Abstract
In January 2018, I retired after a 35-year career in the wildlife damage management profession. I would like to off er my perspective on what the profession was like when I began my career, what it’s like currently, and what I think the future holds. Thirty-five years ago in our program, wildlife damage management activities across the country focused primarily on protecting livestock from predators as well as protecting many agricultural crops like corn, rice, and sunflowers from bird damage. Since transferring from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture in 1986, we have seen a significant increase in the range and extent of wildlife damage requests for services. In addition to the protection of agricultural resources, the program has expanded services to address other agricultural resources such as aquaculture, forestry, and truck crops. Our personnel became involved in the protection of public health and safety by working at airports to prevent wildlife–aircraft strikes, wildlife disease surveillance activities involving avian influenza, chronic wasting disease, rabies, and many other diseases transmitted by wildlife. We also began emphasizing the protection of natural resources such as threatened and endangered species, as well as property.
Recommended Citation
Clay, William H.
(2018)
"The Future of Wildlife Damage Management,"
Human–Wildlife Interactions: Vol. 12:
Iss.
1, Article 17.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26077/rdx1-qe35
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi/vol12/iss1/17
