 

 passenger pigeon, became extinct; 

 and other species, like the bison 

 and beaver, became seriously 

 depleted. 



Today, wildlife continues to provide 

 people with a variety of benefits. 

 Wild animals contribute to our 

 enjoyment of outdoor recreational 

 activities such as camping, hiking, 

 photography, and hunting. The 

 knowledge that abundant wildlife 

 exists is important for many people. 

 Diverse wildlife species are major 

 components of a healthy environ- 

 ment; beavers, for example, can 

 create aquatic habitats beneficial to 

 fish and waterfowl. 



Wildlife is receiving increased 

 attention as people develop a 

 broadened environmental con- 

 sciousness. Wildlife is now 

 recognized as having esthetic as 

 well as practical value and is 

 managed by the Federal and State 

 Governments to ensure future 

 abundance. In some instances, 

 however, this abundance has led to 

 conflicts between human and 

 wildlife interests, as the following 

 examples illustrate. 

 • People admire the industrious 

 beaver. However, beaver dams 

 may cause flooding that damages 

 valuable timber stands, roadways, 

 private property, and farmland. In 

 1999, three beavers cut down 

 several irreplaceable cherry trees 



at the tidal basin in the heart of 

 Washington, DC. In the Southeast- 

 ern United States, beavers cause 

 an estimated $100 million in 

 damage annually to public and 

 private property. 



• Mountain lions are regarded as 

 regal animals symbolizing wilder- 

 ness, and as a result of conserva- 

 tion efforts, their populations are 

 thriving across much of the West. 

 In California and Arizona, lion 

 predation on livestock— sheep, 

 cattle, and horses — has increased. 

 There are also occasional encoun- 

 ters between lions and people. In 

 July 1997, one lion attacked and 

 killed a 10-year-old in Colorado's 

 Rocky Mountain National Park, and 

 another badly mauled a 4-year-old 



As mountain lion populations increase, 

 so do conflicts with people and 

 livestock. 



