Wildlife Laws
A historic perspective
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1639 - The earliest game law was enacted
when the colony that would become Rhode
Island closed the hunting season for whitetailed deer from May to November
– Other colonies followed suit and created game
laws to protect animals such as wild turkeys and
grouse
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1871 - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(originally the United States Commission on
Fish and Fisheries) was created by Congress to
study and recommend solutions to declines in
“food fish” population
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1900 Lacey Act – prohibited the
transportation of illegally killed game across
state lines, helped reduce trafficking of
feathers/animal parts, and reduced the
introduction of exotic (non-native) species
– introduced by Iowa Rep. John F. Lacey
– signed into law by President William McKinley on
May 25, 1900
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1935 - Cooperative Wildlife Research Units were
established in 1935 to enhance graduate
education in fisheries and wildlife sciences and to
facilitate research between natural resource
agencies and universities on topics of mutual
concern
– Today, there are 40 Cooperative Research Units in 38
states. Each unit is a partnership among the U.S.
Geological Survey, a State natural resource agency, a
host university, and the Wildlife Management
Institute.
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
Cooperative units in Idaho (University of Idaho)
• Current Staff
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Federal Staff: 3
Masters Students: 4
PhD Students: 4
University Staff: 3
• 5 Year Summary
– Students graduated: 21
– Scientific Publications:
104
– Presentations: 229
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1937 - The Wildlife Society was founded, a
non-profit organization dedicated to
“Excellence in wildlife stewardship through
science and education”
• 1937 - Journal of Wildlife Management began
publishing
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1937 – the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act (also
known as the PittmanRobertson Act) was passed,
placing a 10% tax on sales of
guns and ammunition
– Funds generated by the Act
were distributed to the states
for use in wildlife management
activities and research
– This law is still in effect today
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1940’s – 1950’s (Post World War II) – post-war
increases in recreational hunting expanded
the growth of wildlife management across the
U.S.
• 1950 – Dingell –Johnson Act placed a 10% tax
on the purchase of fishing gear
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1960’s-1970’s – an environmental movement
raised awareness of issues facing our
environment and resulted in the creation of many
laws that influence wildlife management today
• 1980’s-present –wildlife management
increasingly includes conservation biology,
meaning that more focus is placed on ecosystem
maintenance and biodiversity than producing
“crops” of animals
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1980’s-1990’s – Northern Spotted Owl
controversy in the Pacific Northwest results in
significant restrictions on logging activities
Wildlife Biology – A Historical
Background
• 1992-present – ongoing Federal court battle
over the impact of hydroelectric dams on
endangered salmon in the Pacific Northwest
Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies
and Laws
• A variety of laws influence the management of
wildlife and habitat.
– Listed next are some of the major federal laws
that control the activities of people and industry
and protecting species and habitat
– These laws both directly and indirectly impact
wildlife management
– Notice the large quantity of laws created in the
1960’s and 1970’s – a result of the environmental
movement of those decades
Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies
and Laws
• 1899, Refuse Act
• Prohibited "dumping of refuse" into navigable waters, except
by permit.
• 1900 Lacey Act
• 1918, Migratory Bird Treaty Act
• The statute makes it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture,
kill or sell birds listed therein ("migratory birds")
• 1937, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act ($$)
• 1948, Federal Water Pollution Control Act
• 1950, Dingell-Johnson Act ($$)
Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies
and Laws
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1963, Clean Air Act
1964, Wilderness Act
1965, Solid Waste Disposal Act
1965, Water Quality Act
1967, Air Quality Act
1969, National Environmental Policy Act
1970, Clean Air Act
1972, Clean Water Act
1973, Endangered Species Act
1976, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Wildlife Biology – Managing Agencies
and Laws
• 1980, CERCLA (Superfund)
• Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act , provides broad
federal authority to clean up releases or threatened
releases of hazardous substances that may endanger
public health or the environment
• 1990, Oil Pollution Act
• Companies must have a "plan to prevent spills that may
occur" and have a "detailed containment and cleanup
plan" for oil spills
• 2003, Healthy Forests Initiative