The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation - Pitchstone Waters

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The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

A collection of 11 posts

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

"Invasion Biology"

Attacking Aoudad on Behalf of Bighorn

NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on February 6th, 2017 The Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) say aoudad harm desert mule deer, pronghorn and desert bighorn, and habitat, because they (1) eat plants, (2) drink water and (3) do well. In

pronghorn_circle_ranch

Hunting Is Conservation - Hunting is Sustainable, Helps Species Thrive

The anti-hunter claim that hunting is not a sustainable model and the populations of hunted species will decline and no longer flourish is simply untrue. NOTE: this post was originally published July 22, 2019

Mountain Goat Removal Temporarily Closes Areas Of Grand Teton National Park

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Goat Removal Temporarily Closes Areas Of Grand Teton National Park

According to the article below, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to exterminate wild mountain goats in the Teton-Yellowstone Parks because they (1) are non-native, (2) “compete” with bighorn and (3) might infect them with diseases. NPS claims to follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (the Model)

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

"Invasion Biology"

The Resistance to Holistic Wildlife Management

Across the West as well as in Texas, agencies, universities, governmental and conservation organizations resist holistic wildlife and agricultural management practices. Most Western public grazing rules make holistic grazing very difficult if not impossible In this 5-minute video, range scientist Allan Savory discusses why this is so, and how this

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

Rethinking the North American Wildlife Model

Why not seek an economic basis for wildlife conservation? Quoting the authors of the article below, “If we are to have success with a North American Wildlife Model during the 21st century, then our solutions must evolve too.” NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.org on June 19,

huge deer with antlers walking into sunset

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: an Analysis by PERC (Property and Environment Research Center)

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is the basis on which public wildlife and habitat is supposed to be managed in the United States. Central ideas are that science will govern decisions, and human use of our resources is a primary objective. Since the early 1970’s a body

aoudad_feature_sept2018

"Invasion Biology"

Aerial Shooting in Big Bend Park Spooks and Angers Hikers

On Texas’ public lands, helicopters are routinely used by bighorn sheep managers to kill ‘exotic’ animals and predators – often while counting game. This terrifies wildlife. Years of doing this has taught sheep, deer, elk and pronghorn to associate helicopters with mortal danger. This places extreme stress on animals – especially fawns

pronghorn_running_texas

Understanding the Effectiveness of Aerial Wildlife Surveys

This article makes very good points about the limitations of aerial surveys of wild animal populations. An unmentioned limiting factor in aerial survey accuracy is that helicopters are routinely used to kill ‘exotic’ animals and predators – often while counting game. This terrifies wildlife. Years of doing this – as in the

hunting, wildlife, west-texas

Book Review: Fair Chase, the Sportsman’s Legacy

When people discuss Fair Chase, they often view the topic through a tunnel instead of holistically — and miss the fact that predation is central to conservation. Hunters are often as unaware of this natural principle as non-hunters. Hunters defend their tradition because it helps control population, generates conservation revenues and

Texas Elk and the North American Wildlife Conservation Model

"Invasion Biology"

Texas Elk and the North American Wildlife Conservation Model

For 150-years American conservationists have followed the the North American Wildlife Conservation Model. It has been beneficial for waterfowl and iconic big game species across the continent with the exception of elk in far-West Texas. Here on state-managed lands Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) bighorn sheep managers kill all

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

"Invasion Biology"

Aoudad, The Bogus Boogeyman

Eradication Science or Eradication Snake Oil? This piece asks common sense questions about the increasing use of wild animal eradication as a primary conservation tool, and about the foundations on which these practices rest: Why have eradications become so prevalent? Do eradications advance conservation? Are eradications based on science or