Fish and Wildlife Management

Fish AND Wildlife
Management
How to Use This Pamphlet
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This may be the best chance you will have to learn about this particular
subject. Make it count.
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BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
MERIT BADGE SERIES
Fish AND Wildlife

Management
Requirements
1. Describe the meaning and purposes of fish and wildlife
conservation and management.
2. List and discuss at least three major problems that continue

to threaten your state’s fish and wildlife resources.
3. Describe some practical ways in which everyone can help

with the fish and wildlife conservation effort.
4. List and describe five major fish and wildlife management

practices used by managers in your state.
5. Do ONE of the following:

a. Construct, erect, and check regularly at least two
artificial nest boxes (wood duck, bluebird, squirrel, etc.)
and keep written records for one nesting season.
b. Construct, erect, and check regularly bird feeders and
keep written records of the kinds of birds visiting the
feeders in the winter.
c. Design and implement a backyard wildlife habitat
improvement project and report the results.
d. Design and construct a wildlife blind near a game trail,
water hole, salt lick, bird feeder, or birdbath and take
good photographs or make sketches from the blind of
any combination of 10 wild birds, mammals, reptiles,
or amphibians.

a. Observe and record 25 species of wildlife. Your list may
include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Write down when and where each animal was seen.
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ISBN 978-0-8395-3307-8
©2004 Boy Scouts of America BANG/Brainerd, MN
2010 Printing 3-2010/059109
.Section 0
b. List the wildlife species in your state that are classified

as endangered, threatened, exotic, game species, fur-
bearers, or migratory game birds.
c. Start a scrapbook of North American wildlife. Insert
markers to divide the book into separate parts for
mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Collect
articles on such subjects as life histories, habitat,
behavior, and feeding habits on all of the five categories
and place them in your notebook accordingly. Articles
and pictures may be taken from newspapers or science,
nature, and outdoor magazines, or from other sources
including the Internet (with your parent’s permission).
Enter at least five articles on mammals, five on birds,
five on reptiles, five on amphibians, and five on fish.
Put each animal on a separate sheet in alphabetical
order. Include pictures whenever possible.

a. Determine the age of five species of fish from scale
samples or identify various age classes of one species
in a lake and report the results.
b. Conduct a creel census on a small lake to estimate catch
per unit effort.
c. Examine the stomach contents of three fish and record
the findings. It is not necessary to catch any fish for
this option. You may visit a cleaning station set up for
fishermen or find another, similar alternative.
d. Make a freshwater aquarium. Include at least four species
of native plants and four species of animal life, such
as whirligig beetles, freshwater shrimp, tadpoles, water
snails, and golden shiners. After 60 days of observation,
discuss with your counselor the life cycles, food chains,
and management needs you have recognized. After
completing requirement 7d to your counselor’s satisfac-
tion, with your counselor’s assistance, check local laws
to determine what you should do with the specimens
you have collected.
8. Using resources found at the library and in periodicals,

books, and the Internet (with your parent’s permission),
learn about three different kinds of work done by fish and
wildlife managers. Find out the education and training
requirements for each position.
Fish and Wildlife management 3

Pine marten
Gray wolf
Atlantic salt marsh snake

Contents
Why Manage Fish and Wildlife? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Basics of Fish and Wildlife Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The Value of Fish and Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Who’s Responsible for Fish and Wildlife?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Observe, Listen, and Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Fish and Wildlife Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Fish and wildlife management 5

Why Manage Fish and Wildlife?.
Why Manage Fish

and Wildlife?
Wildlife management is the science and art of managing the
wildlife—both animals and fish—with which we share our
planet. Maintaining the proper balance and the dynamics
that go with it requires humankind’s attention. This includes
managing and maintaining wildlife habitats of all kinds.
We use this stewardship tool to help minimize or eradicate
the possibility of extinction of any given species. We want our
descendants to have the opportunity to experience the same
animal diversity that we now enjoy. This is a role of the entire
wildlife management team to which we all belong, to constantly
Millions of bison once roamed the Great Plains, but by 1884, only 300 of these
massive creatures were left.
6 Fish and Wildlife management

.Why Manage Fish and Wildlife?
help monitor and control the factors and conditions created by

humans that affect wildlife, to help wildlife adapt to what they
or humans cannot change. A species is a
Throughout history, events caused by humans have greatly classification level
affected the wildlife populations of the past. We cannot change
what has happened, and we cannot bring back the lost popu- of organisms,
lations and extinct species of yesterday. However, with good such as the bison,
vision and wildlife management practices today, we can help
prevent similar wildlife tragedies in the future. that are capable
of interbreeding
The Early Days and producing
To understand the importance of fish and wildlife manage- fertile offspring.
ment, keep in mind a general concept of what fish and wildlife
resources were like in the early years of this country’s settlement
and development. Before European colonization, most of the
North American continent was a vast wilderness, pristine and
pollution free, teeming with fish and wildlife wherever their
needs—food, water, shelter, and living space—were available.
As the settlers and civilization moved into the countryside and
pushed farther and farther west, they made changes to the
landscape for their benefit. These changes often were made
at the expense of the indigenous (native) wildlife populations.
For example, roughly 300 years ago the uninterrupted
prairies were home to vast herds of bison, estimated to number
some 60 million. Species such as the bison were so heavily
utilized to meet the needs of the growing population of new-
comers that in little more than 100 years after settlement of the
prairies, only a few hundred of these magnificent animals were
alive. Another example is the passenger pigeon, at one time
one of the most abundant birds in the world. This bird is now
extinct because of overhunting. The last surviving passenger
pigeon died in a Cincinnati zoo in 1914.
During those early days, America’s lakes, rivers, and
streams were free of pollutants. Our wild rivers allowed
countless generations of salmon to migrate upstream,
uninhibited, from the sea to their historic spawning beds.
Over time, excessive sediment, chemicals and other polluting
factors, and changes to the landscape have impaired water
quality and wildlife habitats because of more intensive
development and resource use. This includes factors such
as agriculture, timber cutting, mining, transportation,
and manufacturing.

A marsh is an excellent habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, such as these egrets,
but as Americans’ need for space grew, some marshes disappeared in favor of dry
land for towns and cities.
Although the loss of wetlands for fish and wildlife use continues to
this day, that rate of loss has been reduced considerably over the past
10 to 20 years. Experts have estimated that between the 1780s and the
1980s, the contiguous 48 states lost approximately 221 million acres
of wetlands—about a million acres per year. By the 1970s to the 1980s,
that loss amounted to about 290,000 acres lost per year. Although the
net loss between 1985 and 1995 had dropped to 117,000 acres per year,
there still are great strides to be made toward wetlands restoration.

Anthropomorphism—Big Word,
Simple Meaning Anthropomorphism
Humankind has had more influence in the loss and alteration
means, in
of our country’s wildlife habitat than any other factor in history.
In the past, people mistakenly believed that the frontier would simple terms,
go on forever and that there was always more wilderness just regarding animals
over the next mountain. This was not the case, of course,
and as the westward movement of the settlers of the 18th and as humans.
19th centuries moved onward they caused vast changes to the
landscape and wildlife habitats.
Today, we still are causing great
change in the landscape and wildlife
habitats in the form of highways, dams,
cities and suburbs, fences, golf courses,
and airports. All of these modern-day
developments affect places where wild
animals and fish have lived and migrated
through for many years. Pollution in our
rivers and streams, intense suburban
sprawl into wildlife corridors, noise
pollution, and pesticide and fertilizer
usage all have played a role in altering
wildlife habitats.
Most people don’t understand
the complexities of the wildlife world.
Animals and animal populations are
not indestructible. From this lack of
understanding has spread a misconcep-
tion—anthropomorphism—that now is
a plague for fish and wildlife managers.
This is what makes understanding
the individual life cycles, habitat
requirements, and what is called the
prey-predator relationship all so important.
While that might sound simple enough, remember that
most fish and wild animals are potentially the “next” meal for
a predator. As a result, usually far more offspring are produced
than the land and water can support. This prey-predator
relationship is only one very basic element in the risk of living
in the wild. Disease, starvation, human actions, the weather,
and natural disasters such as forest fires and flooding all play
a role in the survival of animals in the wild.

A predator is
an animal that
survives by
preying upon
others.
Mountain lions
This all might make you wonder what makes the animals
that concern a fish and wildlife manager different from the
domestic animals we keep as pets. The most significant differ-
ence is that all of our domesticated animals live in environments
controlled by humans. These animals have no need for basic
food hunting skills to survive because their keepers provide
their dietary needs. They do not have to test the laws of nature
with regard to “survival of the fittest,” reproductive competition,
and seasonal migrations. In fact, our pets in general have a
pretty good life compared with their wildlife counterparts.
On the other hand, animals in the wild live with some
rather harsh realities. Think about what a deer in the deep
snow of the Rockies would need to do to survive. Consider
the salmon that is genetically “tuned” to swim hundreds
of miles upstream, past hungry bears, eagles, and human
obstacles just to reproduce. Envision the great annual migrations
undertaken by caribou, Canada geese, and monarch butterflies
just to survive.

Mother Nature (humankind’s anthropomorphic term for

the natural world around us) has established some stringent
rules for living in her world. To survive, wild animals require In fish and wildlife
food, water, shelter, and living space with their own kind; this management,
is their habitat. Each element is specific to each species but in
general they are not much different from what humans require. habitat refers to
We may never have the answer to every question about the needs—food,
the best form of wildlife management for every species. It’s
a challenge today and will continue to be a challenge in the water, shelter,
future. Possibly the experiences you gain from earning the Fish living space—a
and Wildlife Management merit badge will encourage you to
follow a career in wildlife management and help find answers species requires
to those challenges. for survival.
Enjoy the journey.
White-tailed deer

Bald eagle in flight
.Basics of Fish and Wildlife Management
Basics of Fish and

Wildlife Management
A number of factors affect the health and well-being of fish and
wildlife, and any change in an animal’s food, shelter, water,
or living space can affect its ability to survive and thrive.
Human actions, including practices adopted by land managers,
frequently play a part in plant and animal succession, directly
reflecting the health and well-being of a species. Effectively
managing fish and wildlife takes an intimate understanding
of animals and their environment.
At the Center—Habitat
The word might be familiar to you, but to many people, the
meaning of habitat is foreign, or at least hazy. In fish and
wildlife management it refers to the needs of any given species,
or individual specimen, to survive. Those needs generally
consist of proper amounts of food, water, shelter, and living
space. Fish and wildlife have very
specific habitat needs.
Some fish require water of a
certain depth, clarity, temperature,
and flow rate. Other fish require
water of a totally different nature to
live. Certain species of wildlife need
precise temperatures, certain kinds
of trees or other vegetation, and
minimum or maximum amounts
of sunlight.
Bald eagle chicks

Basics of Fish and Wildlife Management.
Habitat needs may change drastically by season or by the age of a

given animal. A young wild turkey, for example, must have a rich
protein diet of insects to provide growth; later in the same year it will
require berries, seeds, acorns, and similar foods. This is a case of the
dietary needs of a species being well-matched to the habitat; in the
spring when the birds are small, the woodland habitat of the wild
turkey is teeming with insects, and in the fall the other foods the
birds need in their maturity are plentiful.
Different species might occupy the same territory at the

same time because certain requirements are the same, but
Knowing the they might be consuming totally different food, and perhaps
precise habitat utilizing totally different shelter. A rabbit might find shelter
in a brush pile and food in green leafy plants while directly
needs of any above, a squirrel might be living in a hollow tree and eating
species of fish acorns. The Animal Foods and Cover chart in this section
compares the different requirements of a number of animals.
and wildlife, and
knowing how to
provide these
needs in certain
balances, is the
center of effective
fish and wildlife
management.
White-tailed deer
Porcupine

Animal Foods and Cover

Mammal Foods Cover
Badger Ground squirrels, mice, prairie dogs, Hole in ground
birds, eggs
Beaver Bark and twigs of aspen, cottonwood, Lodge made of saplings

willow, other deciduous trees; partially underwater, a den
root grasses in a bank
Black bear Acorns, beechnuts, grasses, roots, Wooded area
fruits, berries, insects, honey,
mammals, birds, fish and frogs, carrion
Chipmunk Seeds, nuts, acorns, berries, insects, Underground nest
birds’ eggs, young mice
Cottontail rabbit Dandelions, common plantain, Brushy area

lance-leaved plantain, clover, and many
other types of vegetation
House rat, Ragweed, lamb’s-quarters, redroot, Grasses and weeds; in house
house mouse tumbleweed, foxtail, various grains walls, litter, trash areas
and vegetation products, meat
Striped skunk Insects, small mammals, eggs, snakes, Brush along watercourses,
crayfish, carrion woodlands
Opossum Small birds, frogs, mammals, fish, Trees, burrows

eggs, insects, fruit, carrion
Otter Fish, crayfish, mollusks, eggs, birds, Den in stream bank with
small mammals underwater entrance;
hollow log
Porcupine Bark and twigs of pines and other Trees, brush, caves,
trees; shrubs and grown plants rock crevices
Prairie dog Grasses, weeds, roots, clover, grains Burrows
Raccoon Frogs, fish, shellfish, small mammals, Hollow trees or logs

birds, eggs, reptiles, insects, fruit,
corn, nuts
Red fox Mice, other small mammals, Hollow logs or stumps,
birds, fruit burrows in banks, etc.
Red squirrel Berries, nuts, seeds, insects, birds’ Tree cavity, abandoned
eggs, fledgling birds woodpecker nest; always
in forest
Weasel Small mammals and birds Rock pile, downed log,
burrow in stream bank
White-tailed deer Twigs and leaves of shrubs, trees; Heavy brush, woodlands
mast, grasses, plants
Woodchuck Grass, clover, crops, weeds, etc. Wood piles, stone walls,
burrows in ground
Bird Foods Cover

Barred owl Birds, mice, frogs, crayfish Tree hollow in wooded
swamp or forest
Black-capped Seeds, insects, berries, other fruits Hole in tree, nest box
chickadee
Cardinal Seeds, grubs, beetles, grasshoppers, Hedgerows, trees, shrubs
caterpillars, fruit
Domestic pigeon Grains, seeds, acorns Trees, buildings, bridges
House sparrow Grains, seeds, beetles, other Trees, bird boxes, buildings
insects, worms
Meadowlark Caterpillars, beetles, cutworms, Grassy areas of fields
grasshoppers, seeds, grain
Mallard Marsh plants, insects, mollusks, Freshwater marsh
small fish
Red-tailed hawk Small mammals, reptiles, frogs, insects Woodland
Robin Worms, fruit Trees, shrubs, buildings
Starling Insects, grains, seeds Brushy shrubs, nest boxes,

tree holes
Wildlife Communities
A food chain Everything on Earth is interrelated, from its soil to its most
magnificent creatures—humans. We take plants from the Earth
shows how energy to use in building our homes, making our clothes, and preparing
from producers our meals. We depend on plants to manufacture the oxygen
we need to breathe. Likewise, all other animal life on Earth
is passed from
is dependent on plants, and those plants depend on the soil.
one consumer to The way humans and other large animals are linked to the soil
through smaller animals and plants is called a food chain.
another within
The chain starts in the soil. There plants begin to sprout,
an ecosystem. drawing on the sun’s energy to combine carbon dioxide, water,
An ecosystem and minerals from the soil to make their own food. And the
plants become food for many kinds of animals, from the tiniest
is a community worm or insect to the large deer. The food chain progresses
of organisms and from the soil to the plant to a small animal to a larger animal.
When that animal dies, its remains decay, returning nutrients
their environment.
to the soil to be utilized by plants.

So, plants are critical to all wildlife communities. Plant life

creates a forest, a marsh, a desert, or a prairie and supports
the animals that live there. The plants that
will grow in a
Plant and Animal Succession
Another factor that the wildlife manager must understand is particular wildlife
plant and animal succession. Basically this means that when community are
land is cleared of vegetation (by fire, lumbering, volcanic erup-
tion, etc.), different kinds of vegetation appear in successive dependent on that
stages. Annual weeds appear first, then perennial weeds, then area’s soil and
shrubs, then certain kinds of trees. Trees such as oaks, maples,
and pines represent the final stage, or climax. Generally with climate, and in
each successive stage of plant growth the animal life changes turn, so are the
also, depending on the habitat needs of various species.
animals that
As deepwater habitats (lake, river, marine) and wetlands
(marsh, swamp, bog, fen, prairie) become older, they undergo make the wildlife
a process known as eutrophication, a change in depth size,
community
vegetation, and character through gradual filling. As they age,
depending on the location, some habitats change to scrub-shrub their homes.
Plant-eater
Plants
Basic
nutrients
Plant- and
animal-eater
Decomposers
Flesh-eater
Death
Terrestrial
food chain

wetlands, some become forested wetlands and eventually

forests, and others become prairie. Succession is hastened
Eutrophication is by drainage and tillage practices that increase erosion
and sedimentation.
the natural
process by which Wildlife managers can manipulate plant and
a wetland animal succession to accommodate certain wildlife
species and to discourage others. This is known
becomes more
as enhancement of habitat.
mature and
more productive.
As lakes and wetlands of various types age, they tend to be

filled in and replaced by prairie or forest. Humans hasten this
succession by drainage and land-use practices that increase
nutrient loading, erosion, and sedimentation.

A Model Community
To get an overall look at an ecosystem and its life cycles and food
chains, set up a freshwater aquarium. Monitoring the aquarium over
a period of time will help you get a sense of how animal species and
their environment work together.
Creating an aquarium environment is not difficult, but to get

the balance of life just right, everything from the water to the
plants to the fish and other animals must be handled with care.
For more information on setting up an aquarium, see the Pets
merit badge pamphlet.
To start, choose a 10- to 20-gallon rectangular tank with a large

surface area that will allow plenty of oxygen to dissolve into the
water. Clean the aquarium with water (no detergent or soap). Place
it on a level, sturdy surface away from dark corners, drafty places, or
where the temperature fluctuates a lot. Place it by a southward-facing
window so that the plants and animals get enough light, or use a
full-spectrum ultraviolet fluorescent light on top of the tank.
Complete your aquarium by adding a cover or hood to keep
the animal life in and the dirt out. Leave a small space open in the
hood along the back of the tank to provide access for other aquarium
equipment, such as tubes, filters, and heaters. A one- or two-bulb
reflector can be mounted on the cover to provide additional light.
Line the aquarium floor with sand or gravel, sloping it upward from
the back of the tank to the front. Then fill the tank with 2 to 4 inches of
tap water. Allow the tank to sit for 24 hours, so that the chlorine in the
water dissipates.
An easier and faster way to “age” the water is to use a

commercial dechlorinator, available at pet shops. Follow the
manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and always use chemi-
cals only under the close supervision of an adult.
Next, add live plants. Keep them moist while you work, and do
not bury the crowns of the plants. Some plants have stems that are
bunched together, and they can be planted that way. However, do not

plant individual plants in

bunches. Spread the roots
after you set the plants,
and carefully level the
gravel or sand around
their bases.
The aquarium is now
ready to be filled with
water. Be careful not to
dislodge the plants or
stir up the gravel. Let the
water stand for about a
week to ensure that it has
aged and is at room tem-
perature. Then it is ready
to support the marine life
you choose. In general,
plan on 1 inch of aquatic
animal per gallon of
capacity. For instance, a
10-gallon tank can support
two 5-inch salamanders.
You may purchase
aquatic life from a repu-
table dealer (your merit badge counselor can tell you how to find one)
or catch some common species from small streams or ponds near
your home. You can choose a variety of species for your aquarium,
including many kinds of small fish, snails, tadpoles, freshwater shrimp,
golden shiners, and water insects like whirligig beetles.
A complete aquarium can now be monitored for changes in life
cycles and management issues. When your studies are concluded
to your counselor’s satisfaction, with your counselor’s assistance,
determine whether the organisms can be safely returned to their
natural environment. Check with your local fish and game agencies,
as some species might be harmful and should not be released, while
others might be protected and require permits. If you decide to keep
your aquarium and organisms for a while longer, don’t forget to
follow up on this before you release any of your specimens.

Polar bear
Reproduction Rates
Most species of fish and wildlife have the ability to produce
far more offspring than the available habitat will support. This
is nature’s way of assuring that the species will survive and
providing energy for other species in the food chain. There are One way that
some exceptions; a polar bear generally has two cubs every fish are managed
three years, and a female condor usually produces only a single
egg every two years. This might reflect the traditional seasonal is by removing
availability of food. undesirable fish
High reproductive capability sometimes can work against
the best interests of fish and wildlife managers. For example, populations
when many large predatory fish are removed from a lake, using an organic
smaller fish such as bluegills become overpopulated and
toxin called
The white-tailed deer is a species well-known for rotenone and
reproducing at rates far greater than the habitat releasing desired
can support. Unless their numbers are kept under
fish species to
control, generally by natural predators or human
hunting, they tend to overpopulate until the food replace them.
supply is depleted and disease and starvation set
in, cycling the population back to below what the
habitat can support.

deplete the food supply.

Without adequate food
they fail to grow to a
desirable size and are
no longer of interest
to anglers.
Sometimes a high
reproductive capability
fails to produce a desir-
able number of a given
species. The American
lobster found along the
coastal waters of New
England is a case in
point. An adult female
Prescribed fire
can produce more than 20,000 eggs once every two years, but
because the harsh environment, including natural predation,
results in only a few lobsters surviving to adulthood, wildlife
managers must place strict limits on the harvest of this species.
Management Practices
A prescribed fire Methods of managing fish and wildlife are highly diverse and
are constantly changing. New ideas develop, research produces
is a planned new fish and wildlife information, land uses change, and grow-
and controlled ing human populations place ever-increasing pressures on the
environment and on Earth’s plants and animals. Some of those
fire set by management practices are discussed here.
land managers As a forest matures, its value for certain wildlife species
generally diminishes. The wildlife manager might determine
with the specific that for wildlife needing early growth forest habitat, trees
purpose of should be thinned or removed completely (clear-cut) to open
the way for ground vegetation. This management method also
benefiting a
might involve favoring or sometimes even planning a certain
specific selection of trees to provide food and cover for particular
species of wildlife.
natural area.
For the same reason, prescribed fire might be required to
discourage one kind of vegetation and stimulate the growth of
another that is preferred by certain wildlife. Along with remov-
ing undesired vegetation, planting a particular kind of plant or
mix of certain plants might provide critical habitat needed for

Today, many saltwater recreational

fishing trips originating in Texas,
Louisiana, and Mississippi head for
the offshore drilling rigs in central
and western parts of the Gulf of
Mexico to harvest the bounty of fish
certain wildlife species. This kind
provided by or attracted to the artifi-
of management often is merely a
cial fish habitat.
substitute for natural forces like
forest and prairie wildfires that
must be controlled in order to protect other resources.
Improving stream habitat for fish might involve installing
physical structures like log dams and deflectors, large boulders, For an organism
and anchored trees. Stream bank vegetation and artificial shelter
to metamorphose,
can be established in inland lakes by immersing brush and
discarded Christmas trees. it must have an
Offshore oil and gas production platforms have proven to appropriate
create tremendous artificial fish habitats. In the Gulf of Mexico,
there are more than 4,000 such rigs intended primarily for oil habitat in which
and gas production but that also provide a great fishery. The to change from
early life stages of numerous algae, coral, barnacles, sponges,
and other marine organisms drift in currents until they find a one body form
suitable habitat, or die. When they attach to the underwater to another.
drilling platform framework, they can metamorphose or
change into adult forms, grow and propagate, and become a
food source for other marine creatures.
Junk automobiles, tires, abandoned barges, and construction rubble

are examples of materials that have been used to create artificial reef
habitat for fish in both freshwater lakes and coastal areas.

Platform legs also provide shelter from

Platforms no longer in use currents and predators, as well as convenient
for drilling are increasingly navigational reference points for fish. In
being left in place for essence, they create new habitats and increase
use as fishing holes, to the number of animals a given area of ocean
substitute or mitigate for can support.
environmental damage Much the same thing happens on plat-
elsewhere and generally forms off the California coast. Mussels grow
to create habitat for fish so quickly and abundantly that they must be
constantly scraped off so that their added bulk
and other sea life.
does not cause strong ocean currents to weaken
the platform. A Santa Barbara company now
harvests thousands of pounds of these mussels every week for
sale to four-star restaurants in a number of states. Huge schools
of fish also can be found beneath these oil drilling platforms.
Perhaps the best-known management methods are hunting
and fishing regulations. Generally the goal is to set regulations
so that only harvestable surpluses are removed by hunters
and anglers. Breeding populations are then maintained at the
optimum numbers the habitat can support.
If too many game animals are harvested from a certain
area, there would be too few of the species to make maximum
A game species is use of the habitat (food, water, shelter, space). If too few
animals are harvested, the surpluses will run short of habitat
a species that can and as a result might die because of starvation or disease,
be legally hunted and other less desirable species might move in and take over.
The situation is not quite as clear-cut with fish, but the idea is
in an area. basically the same.
Damage Control
Another part of fish and wildlife management consists of
damage control—practices to
reduce or eliminate conflicts
between humans and fish
and wildlife.
Almost any animal at
times can cause trouble for
humans. Some situations
are just plain nuisances, like
raccoons upsetting trash cans.
More serious cases occur when
wildlife cause financial losses,
Raccoon

To solve an animal damage problem, wildlife man-

agers often use a combination of safe, selective,
effective, and humane control methods. Anyone
who needs to resolve a problem between wildlife
and people should be sure that the right method
is used so that other animals and the environment
will not be hurt.
like thousands of blackbirds invading a farmer’s cornfield, or

coyotes killing sheep, or wild horses and burros overgrazing
and destroying the range, thereby making forage unavailable
for antelope and other animals. The worst kind of conflict
occurs when wildlife threaten the health and safety of humans,
like a rabid fox wandering into a schoolyard or a flock of star-
lings flying a collision course with a jet aircraft.
There are two general methods for reducing these prob-
lems. First, the habitat can be made unacceptable for the
offending species, forcing it to move to more suitable shelter.
Second, the targeted animal or group of animals can be fenced
out, repelled, live trapped and released elsewhere, or if nec-
essary, selectively destroyed by the safest and most humane
means available. Habitat management usually is the long-term
solution, because if an animal is deprived of food, water,
shelter, or living space, it will have to move elsewhere or die.
One thing holds true: Conflicts and competition with
wildlife will increase as more and more humans displace
more and more wildlife habitat.
Success Stories
If fish and wildlife management had not been as tremendously
successful as it has been, we would be living in quite a different
environment today.
By the early 1900s, forests were fast disappearing in the
face of massive logging and uncontrolled fires. Rangelands
were being overgrazed and were becoming highly eroded.
Market hunters were slaughtering wildlife without restriction.
The passenger pigeon was almost gone, and relatively few
beavers, antelope, whooping cranes, elk, white-tailed deer,
wild turkeys, egrets, herons, trumpeter swans, wood ducks,
and fur seals remained. It was assumed that all the larger
game animals soon would be gone.

Since that time the human population has mushroomed

and land-use requirements that exclude fish and wildlife have
Fisheries increased tremendously. However, in spite of all the factors
management is that indicate a continued downward trend in fish and wildlife
populations, there are many examples that show the downward
the active trend can be monitored, contained, and in some cases, reversed.
knowledge and An interesting fisheries management story is shared
by inland states where striped bass were introduced in many
technology having
freshwater reservoirs throughout the nation. Like the salmon
to do with our and steelhead trout, the striped bass is an anadromous
species—it normally spawns (lays its eggs) in freshwater
fish resources.
coastal streams and returns to the ocean and bays to grow
and mature. Fisheries managers learned techniques for artifi-
cially spawning and rearing striped bass, making it possible
to stock this fish in freshwater reservoirs
where it reaches trophy sizes of 30 to
60 pounds. Another benefit of stocking
striped bass is their ability to consume
competing forage and nongame species,
resulting in better survival and faster
Striped bass growth rates for the stripers.
Think about the grizzly bear. These hefty creatures will
avoid humans whenever possible. However, if surprised,
cornered, or separated from offspring, a grizzly bear would
not think twice about defending itself. Therefore, to protect
both the bear and the public, wildlife managers consider the
grizzly’s habits and temperament as part of any grizzly bear
management plan.
Location, Location
Many of us have read stories and seen pictures
of the black bear caught in a bear trap at
Yellowstone National Park or elsewhere. The
trapping and relocation of “nuisance” bears,
mountain lions, and other species is as much for
the safety and well-being of the animal as it is
for the humans it might encounter. The success
of this well-accepted program is saving the lives
Grizzly bear of many animals.

Through their
licensing fees
and excise
taxes on fishing
and hunting
equipment,
hunters and
Gray wolf anglers have
As a result, very successful tactics have been developed paid much of the
and instituted, including establishing what are called land bill for these
corridors for grizzly bears. These large passageways allow the
restoration efforts.
bears to travel unhindered over their normally extensive natu-
ral range. Oftentimes these corridors may link two separate but
vital wilderness areas used by the bears. Such a management
plan shows how developing an understanding of the grizzly
bear and planning accordingly can help prevent many human-
bear incidents.
Many other examples can be cited. Through habitat
improvement, improved survey work, and better hunting regu-
lations, many species are more plentiful today than decades
ago, even though much of their former habitat has been taken
for other uses. White-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and American
bison are far more plentiful now, for example, than they were
at the turn of the century. Wood ducks, once assumed headed
toward extinction, are now plentiful enough so that hunting
bag limits and open seasons have been extended.
Modern wildlife management also has been successful in
bringing a number of endangered and threatened species from
near extinction to comfortable reproducing numbers. The bald
eagle is a prime example of success in this area, as is the east-
ern timber wolf in Yellowstone National Park and Minnesota,
and the American alligator in Florida and Louisiana. Throughout
the world many species that would be gone by now are still
with us, in many cases thriving, because of modern wildlife
management techniques.

The Value of Fish and Wildlife.
The Value of Fish

and Wildlife
In any discussion of fish and wildlife management and efforts
to ensure the existence of creatures in certain numbers through-
out the nation, it seems only fair to question why. One answer
is that people simply enjoy watching and photographing fish
and wildlife, and even enjoy just knowing the creatures exist,
even if unseen. Fish and wildlife also help us understand all
living things and how all plant and animal life forms exist in
relationship to each other. There are many other reasons, but
perhaps the most commonly thought of reasons to maintain
fish and wildlife are hunting and fishing.

.The Value of Fish and Wildlife
Hunting
In some areas, wildlife managers use hunting as a tool to Wildlife managers
manage our wildlife resources as well as a source of funds for
further wildlife management activities. Hunting also serves as use hunting as
a recreational opportunity for our citizens. a tool to help
Some of the benefits of hunting are obvious. Hunting
can help prevent overpopulation of some species, like deer, reduce the number
that can damage their natural habitat if they become too of animals in
numerous. Individual deer in overpopulated areas would most
any given area,
likely die of starvation or disease unless harvested by hunters.
In addition, the subsequent destruction of habitat from deer thereby, for
overpopulation generally leads to massive losses of many other
example,
species because the land can no longer provide sufficient habi-
tat for all those species. minimizing the
The most significant and obvious benefit of hunting is that damage to crops,
it provides millions of sports enthusiasts with an opportunity
to enjoy the outdoors. orchards, and
the wildlife
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an habitat in general.
estimated 12.5 million people ages 16 and older went
hunting in 2006. They spent more than $22.9 billion
on equipment, land leases, and other expenses to
follow their sport.
Fishing
People were catching fish long before recorded history.
Archaeologists discovered that early humans fashioned hooklike
devices made of bones, antlers, shells, and stones. One design,
called a gorge, was nothing more than a short shaft tapered to
a point at both ends and was embedded lengthwise in the bait.
The line was attached to the middle of the gorge. When the bait
was swallowed, the fisherman pulled the attached line, causing
the pointed ends of the shaft to lodge in the fish’s throat. Later
versions consisted of a recurved, single-pointed hook design,
which bore a striking resemblance to modern fishhooks.
These early fish catching efforts were intended solely to
provide fish for food. Although the earliest time that people
first fished for enjoyment as well as food remains shrouded in
antiquity, centuries-old prints depicting a man fishing with a
pole and line appear often in examples of Chinese art.

The quantity and diversity of fish

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife habitat is undoubtedly the main reason
Service estimates that 34 million for the highly successful commercial
Americans went recreational fishing industry and the popularity of
fishing in 2001 and spent more recreational fishing in the United States,
than $35 billion on equipment which has more than 90,000 miles of
tidal shoreline and more than 300 spe-
and outings. The number of
cies of commercially harvested fish.
fishermen increased at almost
Freshwater fishing is available in lakes,
twice the rate of the American ponds, rivers, and streams scattered
population since 1955; while across the country from coast to coast
the U.S. population is up and border to border.
71 percent, the percentage of More than half the U.S. population
Americans who count fishing now resides in a coastal area. This puts
among their hobbies is up tremendous stress on our fragile coastal
more than 130 percent. ecosystem. Professional fish and wildlife
managers and other concerned citizens
are taking responsibility for maintaining
this excellent fishery resource. They have kept a watchful eye
on our varied fishery habitat and fish populations in general.
For one reason, as we become more and more industrialized,
we are increasingly threatened with pollution that can ruin

It is easy to see
that the manage-
ment of all our
fishery resources
will be a highly
challenging and
rewarding career
activity in the
years ahead.
our waters. Also, as populations grow and fishing equipment

becomes more and more sophisticated, we put a greater stress
on our fish populations.
Observing
While many wildlife enthusiasts are
avid hunters and anglers, many
others pursue their wildlife interests
by way of other hobbies. Some
compile life lists as bird-watchers.
Others engage in fish and wildlife
photography and art, both as artists
and collectors. Still others develop
backyard habitats such as nesting
boxes, ponds, and plantings of
vegetation for food and shelter.
Many avid anglers and hunters
develop additional, related fish and
wildlife interests.

We know now that very small

amounts of some pesticides
eaten by brown pelicans, bald
eagles, peregrine falcons,
and many other species may
kill them or make them
unable to produce young.
These three species nearly
became extinct some years
back through wide use of a
chemical known as DDT.
This pesticide found its way
into their diets and caused
their eggs to develop only
thin, fragile shells. Their
thin-shelled eggs tended to
break in the nest before the
young were hatched, causing
Brown pelican a rapid and drastic decline in
population of these species.
Loss of wildlife habitat by draining and filling wetlands (marshes,
sloughs, and swamps), building dams on rivers and streams, clearing
land, or building cities and airports can have an enormous impact on
animals that are not able to adjust to a new or changed environment.
Endangered Species
Abrupt changes Hunting, fishing, and other values of fish and wildlife are
obvious uses that provide food, hobbies, and simple enjoyment.
give sensitive The subject of endangered species represents a very real
wildlife species value, though perhaps more subtle and complex. The principal
reason animals are becoming endangered at an ever-increasing
no time to adapt rate is that people are causing major changes in the natural
and no place environment. Because many animals have very specific habitat
requirements, what appears to be a minor change to humans
to retreat.
might be devastating to the animal.

Endangered
means that only
a few individuals
of a species
remain alive. They
are in danger of
becoming extinct.
Extinct means
that not one
individual of a
species is still
Humpback whale
alive. The word
During the past few hundred years when the human threatened is
population has skyrocketed, the extinction process has accel-
erated drastically. Some animals became endangered species used to describe
because they competed with people. Wolves and grizzly bears a species
are examples of animals that were deliberately killed because
they fed on domestic livestock. that is almost
Some of the whales, sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles, endangered.
spotted cats, and other species have been reduced to the
endangered status because of their considerable commercial
Desert bighorn sheep

Birds and animals that

are native to islands are
especially vulnerable to
introduced predators.
For example, just a few
years ago the brown
tree snake gained
access to the Island
of Guam in the North
Pacific. In just a short
time these large tree-
climbing snakes virtually
wiped out the flourish-
ing bird populations. About 40 percent of Hawaii’s native birds are now
extinct; another 40 percent, like the nene goose
(pictured here), are endangered.
value. Others, like the badlands bighorn sheep, Merriams elk,

and eastern elk were exterminated by meat and trophy hunters
An exotic species prior to 1910. Many of these extinct animals were destroyed
is any plant or before most people thought seriously about conservation.
The introduction of foreign (or exotic) animals has resulted
animal that is not in the loss of a number of our native species. Introduced birds
naturally occurring and animals such as European starlings and rats, introduced
diseases, and overgrazing and foraging by sheep and cattle
in an area. An
have drastically affected native animals and their habitats.
invasive species The same causes that contribute to the endangered status
of mammals and birds also generally apply to fish. Harmful
is an exotic that
environmental change brought about by human activity is
spreads rapidly thought to be the most important cause. In fact, fish are even
and competes with more vulnerable than mammals or birds, as most fish are
captives of their stream or lake habitats. They are unable to
native species. move at will to the next mountain or valley if disturbed by
human activity. On the brighter side, some success has been
achieved in recent years for improving chances for survival
of several endangered species.
A number of fish species once included on the endangered
list have been reclassified as threatened, a less critical category,
though still indicating the need for continued protection. A
few examples of such “downlisted” species include Alabama

Why should people try to save endangered species,

sometimes at a considerable cost? Perhaps the
answer is that extinction is final. If people are
responsible for endangering an animal, they have
an obligation to future generations of humans to
try to save that animal. Furthermore, it is in our
interest to preserve all species, because a variety of
living things provides a greater diversity of social,
recreational, scientific, and economic benefits
for everyone.
cavefish, snail darter, and Apache trout. Some of these species

were at least partially restored as a result of successful trans-
plants to new and undisturbed habitats where they have a
better chance to survive. Others have benefited from habitat
improvement and the adoption of more protective regulations.
Endangered fishes reared at fish hatcheries will be useful in
future restoration programs.
Environmental Barometers
A somewhat subtle fish and wildlife value is that the creatures
serve humans as environmental barometers. A barometer is an
instrument used to help forecast weather.
Years ago, coal miners carried caged canaries with them
into deep underground mines. Someone kept a constant sharp The presence or
eye on the bird, because its behavior reflected the condition of
the air. Canaries are much more sensitive to impure air than absence of fish
humans. If the canary died, the miners headed for the surface and wildlife can
because deadly methane gas was probably present.
reflect the way
In much more subtle ways, fish and wildlife can serve to
measure the quality of the environment. Clear, cool streams people live and
that ought to support trout, but do not, suggest something may
how well or
be drastically wrong with the quality of the water. Similarly,
the populations of frogs and other amphibians have experienced how poorly they
a significant drop in numbers globally. This trend has signaled are treating
an environmental concern among scientists.
Ideally, we should strive to assure that most species the environment.
remain in abundance. If this were the case, the quality of the
environment for humans would be healthy, too.

A fish die-off is often the first sign of pollution in a water supply.
Help Curb Invasive Species

Over eons of time, populations of plant and animal species
develop complex relationships in balance with nature. This
delicate balance can easily be destroyed when an invasive
species enters the picture.
When nonnative, exotic plants and animals are introduced
into an ecosystem, they often have no natural predators or
controls to keep them in check with the established habitat.
Such an environment allows them to aggressively spread out
and compete with native species for food, water, shelter, and
space, and to expose these native species to new diseases and
other hazards. This is why invasive species are a major threat
to nature—and also to recreational areas such as lakes and
parks that we all enjoy.
You can help curb the effects of invasive species. Remember
that people and human activity are the major transporters of
invasive species.
• After a hike, shake out your socks and remove any weeds
and seeds from your shoes before heading home.
• When you are through boating, inspect your equipment and
boat before leaving the site. You don’t want to transport any

plants, water, mud, leftover bait, or fish

and other living things to another area.
• If you have caught any fish, release it
back only to the area where it was caught.
Never transport your catch and release it
somewhere else. In addition, never release
anything from your home aquarium to a
lake, pond, or other body of water.
• If you are riding a bike, motorcycle, horse,
or any other transportation across long
distances, be sure you don’t pick up any
“hitchhikers” along the way, such as
seeds, plant parts, and bugs. Phragmites
Here are only a few examples of invasive
species. You might recognize them.
Phragmites are a wild, cane-like plant
that dominates thousands of acres of coastal
and interior wetlands. It spreads readily,
forming vast and dense reed beds that choke
out native plant species. The stalks and
plumes of phragmites can grow to around
14 feet high, making it even more difficult to
control and eliminate.
The invasive island apple snail came
from the aquarium and aquaculture trades
via South America. This agricultural pest
grows to about the size of a baseball, devours Island apple snail
any type of aquatic plant, has few natural
enemies, and multiplies quickly. In fact, one
female island apple snail can lay up to 1,000
eggs every 10 to 14 days.
The eerie looking snakehead fish
escaped from the aquarium pet trade and
fish markets into local waterways, where it
has spread rapidly, eating up native fish and
their eggs. During droughts, snakeheads can
actually wriggle over land on their fins and
body to reach other waterways. Outside their
native habitat, they have no known enemies.
Snakehead fish

.Who’s Responsible for Fish and Wildlife?
Who’s Responsible for

Fish and Wildlife?
In a very real sense the responsibility for fish and wildlife
must be shared by everybody, but officially this responsibility
belongs to public agencies.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Department
of the Interior has primary responsibility for the management Other federal
of migratory birds (ducks, geese, robins, and woodpeckers, for land management
example); for endangered and threatened species (whooping
cranes, California condors, grizzly bears); and for some marine agencies, such
mammals (polar bears, walruses, and sea otters). A major part as the USDA
of the service’s responsibility for these groups of wildlife takes
place on habitat within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Forest Service,
More than 540 refuges, totaling more than 95 million acres, the National Park
represent the largest system of lands and waters in the world
devoted to the management of wildlife and wildlife habitat. Service, and the
The Department of Commerce, through its National Marine Bureau of Land
Fisheries Service, is responsible for providing the scientific
Management,
and technical information needed to conserve, manage, and
develop living marine resources. The information and analyses administer millions
they provide are the basis for management and development
of acres of
decisions that support the growth and stability of the U.S. rec-
reational and commercial marine fishing industries and public lands.
protection of endangered aquatic species. They also have
Each of the 50 state governments has a conservation
department or game and fish division with the responsibility of responsibilities
managing the state’s resident fish and wildlife species. In all, for wildlife by
some 50 million acres of habitat are managed by the states for
fish and wildlife, both game and nongame species. virtue of their
A similar arrangement between the states and federal management
government exists for fish. The federal government has a
responsibility for managing fisheries in international water and of these lands.
in waters contained on federal lands. The states manage the
fisheries in inland waters contained within the states.

Who’s Responsible for Fish and Wildlife?.
Continue Your Interest

As you continue to develop your interest in fish and wildlife, it
might become a very enriching part of your life. You will come
to realize that our nation is blessed with an amazing amount
of highly diversified fish and wildlife habitat, much of it publicly
owned so that it can be enjoyed by all Americans. Those who
become heavily involved in fish and wildlife conservation
tend to develop a deep pride in our public lands. They often
serve as volunteers for local habitat improvement projects,
in litter clean-up efforts, reporting vandalism, supporting
conservation organizations, and preventing various forms
of misuse and abuse.
As a parting thought: Hundreds of years from now, future
generations also will cherish fish and wildlife resources just as
many of us do today. If you elect to devote some of your time
and energy helping to conserve and improve fish and wildlife
habitats, you will undoubtedly gain a deep sense of satisfac-
tion in assuring these enjoyable benefits for future generations.
Besides government programs, many other organi-

zations contribute significantly to our nation’s fish
and wildlife management efforts (see the resources
section at the end of this pamphlet). In fact, many
private foundations and nonprofit conservation
organizations protect and manage lands that
provide valuable habitat for all kinds of wildlife.
These lands may serve as nesting sites and feeding
zones for wetland waterfowl and migratory birds,
or as corridors or buffer zones between fish or
wildlife habitats and human developments, or they
may house rehabilitation programs for injured
and disaster-affected animals (such as from oil
spills), to name a few. Many private foundations
also conduct research on specific fish and wildlife
species, sharing valuable input with wildlife
managers all over the world.

.Who’s Responsible for Fish and Wildlife?
For most Scouts who earn the Fish and Wildlife Management merit
badge, the knowledge gained will be the beginning of a wonderful
lifetime hobby rather than a career. Wherever you end up living,
there will be opportunities for you to continue to learn about fish
and wildlife and to be active in conservation pursuits. National, state,
and local organizations offer memberships and activities in this field,
and if you are typical, others who share your interests will become
lifelong friends.

Observe, Listen, and Learn.
Observe, Listen,
and Learn
The best way to learn about fish and wildlife is to get outdoors
and experience it. One can quickly find out the types of
materials a squirrel prefers for its nest, for example. Over time,
observers can notice such things as migratory patterns and
the effect of human influence on a habitat. Always remember,
though, that this Earth is the only one we have—do your best
to leave it the way you found it by following the principles of
Leave No Trace.
Safety
Nearly all animals will avoid people if they can.
However, some wildlife can be especially dangerous
if the animal is protecting its young. Always be
careful when observing wild animals. Never go
out alone if there is the possibility of encountering
bears or mountain lions.

.Observe, Listen, and Learn
Principles of Leave No Trace

Do your part to keep nature natural by following
these principles.
1. Plan ahead and prepare. Proper planning
and preparation increases safety, reduces the impact of your
visit on the environment, and helps make your outdoor
experience more enjoyable.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. Natural environments
are easily damaged by foot traffic. Use existing trails or travel
on durable surfaces such as rock, gravel, sand, compacted
soil, dry grasses, or snow. Large groups should spread out to
avoid creating new trails. Keep campsites small.
3. Dispose of waste properly (pack it in, pack it out). Any
material people leave behind pollutes the environment and
might create a health hazard for wildlife or other visitors.
Pack out any trash and leftover food. Dispose of human
waste by digging catholes 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet
away from water, trails, and campsites.
4. Leave what you find. Observe the interesting things you
find, but do not disturb them. Use established campsites and
do not alter them in any way. Restore campsites to pristine
condition before you leave.
5. Minimize campfire impacts. Use a lightweight stove when
cooking in the backcountry. If you need to build a fire, keep it
small and use only dead or downed wood. Never cut down
limbs or trees for firewood.
6. Respect wildlife. Stay far enough away from animals that
your presence does not disturb their natural activity. Store
food, food scraps, and trash securely to prevent animals
from eating food that is not part of their natural diet. Never
feed animals.
7. Be considerate of other visitors. Let everyone enjoy nature.
Travel and camp quietly and away from other people. Blend
in by wearing subdued colors. Leave pets and portable
audio devices at home.

Types of Wildlife
State fish and Take some time to learn a little about the types of wildlife and
fish that can be found in the wild, then go out and watch them.
wildlife agencies This will help you determine their needs and could possibly
can provide give you an idea for a project that will improve their habitat.
information on Mammals
exotic animals, Mammals are the only animals on Earth that nurse their young.
They are warm-blooded, which helps them adapt to all kinds of
game species,
climates. They also are intelligent. If you could give an IQ test
furbearers, and to every species of animal, mammals would score higher than
all other animals.
migratory game
You are likely to spot a variety of mammals in any wild-
birds that includes life community. Being familiar with some animals’ habits will
a list of currently give you a greater chance of observing them in the wild. A
large percentage of mammals are nocturnal—that is, they stay
endangered in their dens or burrows during the day, venturing out for food
animals that live at night. Hoofed animals, like the deer and sheep, usually are
found in more open wild areas, where they can feed on grasses
in your area. and leaves. Wooded areas are home to many types of mam-
mals, including members of the rodent family that live among
The Arctic hare’s natural camouflage helps it blend into its

environment and evade predators.

Beaver-eaten tree
Most mammals are too shy to come out of their natural camouflage
and put themselves on display, so spotting them is not easy. If you
start looking for tracks or other signs, though, you will find that
mammals are much more common than you think. Look for the
following signs:
• Tracks in the mud or sand along waterways
• Signs of feeding around fruit-bearing shrubs or trees
• Rough bark around the hole in a hollow tree
• Droppings on animal runways in woods or fields
• Animal homes—holes in the ground, muskrat houses,
or beaver dams
the leaf litter on the forest floor or in tunnels under lawns and
fields. You might sight a water mammal if you live near an
ocean; whales, seals, sea lions, sea otters, walruses, porpoises,
and dolphins all breathe air and must surface frequently for a
fresh supply.
Predatory mammals, including flesh-eaters like bears,
raccoons, skunks, opossums, foxes, wolves, and bobcats, are
found in every kind of wildlife community. Some of them eat
plants, but all prefer to eat other animals and have canine
teeth for tearing flesh.

Birds
The best way to learn to
identify birds is to venture
outside and look and
listen for them. Borrow a
pair of binoculars to make
watching more fun and
identifying the birds easier.
Then, learn something
about bird families and
where they usually are
found so that you will be
able to identify any bird
you see.
If you are near a lake
or a river, you might very
well see ducks, geese,
wading birds like herons
or egrets, or shore birds
like sandpipers or killdeer. American kestrel
If you are near the ocean,
you might see gulls or terns. An area with lots of trees
could be home to woodpeckers, flycatchers, jays, warblers,
and orioles. Prairies and fields are good habitat for swallows,
thrashers, thrushes, and meadowlarks. In almost all wildlife
communities, bird watchers can find finches and sparrows.
As you watch birds, find out as much as you can about
them. To help you determine a bird’s species and to recognize
it the next time you see it, take note of its call, size, shape, and
habitat, as well as its song, what it eats, how it flies, the trees or
other plants it favors, where it nests, whether it walks or hops,
and specific mark-
ings such as an eye
stripe, wingbars,
and coloration.
American robin

Reptiles and Amphibians

Once you learn the differences between
reptiles and amphibians, you can easily
tell them apart. Reptiles include snakes,
lizards, turtles, alligators, and crocodiles,
while salamanders, frogs, toads, and
newts are amphibians. Reptiles hatch
or are born on land and look just like
their parents, but most amphibians
spend their early life in the water and
go through extreme changes on their
way to adulthood. Amphibians can live
Desert tortoise
on land or in water, while most reptiles
are more terrestrial.
Life cycle of a frog

The best time to look for reptiles and amphibians is in

the spring, as they emerge from hibernation seeking food,
the warmth of the sun, and their mates. Fall usually is the
next best season to see reptiles, as they seek sunshine for
warmth again; many gather near dens or burrows. Summer
searching is unpredictable. You might find turtles, water
snakes, and many varieties of frogs during hot weather, but
most shun the heat and the sun. Others prowl only at night;
sometimes it is worthwhile to look for them with a flashlight
after dark. In areas with harsh winters, these animals hibernate
during the cold weather and cannot be found.
When looking for reptiles and amphibians, leave no stone
unturned. Tip up and then make sure to replace all objects
beneath which something might hide, including boards, flat
or loose rocks, cracks in cliffs and ledges, rock slabs, and
boulders. Peeling the bark away from rotten logs or tearing logs
or stumps apart also can help; the sudden light temporarily
dazzles the uncovered animal to give you a chance to identify it.
Broad-banded copperhead
While most reptiles are harmless and all are

beneficial, a few (like the broad-banded copperhead
shown here) can be dangerous. There are four
groups of poisonous snakes, one poisonous lizard,
and a few large turtles that can inflict painful bites.
There are poisonous snakes in nearly every state
in the country.

Frogs and toads have distinctive calls. Some, like Catch and release
the spring peeper, have a high, piping noise. Others,
is an important
like the leopard, wood, and pickerel frogs, make a
noise that sounds like a snore or a grunt; the call of conservation
the green frog resembles a loose mandolin string; measure practiced
and the bullfrog’s low “jug-o-rum” is well-known
by fishermen.
to almost everyone.
In some areas,
catch and release
is the law. See
the Fishing or
Fly-Fishing merit
badge pamphlets
for more
information on
the sport.
Fish
Fish can be found just about anywhere there is water. Whether
as small as a backyard pond or as large as an ocean, bodies of
water are home to fish of all shapes and sizes. Some freshwater
fish you might catch include bass, panfish, catfish, and trout.
If you live near a coastal area, try fishing for saltwater fish
such as yellowtail, drum, pompano, redfish, salmon, snapper,
and spotted sea trout.
A few tips could make finding a place to catch fish in
freshwater or saltwater easy. Fish like edges, so look for them
where the bank meets the water, where a sandbar drops off,
and where two currents meet. Fish like to hide, too. Look
around weed beds; underneath overhanging trees, brush, and
docks; and where rocks jut out from shore. Fish like rapids and
currents. Rushing water carries food and lots of oxygen, both
of which fish enjoy. Look for fish in pools under waterfalls.

You Are What You Eat

Optional requirement 7c asks you to examine the
stomach contents of three fish. As an angler, doing
so will tell you what that species feeds on in the
wild—insects, worms, smaller fish, vegetation, and
so on. It will give you a good idea of the best bait
or lure to use. Resource managers use this same
information to help ensure that the species has
access to the most appropriate food sources.
Examining a fish’s entrails can be done easily
when cleaning a fish you intend to eat. If you are not
able to visit a cleaning station or to find a similar
alternative, you may need to gut a fish yourself.
(For tips on safe knife use, review your Boy Scout
Handbook.) After skinning or scaling the fish, follow
these steps.
Step 1—Starting at the anal opening near the tail,
cut through the skin from the belly to the gills. Be
careful not to cut too deeply and destroy the organs.
Step 2—Open the belly and use your fingers to
carefully remove the gills from the fish. Scrape
out the kidney line (it’s reddish brown) along the
backbone. Detach the entrails from the fish by
cutting them away from the fish’s body; be careful
not to burst the stomach.
Remember to responsibly dispose of all remains.
Follow Leave No Trace principles, and treat this waste
as you would human waste by either packing it out
or burying it in a cathole that is 6 to 8 inches deep
and at least 200 feet from the water source, trails,
or campsites.

Scales
Scale
Once you land a fish, you can learn a lot about it by

sampling a single scale, including its age. Like trees, a fish’s
scales show rings that give away its age. As the fish grows,
its scales grow with it, leaving behind circular ridges—widely
placed in warm months and closely placed in cooler months.
As the seasons pass, each band of wide and close ridges marks
one year of a fish’s life.
To take a scale sample from a fish, choose a mature scale
from behind the dorsal fin toward the top of the fish. Slip
needle-nose pliers under a scale and gently tug toward the fish’s
tail. Any scale that is removed can be regenerated by the fish,
so the live fish may be released once your sample is taken.
Growth seasons can be counted by rings on the scale, much
like the growth rings on a tree.

Conducting a Creel Census

The results of a creel census are helpful in
estimating the number of fish the average
angler catches in an hour at one body of
water. A simple survey will help compile the
data. As anglers return to the dock after a day
of fishing, poll them about their catch. How
many hours were they out, and how many
fish did they catch? The more anglers you
poll, the more accurate your results will be.
Observing Wildlife
A simple way to help make your backyard more inviting to
wildlife observation is to replace exotic plants with those that
are native to the region. Some ways to attract and pamper local
wildlife include adding birdbaths filled with clean, fresh water,
using natural insecticides rather than chemicals, building brush
piles, and planting native trees. When you go into the wild to
observe wildlife, though, follow these tips.
Blend Into the Landscape

Find a comfortable spot to sit or lie prone. Stay absolutely still
and be patient. Some animals will lose their fear of you after
a time and venture out of hiding. If you want to make your
presence even less obvious, build a blind one day and go into
it a day or two later when the animals have gotten used to it.
Take binoculars if you have them.
Go Out at Night
With your parent or another Scout, visit a natural habitat at
night. Take a flashlight. Shine the light at intervals on the trail
ahead, into treetops, and into dense brush. Skunks, foxes, deer,
flying squirrels, raccoons, and opossums might be looking at you.

Take to the Water

Look along a stream bank or lakeshore for tracks in the mud
and sand. That night, go out in a boat with a flashlight and Where a prairie
row to a point offshore from where you saw the tracks. Sit meets a
quietly, and at the slightest sound, aim your light toward it.
woodland, where
Or anchor near a beaver dam or muskrat house and shine
your light whenever you hear a sound. a hay field meets
Stake Out a Burrow a cornfield, where

If you spot a hole in the ground while on a hike, poke some a marsh blends
pencil-sized sticks lightly into the ground around it. If the hole into woods, or
is a mammal’s burrow, you will find the sticks knocked down
when you come back to look at it later. So sit down in a com- wherever two
fortable spot nearby and wait. If you are patient, you might be communities
rewarded by a look at a woodchuck, badger, ground squirrel,
pocket gopher, or chipmunk. come together,
you will find a
Look Along the Edges
As you observe wildlife communities, you will discover that the larger variety
best places to find animals are where two communities meet. of animals.
This edge attracts more wildlife than either of the communities.
Here, you will find a greater variety of plants, which supply
more food and more cover for more animals.
For example, rabbits find food in fields where clover grows,
but they need tangle or brush for cover from their enemies.
Where a field meets a shrubby wood, rabbits have food and
cover close together and therefore can live successfully.
However, even though a greater variety of wildlife can
be found along the edge, some animals avoid the edges and
require large stretches of a certain type of terrain, such as
an unbroken forest.
Anything that you can use to conceal yourself can be

used as a blind. A tent, a hollow tree, or a cave might
serve well. Set up your blind downwind from the spot
where you expect the animals to come. Camouflage
the blind with branches, grasses, and reeds to make it
look as much a part of the landscape as possible.

Nest Boxes
The types of homes for different species
are, of course, different. Installing a nest
box that is specially suited for a particular
animal might give you the best opportunity
to observe the animals without disturbing
them. Nest boxes need to be maintained
by cleaning them out once a year.
Squirrels and raccoons normally make
their homes from large cavities in trees or
hollow logs. You can make them a good
home by fitting a wooden nail keg with
a “roof” and an entrance hole. Place the
hole on the side for easy entrance, and
cut the entrance hole a little larger for bigger mammals like the
raccoon. A raccoon box should be placed in a wooded area not
too far from water, while a squirrel box belongs in an oak or
nut tree woodland.
Many birds, like the Eastern bluebird, make their homes
in the hollow of a tree, while other birds are content to build
their nests anywhere among its branches. Robins, phoebes, and
barn swallows will nest on square wooden platforms mounted
beneath the eaves of barns, sheds, or buildings, out of the
wind and rain.
A good way to attract birds to your backyard is to provide
water. A simple, old-fashioned birdbath works well. Keep it
clean by scrubbing it every day or two with hot water and
adding fresh water with a hose. Otherwise, the standing water
Squirrel nest box
will begin to attract mosquitoes. You need only the bowl from
a birdbath or a shallow plastic dish like those made
to go under potted plants. Place the bowl directly
on the ground near escape cover such as trees
or bushes.
Put a flat rock as big as your hand in the

middle of the bowl so that only an inch
or so of water covers it. Some birds do
not like to wade into deep water to bathe
and can stand on the rock.
Raccoon nest box

Eastern Bluebird Nest Box

Eastern Bluebird
Nest Box
Materials List
⁄"
14
Vent ■ Standard 1" X 6",
pivot 4 feet long
screws ■ Standard board
pivot 1" X 10", 101⁄2" long
screws
■ 13⁄4" galvanized nails,
approximately 20
Recessed ■ Two 13⁄4" galvanized
Double- bottom 1⁄4"
drill holE through screws for pivot point
headed
nail “front” and side of ■ One double-headed
door to hold door nail for holding
closed with nail.
door closed
9 1⁄4" 101⁄4"
front
80º 19⁄16"
side side
93⁄8"
6 1⁄2"
4"
9 1⁄4"
ROOF
Floor back
drainage
corner cuts 101⁄2" about 1'13⁄4"
4" 91⁄4" 101⁄4" 93⁄8"
Use the remainder

51⁄2"
Floor side side front of the board

for the back.
4"
The nest box plans have been provided by the North American Bluebird Society. For
more information about bluebirds and their conservation, visit the NABS Web site:
http://www.nabluebirdsociety.org/.

.Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management
Careers in Fish and

Wildlife Management
If you are already serious about a career in fish and wildlife
management, earning this merit badge is the perfect introduc-
tion to the subject. Becoming a professional in the fish and
wildlife management field offers great challenges and personal
satisfaction. To pursue such a career, you should have a strong
interest in natural resources and the related sciences.

Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management.
Wildlife biologist However, many people involved in fish and wildlife

management are not professional biologists. Many of them
Zoologist
are professionals in other fields who combine their abilities
Fish hatchery with a basic knowledge of and interest in fish and wildlife
superintendent management. For example, fish and wildlife agencies include
Hydrographer on their staffs lawyers, office administrators, writers, engineers,
foresters, and other experts. It is a challenging career field,
Wildlife manage- but opportunities are always available for those who have the
ment consultant drive and are willing to work hard.
Conservation officer Preparing for such a career begins when you are still in
school. Taking courses in geography, math, history, biology,
Oceanographer and physical and social sciences will help you build a strong
Fish and base. Depending on the field you choose, you most likely will
game warden need to develop technical writing skills—especially if your
work involves research.
Outdoor recreation Those who are serious about a career in the field of
planner fish and wildlife management know that the competition for
Watershed manager positions is stiff. This makes getting good grades in school
and a solid college education essential. Begin by pursuing a
Forest or
broad-based education that strengthens your understanding of
park ranger
natural resources as well as the social, economic, and political
Environmental forces that affect how decisions are made. Introductory courses
analyst in subjects such as wildlife, zoology, math, statistics, computer
science, English composition, and botany all are practical.
Soil conservationist
Depending on your major, as you become more focused on a
Fisheries officer specific area, courses in embryology, taxonomy, genetics, and
Fish and wildlife vertebrate and invertebrate zoology will enhance your under-
technician standing of conservation-related fields.
Wildlife education
officer Most conservationists also are public speakers.
They might be called to address student groups,
Tree farm manager
civic and service clubs, and other organizations and
Environmental gatherings. So, get involved with the debate team
interpreter at school and take courses in public speaking and
Conservation communication to add value to your education.
educator
Mammalogist
Conservation
law enforcement
officer

.Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management
Starting early with volunteer work also is a great way to Park naturalist
gain valuable experience while making friends and contacts in
Teacher
the profession. Contact your local fish and wildlife service to
inquire about volunteer opportunities. Fisheries biologist
Keep in mind that career opportunities abound in fish Marine resources
and wildlife management not only in the government (city, technician
county, state, federal) and nonprofit sectors but increasingly
in the private sector, too. More and more private utility, mining, College or university
lumber, and paper companies are employing specialists in the professor
field. Chances are good that you will find a lifelong career Recreation
that is personally rewarding and enjoyable. For more specific specialist
information about education and training requirements and
career opportunities, check out the many resources in the back Wildlife officer
of this pamphlet. Ornithologist
Parks planning
technician
Public information
specialist
Resource manager
Planning officer
Lumberyard
manager
Equipment operator
Refuge manager
Forester
Park superintendent
Environmental
educator
Zookeeper/curator
Veterinarian

.Fish and Wildlife Resources
Fish and Wildlife Resources

Scouting Literature Chinery, Michael, ed. The Kingfisher
Boy Scout Journal; Boy Scout Handbook; Illustrated Encyclopedia of Animals:
Fieldbook; Animal Science, Bird From Aardvark to Zorille—and
Study, Camping, Environmental 2,000 Other Animals. Kingfisher
Science, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Forestry, Books, 1992.
Insect Study, Mammal Study, Nature, Forsyth, Adrian. Mammals of North
Oceanography, Pets, Reptile and America: Temperate and Arctic
Amphibian Study, Soil and Water Regions. Firefly Books LTD, 1999.
Conservation, and Veterinary Medicine
Griggs, Jack, ed. All the Birds of
merit badge pamphlets
North America: American Bird
Conservancy’s Field Guide.
Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s HarperCollins, 1997.
official retail Web site at http:// Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County
www.scoutstuff.org for a complete Almanac, reissue ed. Ballantine
listing of all merit badge pamphlets Books, 1990.
and other helpful Scouting materi-
Maynard, Thane. Working With
als and supplies. Wildlife: A Guide to Careers in the
Animal World. Orchard Books, 2000.
Books Sayre, April Pulley. Put On Some
Antlers and Walk Like a Moose:
Arnosky, Jim. Field Trips: Bug Hunting,
How Scientists Find, Follow, and
Animal Tracking, Bird-Watching,
Study Wild Animals. Millbrook
Shore Walking. HarperCollins
Press, 1997.
Publishers, 2002.
Vergoth, Karin, and Christopher
Behler, John. Reptiles (The National
Lampton. Endangered Species.
Audubon Society First Field Guide).
Scholastic Library Publishing, 2000.
Scholastic Trade, 1999.
Wernert, Susan J., ed. Reader’s Digest
Cassie, Brian. Amphibians (The
North American Wildlife. Reader’s
National Audubon Society First
Digest Adult, 1998.
Field Guide). Scholastic Trade, 1999.

Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Organizations and Web Sites National Wildlife Federation

American Birding Association 11100 Wildlife Center Drive
4945 N. 30th St., Suite 200 Reston, VA 20190
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 Toll-free telephone: 800-822-9919
Toll-free telephone: 800-850-2473 Web site: http://www.nwf.org
Web site: National Zoological Park
http://www.americanbirding.org 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
American Fisheries Society Washington, DC 20008
5410 Grosvenor Lane Telephone: 202-633-4800
Bethesda, MD 20814 Web site: http://nationalzoo.si.edu
Telephone: 301-897-8616 The Nature Conservancy
Web site: http://www.fisheries.org 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100
Association of Fish and Arlington, VA 22203-1606
Wildlife Agencies Toll-free telephone: 800-628-6860
444 North Capitol St. NW, Suite 725 Web site: http://www.nature.org
Washington, DC 20001 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Telephone: 202-624-7890 Toll-free telephone: 800-344-9453
Web site: http://www.fishwildlife.org Web site: http://www.fws.gov
Leave No Trace Center Wildlife Conservation Society
for Outdoor Ethics 2300 Southern Blvd.
P.O. Box 997 Bronx, NY 10460
Boulder, CO 80306 Telephone: 718-220-5100
Toll-free telephone: 800-332-4100 Web site: http://wcs.org
Web site: http://www.lnt.org
National Audubon Society
700 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: 212-979-3000
Web site: http://www.audubon.org
National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-857-0166
Web site: http://www.nfwf.org
National Marine Fisheries Service
Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

.Fish and Wildlife Resources
Acknowledgements U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Tracy

Brooks, courtesy—page 4 (center)
This edition of the Fish and Wildlife
Management merit badge pamphlet was U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Bill
prepared by the Boy Scouts of America’s Buchanan, courtesy—page 37
national Conservation task force. Special (phragmites)
thanks to task force member Gary M. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/George
Stolz, Ph.D., who is with the U.S. Fish Gentry, courtesy—page 56
and Wildlife Service. Dr. Stolz’s input,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Bill Gill,
expertise, and accommodating support
courtesy—page 8
have been a tremendous help.
The BSA is especially grateful to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/John
task force members Daniel A. Poole, and Karen Hollingsworth,
president, Wildlife Management courtesy—pages 32 and 34
Institute; and Harvey K. Nelson, U.S. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Robin
Fish and Wildlife Service, North Hunter, courtesy—page 33 (top)
American Waterfowl Plan; for their
efforts in preparing this new edition. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Beth
We appreciate the Quicklist Consulting Jackson, courtesy—page 47 (top)
Committee of the Association for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Lee
Library Service to Children, a Karney, courtesy—page 46 (bottom)
division of the American Library U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/K. A.
Association, for its assistance with King, courtesy—page 11 (top)
updating the resources section of
this merit badge pamphlet. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Dave
Menke, courtesy—pages 12–13
Photo and Illustration Credits (both), and 46 (top)
Florida Department of Environmental U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/LuRay

Protection/Dana Denson, courtesy— Parker, courtesy—page 57
page 37 (island apple snail) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Ray
©Jupiterimages.com—pages 21 and 42 Rauch, courtesy—page 48
©Photos.com—cover (all except merit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Duane

badge and bird box); pages 14 Raver, courtesy—page 26 (top)
(bottom), 21, 24, 36, and 42 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; photo
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Bob by Robert S. Simmons, courtesy—
Nichols, courtesy—page 22 page 4 (bottom)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; photo
courtesy—pages 10, 23, 27, and 44 by Tom Stehn, courtesy—
page 11 (bottom)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Erwin
and Peggy Bauer, courtesy—
page 4 (top)

Fish and Wildlife Resources.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; photo John McDearmon—pages 17–18

by Gary M. Stolz, courtesy— (both), 47 (illustration), 49, 51
page 33 (bottom) (both), and 54–55 (illustrations)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Terry Brian Payne—pages 6, 30, and 38
Tollefsbol, courtesy— Randy Piland—page 20
page 26 (bottom)
Mickey Welsh—pages 31 and 64 (top)
U.S. Geological Survey, courtesy—
page 37 (snakehead fish)
All other photos and illustrations not
mentioned above are the property of
or are protected by the Boy Scouts
of America.
Gene Daniels—page 59
Daniel Giles—cover (bird box)
Vince Heptig—page 9
Merit badge library
Though intended as an aid to Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and qualified Venturers in
meeting merit badge requirements, these pamphlets are of general interest and are made
available by many schools and public libraries. The latest revision date of each pamphlet
might not correspond with the copyright date shown below, because this list is corrected
only once a year, in January. Any number of merit badge pamphlets may be revised
throughout the year; others are simply reprinted until a revision becomes necessary.
If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition for that
pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet to earn
the badge and fulfill the requirements therein. In other words, the Scout need not start
all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.
Merit Badge Pamphlet Year Merit Badge Pamphlet Year Merit Badge Pamphlet Year
American Business 2002 Engineering 2008 Photography 2005
American Cultures 2005 Entrepreneurship 2006 Pioneering 2006
American Heritage 2005 Environmental Science 2006 Plant Science 2005
American Labor 2006 Family Life 2005 Plumbing 2004
Animal Science 2006 Farm Mechanics 2008 Pottery 2008
Archaeology 2006 Fingerprinting 2003 Public Health 2005
Archery 2004 Fire Safety 2004 Public Speaking 2002
Architecture 2008 First Aid 2007 Pulp and Paper 2006
Art 2006 Fish and Wildlife Radio 2008
Astronomy 2004 Management 2004 Railroading 2003
Athletics 2006 Fishing 2009 Reading 2003
Automotive Maintenance 2008 Fly-Fishing 2009 Reptile and
Aviation 2006 Forestry 2005 Amphibian Study 2005
Backpacking 2007 Gardening 2002 Rifle Shooting 2001
Basketry 2003 Genealogy 2005 Rowing 2006
Bird Study 2005 Geology 2005 Safety 2006
Bugling (see Music) Golf 2002 Salesmanship 2003
Camping 2005 Graphic Arts 2006 Scholarship 2004
Canoeing 2004 Hiking 2007 Scuba Diving 2009
Chemistry 2004 Home Repairs 2009 Sculpture 2007
Cinematography 2008 Horsemanship 2003 Shotgun Shooting 2005
Citizenship in the Indian Lore 2008 Skating 2005
Community 2005 Insect Study 2008 Small-Boat Sailing 2004
Citizenship in the Nation 2005 Journalism 2006 Snow Sports 2007
Citizenship in the World 2005 Landscape Architecture 2008 Soil and Water
Climbing 2006 Law 2003 Conservation 2004
Coin Collecting 2008 Leatherwork 2002 Space Exploration 2004
Collections 2008 Lifesaving 2008 Sports 2006
Communication 2009 Mammal Study 2003 Stamp Collecting 2007
Composite Materials 2006 Medicine 2009 Surveying 2004
Computers 2009 Metalwork 2007 Swimming 2008
Cooking 2007 Model Design and Building 2003 Textile 2003
Crime Prevention 2005 Motorboating 2008 Theater 2005
Cycling 2003 Music and Bugling 2003 Traffic Safety 2006
Dentistry 2006 Nature 2003 Truck Transportation 2005
Disabilities Awareness 2005 Nuclear Science 2004 Veterinary Medicine 2005
Dog Care 2003 Oceanography 2009 Water Sports 2007
Drafting 2008 Orienteering 2003 Weather 2006
Electricity 2004 Painting 2008 Whitewater 2005
Electronics 2004 Personal Fitness 2006 Wilderness Survival 2007
Emergency Preparedness 2008 Personal Management 2003 Wood Carving 2006
Energy 2005 Pets 2003 Woodwork 2003
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA • SUPPLY GROUP
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2109 Westinghouse Boulevard P.O. Box 909
P.O. Box 7143 Pineville, NC 28134-0909
Charlotte, NC 28241-7143 For fast credit card orders—
VISA, MasterCard, American Express—
www.scoutstuff.org call BSA operators toll-free
1-800-323-0732
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Fish AND Wildlife

Send comments along with a brief statement about yourself to Youth

Who Pays for This Pamphlet?

Fish AND Wildlife

2. List and discuss at least three major problems that continue

3. Describe some practical ways in which everyone can help

4. List and describe five major fish and wildlife management

5. Do ONE of the following:

6. Do ONE of the following:

b. List the wildlife species in your state that are classified

7. Do ONE of the following:

8. Using resources found at the library and in periodicals,

Fish and Wildlife management 3

Atlantic salt marsh snake

Basics of Fish and Wildlife Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

The Value of Fish and Wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Who’s Responsible for Fish and Wildlife?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Observe, Listen, and Learn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Careers in Fish and Wildlife Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Fish and Wildlife Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Fish and wildlife management 5

Why Manage Fish

6 Fish and Wildlife management

help monitor and control the factors and conditions created by

Fish and Wildlife management 7

8 Fish and Wildlife management

Fish and Wildlife management 9

10 Fish and Wildlife management

Mother Nature (humankind’s anthropomorphic term for

Fish and Wildlife management 11

Basics of Fish and

Bald eagle chicks

Fish and wildlife management 13

Habitat needs may change drastically by season or by the age of a

Different species might occupy the same territory at the

14 Fish and Wildlife management

Animal Foods and Cover

Beaver Bark and twigs of aspen, cottonwood, Lodge made of saplings

Cottontail rabbit Dandelions, common plantain, Brushy area

Opossum Small birds, frogs, mammals, fish, Trees, burrows

Prairie dog Grasses, weeds, roots, clover, grains Burrows

Raccoon Frogs, fish, shellfish, small mammals, Hollow trees or logs

Bird Foods Cover

Robin Worms, fruit Trees, shrubs, buildings

Starling Insects, grains, seeds Brushy shrubs, nest boxes,

16 Fish and Wildlife management

So, plants are critical to all wildlife communities. Plant life

Fish and Wildlife management 17

wetlands, some become forested wetlands and eventually

As lakes and wetlands of various types age, they tend to be

18 Fish and Wildlife management

Creating an aquarium environment is not difficult, but to get

To start, choose a 10- to 20-gallon rectangular tank with a large

An easier and faster way to “age” the water is to use a

Fish and Wildlife management 19

plant individual plants in

20 Fish and Wildlife management

Fish and Wildlife management 21

deplete the food supply.

22 Fish and Wildlife management