ILLINOIS AUDUBON BULLETIN 3 
RemMARKS On Non-GAME MANAGEMENT 
by WARREN R. DEWALT 
Executive Director, Illinois Audubon Society 
(Presented at Conservation Conference IV, sponsored by the Illinois 
Department of Conservation at Lorado Taft Field Campus, Oregon, 
Illinois, May 15, 1976.) 
Non-game animals are those that are not hunted, trapped or otherwise 
intentionally removed. It is an inept, negative way to describe what repre- 
sents at least 90 per cent of our wild creatures. The largest part of our wildlife 
is thus referred to as a ‘‘residual’’ — what's left over after we subtract game 
species. 
It is unwise, however, to reject a term that had its beginnings in 
pre-history. The ‘‘game’”’ obviously came first. At one time all animals were 
hunted, and man had to eat everything he could get his hands on that was 
edible. Our first art depicted game, and domestic animals evolved from wild 
species. Finally, when we got-around to managing wild animals, we were 
concerned by necessity only with the hunted, the “sacred quarry.’’ But, 
recognizing this need to bow to usage, | still find it uncomfortable to think of 
bluebirds and warblers as ‘‘non-game’’. 
Non-game wildlife management is such a new discipline that no 
textbook is available for its practice. Until recently, standard wildlife books 
were concerned solely with fur bearers, waterfowl and fish, and non-game 
as a separate entry was not even found in the index. Wildlife funds were 
largely provided by hunters and anglers. State and federal programs were 
exclusively directed at providing what these people wanted — harvestable 
species. Laws were passed to protect some non-game species, especially 
songbirds, but the concept of ‘‘managing’’ these creatures was unthinkable. 
In short, non-game was left to academics and birdwatchers. 
