Dr Valerius Geist Webinar: On prey and predator abundance: lessons from history

Webinar for Hunters for BC SCI February 2021
On prey and predator abundance: lessons from history
I have been asked to address the precipitous decline of wildlife in this province, a decline that I am currently experiencing on Vancouver Island. When I speak of past wildlife abundance I am met with disbelief, but I shall give a few examples.
Today, throughout North America and Siberia, there are regions that are virtual free of big game animals, despite abundant habitat. Moreover, areas of high wildlife abundance do not appear to be ecologically different from areas of great big game scarcity. Some such areas changed from areas of high ungulate abundance to great scarcity in the authors lifetimes. The explanation appears to be that areas free of human wildlife management become “predator pits”, in which wolves deplete big game populations, while brown bears maintain subsequently very low prey population numbers via the killing of neonates. Exceptions are areas which, by virtue of rugged geological formations, allow ungulates to escape, reducing predation efficiency. Here remnant populations of ungulates persist.
However, not only wolves, but mountain lions can also cause predator pits. Moreover, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game developed a concept similar to predator pit under the title “Low Density Dynamic Equilibrium or LDDE”. Flourishing big game populations are the consequence of the following factors: where trap lines were patrolled by dog sled, and areas where pack- and riding horses were overwintered, wolf populations were severely reduced, allowing a rebound of ungulate species. Studies in Yellowstone National Park show that one wolf requires 16-22 elk per year. Conversely, the death of one wolf allows 16-22 elk to live. Historically, predator control officers removed wolves from settled landscapes, while fear of hydatid disease and rabies resulted in broadcasts from plane of poisoned bait. Abundant wildlife populations were thus a function of predator control.
Predator pits are unnatural as they are the result of differential survival of large predators following human-caused Pleistocene extinctions. Tigers, leopards and lions can effectively control wolves, and together with other large predator species such as saber-toothed cats, jaguars, predacious bears, cave-hyenas and dire-wolves kept grey wolves at low levels. On the other hand migratory ungulates such as reindeer/caribou and bison have been able to escape the predator pit phenomenon.
We conclude that Post-Pleistocene wildlife and biodiversity in North America and Siberia will thrive only through intense, knowledgeable, hands-on management, primarily of carnivores. Protectionism, on the other hand results in the virtual absence of ungulates in areas of unimaginable size as witnessed today in Siberia, and parts of North America, wherever wolves, grizzly bears and mountain lions are protected and freed from any management.

[@SpartacoGippoliti]

a giant of zoology and wildlife management

[@redneck272]

Publish the isbn numbers on the books also , it is a easy way to find a book

[@redneck272]

The wildlife federation doesnt seem to really do any proper management for whitetails also open season on doe whitetails is ridiculous, youth hunters allowed to fill parents tags , and all of the tags in youth season , when adults with out youth are on the back burner Really how can the wildlife federation manage wolves when they cant even manage the bad polices they have applied to humans on ungulates , it is about $ and keeping there jobs not real data ......