Responsible Management 

 of Wildlife Damage 



Maintaining a balance between 

 human and wildlife needs requires 

 sensitivity. In addressing the 

 conflicts between wildlife and 

 people, wildlife managers must 

 thoughtfully consider not only the 

 needs of those directly affected by 

 wildlife damage but also a range of 

 environmental, sociocultural. and 

 economic factors. 



Wildlife is a valuable public 

 resource. Federal and State 

 Governments are responsible for 

 maintaining healthy, stable wildlife 

 populations. Accordingly, when 

 wildlife causes damage, govern- 

 ment has an obligation to manage 

 that damage. Wildlife damage- 

 management responsibilities and 

 authorities fall to different agencies 

 depending on the species, type of 

 problem, and location. The U.S. 

 Department of the Interior's U.S. 

 Fish and Wildlife Service has 



primary responsibility for managing 

 migratory birds and federally listed 

 threatened and endangered 

 species. State wildlife management 

 agencies have primary authority for 

 the management of nonmigratory 

 birds and all other species of 

 wildlife not federally listed as 

 threatened or endangered. 

 Legislation authorizes USDA to 

 provide assistance upon request of 

 State Governments, private 

 individuals, and other Federal 

 agencies to control and prevent 

 damage and disease caused or 

 carried by wildlife. Cooperative 

 agreements provide for the 

 management of various species, 

 including management for the 

 purpose of reducing and preventing 

 damage caused by wildlife. 



Fish-eating birds represent a major threat to the 

 profitability of aquaculture operations. 



