Wildlife Management Policies

Prevention of Introduced Species

• One principle that many groups in charge of wildlife management policy have adopted is the notion that introduced species should be limited. Often, the introduction of a new species into an ecosystem can upset the balance of the existing native wildlife. Usually, those in charge try to prevent this from happening. The exception to the rule is when a species is introduced in order to help correct an imbalance, such as introducing a predator to control a specific type of prolific pest.

Improving Habitat

• Groups involved in wildlife management also need to make policies that help to improve the available habitat for animals in any given region. Human activity has damaged a large amount of habitat for various species all around the globe. By taking effort to do things like reintroducing the proper plant species and improving water quality, people have the ability to help restore habitat to a form that is more usable for the native wildlife.

Hunting

• Governments know that hunting certain species needs to be permitted. However, as part of wildlife management, policy makers need to decide which species can be hunted and which can't, and how many of each species can be hunted each year. Using various tools, such as population studies of a given species, governments decide how many permits to issue for hunting specific animals in a given area.

Protection of Endangered and At-Risk Species

• Wildlife management is also largely about protecting at-risk and endangered species. Regulations need to be put in place to protect these species from hunting, as well as from other dangers, such as accidental killings or habitat destruction. Part of making these types of policies also involves defining and identifying at-risk and endangered species. Ongoing studies both by policy makers and by independent research bodies help those who make the decisions to identify the species that need protection.