Below is a poignant quote from a famous and seriously committed animal advocate, America’s Nathan Winograd, about the US Wildlife Services. Below the quote there is a list of US Wildlife Services goals. And below that there is my assessment. What is yours? I finish with some examples of conflicts between nature and human activities. US Wildlife Services strives to maintain a harmonious co-existence between people and wildlife. Do they succeed in an even-handed way?
Recently released figures show that U.S. Wildlife Services killed 375,045 so-called “native” animals in 2023. In addition to killing animals deemed “native,” Wildlife Services kills about two million other animals every year. The federal wildlife-killing program targets wolves, coyotes, cougars, birds and other wild animals. The killing is done by leg hold traps, snares, poisons, gassing, shooting from helicopters or aircraft, and M-44 devices, which “trap wildlife with bait before releasing sodium cyanide into their mouths, killing them.” Why? Rancher profits.
Nathan Winograd in his newsletter. Please visit his website. It is a valuable resource.
What is the purpose of U.S. Wildlife Services?
The U.S. Wildlife Services plays a crucial role in addressing wildlife-related challenges. Its mission is to provide Federal leadership by collaborating with stakeholders in the wildlife management field, the public, non-governmental organizations, and governmental/research entities. Here are some key aspects of their purpose:
- Conservation and Protection: They contribute to the conservation and protection of fish, wildlife, and plants, along with their habitats. This includes enforcing federal wildlife laws, managing migratory birds, restoring fisheries, and conserving wetlands.
- International Cooperation: The agency also assists foreign governments in international conservation efforts.
- Funding Distribution: Through programs like the Wildlife Sport Fish and Restoration Program, they allocate funds to state fish and wildlife agencies in the U.S.
In summary, U.S. Wildlife Services strives to maintain a harmonious coexistence between people and wildlife while safeguarding natural resources for the benefit of all Americans. 🌿🦉🌎
Sources: fws.gov, Wikipedia, Sheep USA.
Assessment
It seems to me that US Wildlife Services are a little biased towards protecting human interests in their work which results in killing more wild animals that are necessary for them to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.
As an observing outsider (and therefore not in possession of all the facts) sometimes I think US Wildlife Services main role is to ensure that wildlife does not interfere with human activities. If that is true, the organisation is marginally involved in conservation.
Conservation is prioritised provided it does not get in the way of commercial activities. That would seem to be the overall goal. But I am probably incorrect.
It looks like there is too much deliberate killing of wildlife by an organisation charged with protecting wildlife.
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What are some specific examples of wildlife conflicts?
Here are some specific examples of wildlife conflicts:
- Human-Wildlife Encounters: These occur when wild animals venture into human-populated areas. For instance:
- Bears rummaging through trash cans in suburban neighborhoods.
- Coyotes scavenging near schools or residential areas.
- For cat owners, coyotes are perhaps the most concerning predator of indoor/outdoor cats in the US. You’ll see many videos online of either coyotes killing domestic cats or cats successfully fending of this resourceful predator an/or escaping by climbing. But coyotes can climb to a certain extent.
- Crop Damage and Livestock Predation:
- Deer feeding on crops in agricultural fields.
- Wolves attacking livestock on ranches.
- Pumas have consistenly preyed on livestock. I recall at least one state managed scheme in which farmers are compensated for livestock loss if they don’t retaliate and kill the puma as a method of protecting the puma and trying to find a balance between farmers and wildlife.
- Aviation Hazards:
- Birds colliding with airplanes during takeoff or landing. Birds also collide with tall buildings in large numbers.
- Geese nesting near airport runways.
- Disease Transmission:
- Ticks carrying Lyme disease from wildlife to humans. Ticks are quite a big problem for dogs and indoor/outdoor cats. Lyme disease is serious and can be very debilitating.
- Bats transmitting rabies.
- Invasive Species Impact:
- Feral Hogs damaging native ecosystems.
- Asian Carp disrupting aquatic habitats.
- Predator-Prey Dynamics:
- Mountain lions preying on deer populations.
- Sharks affecting fish populations in marine ecosystems.
Remember, wildlife conflicts require careful management to strike a balance between conservation and human safety. 🌿🐾🌎. Does Wildlife Services achieve that balance? Please comment.
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