Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 12: Managing Predators and Non-game Species
Unit 12: Managing Predators and Non-game Species
Lesson 3: California Predators
Duration: 2 Hours
Students will be able to:
1. Define the term predator and give examples of common predators in California.
2. Discuss different attitudes and polices toward predators.
3. Describe the basic principles of predation.
Suggested Activities:
12.3A Field Trip/Classroom Demonstration - Identify a person in the area who has a collection
of pelts and/or skulls of predatory animals. Fish and game officers are usually aware of
people who have these interests. Invite them to bring their materials to class for a
demonstration.
Teaching Outline
I. Predator Relationships: introduction
A. Predator: any animal which hunts down, attacks, and feeds on other animals
B. Many forms of life are predators
1. Birds feeding on insects
2. Snakes feeding on frogs and rodents
3. Wolves feeding on mice and squirrels
4. Coyotes feeding on rabbits
1. Humans who hunt, kill and eating game animals
D. Examples of predators
1. Raptors (TM p 8)
a. Vulture
b. Hawks
c. Eagles
d. Falcon
e. Owls
2. Large Predators
a. Coyotes
b. Bobcats
c. Foxes
d. Wolves
e. Bear
f. Mountain lion
3. Small predators
a. Weasels
b. Skunks
c. Mink
d. Turtle
e. Otter
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Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 12: Managing Predators and Non-game Species
4. Birds
b. Crows
c. Grebes
d. Loons
e. Pelican
II. Attitudes and policy toward predators
A. Predation has been a very controversial subject
B. Predators affect different kinds of people, including agriculturists, game managers,
hunters, ecologists, etc.
C. Each group has a natural conflict of interest and each tends to assume their interest is
most important
D. It is important to take each case of predation individually and not condemn a whole
species for the action of a few individuals
E. Predation varies among different localities for the same species; in one year:
1. Canada: crows destroyed 31% of waterfowl eggs
2. North Dakota: crows destroyed only 4% of waterfowl eggs
3. Canada: had no losses of waterfowl eggs to skunks
4. North Dakota: lost 30% of eggs to skunks
III. Basic Principles of Predation
A. Density of the game population
1. Under normal conditions, predators live upon surplus populations and has little effect
on the breeding stock
B. Density of the predator population (TM p 9)
1. If the predator population is greater in proportion to the prey population predators
may be real factor in reducing or preventing recovery of the prey
2. Prey will remain low until predator population decreases
C. Availability of predators natural food
1. Excess predation means a weak habitat which means reduced food, reduced cover,
and increased disease
D. Breeding characteristics
1. If the predator is a more prolific breeder than the prey, the decline in prey numbers
will be more noticeable
2. When the prey breeds faster than the predator the losses will be less noticeable
E. Habitat condition of prey
1. Predation is heaviest on the edge of the population that occupies the least valuable
habitat
2. Losses by predation of a well fed prey population will be negligible
IV. Predator Control
A. Used as a tool in wildlife management
B. Some cases are very successful; but in many others, predator control has done much more
harm than good
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Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 12: Managing Predators and Non-game Species
Anatomical Features of Raptors
Greatly
overlapping
binocular
vision
Strong,
feet
equipped
grasping
with talons
Hooked upper
beaks
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Forestry and Natural Resources
Unit 12: Managing Predators and Non-game Species
Population Cycle
HIGH
1
Density
Storms
Good Habitat
TIME LINE IN
YEARS
2
3
4
5
6
Viruses
Predators
Disease
Drought
Ideal
Weather
Cover
Food
Parasites
7
8
9
10
11 12
13 14
15
16
Space
Competition
Few
Predators
LOW
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