Predator Management, Human Interaction, and the Concept of "Wildness"

Predator Management, Human Interaction, and the Concept of "Wildness"

"This is their home", "they were here first", "we are invading their territory."  I'm sure by now we've all heard this. 

Let's take a deeper look into the realities of the human/wildlife relationship: The management of predators in modern ecosystems is a crucial aspect of maintaining both ecological balance and public safety. While some argue that human-wildlife conflicts are a consequence of humans entering "their territory" or "their home," these arguments often oversimplify complex relationships. This article addresses key issues such as the necessity of predator management, the role of humans in these ecosystems from evolutionary, creation, or adaptation perspectives, and the importance of ensuring predators retain a healthy fear of humans.

1. The Argument of "They Were Here First": One of the most common refrains when discussing wildlife conflicts, especially involving predators, is that humans are encroaching on their territory. While it's true that human expansion has affected many wildlife habitats, this statement oversimplifies the historical and ecological context. Humans have been part of ecosystems for millennia, whether through hunting, gathering, or agriculture. The suggestion that we are "intruders" ignores the adaptive roles humans have historically played in shaping landscapes and species behavior through co-evolution. Furthermore, it overlooks the current shared responsibility humans have in managing these ecosystems, which have evolved significantly over time due to human presence.

From an evolutionary perspective, humans evolved alongside many of the species we now manage. Through hunting and other interactions, humans have long been a part of predator-prey dynamics. From a creationist viewpoint, humans and wildlife were placed within the same natural systems, suggesting that managing wildlife, including predators, is part of human stewardship.

2. The Flaws of "This Is Their Home": The "this is their home" argument implies that wildlife, particularly apex predators, should exist in ecosystems free from human interference. However, ecosystems are dynamic, not static. Wildlife territories expand and contract due to natural factors, but also because of changing human land use. In some cases, predators have adapted to human-dominated landscapes, becoming more emboldened and losing the instinctual fear of people. This can lead to dangerous situations for both humans and wildlife, as predators grow bolder and more accustomed to humans as prey or non-threats.

Predators, particularly large carnivores like mountain lions, bears, and wolves, are highly territorial and may expand into areas where human activity is prevalent due to loss of prey, increasing population numbers, or lack of competition. As territories and human populations overlap, the need for wildlife management becomes critical to reduce conflict.

3. The Necessity of Predator Management: Predator management is essential to maintaining balanced ecosystems and ensuring the safety of both wildlife and human populations. Predators, left unchecked, can overpopulate certain areas, leading to a depletion of prey species and an increase in dangerous encounters with humans. For instance, California’s ban on mountain lion hunting led to a rise in human-mountain lion conflicts, including increased sightings, attacks, and livestock depredation. This has led to costly depredation permits and more mountain lions being killed through reactive, rather than proactive, management strategies.

Hunting as a management tool helps control predator populations, ensuring they do not overwhelm their ecosystems or create an imbalance in the prey-predator relationship. Without hunting, predators can suffer from disease, starvation, and inbreeding, ultimately leading to a less healthy population.

4. Wildlife Should Remain Wild—A Fear of Humans Is Key: A truly wild animal is one that retains its instinctual fear of humans. This fear helps minimize dangerous encounters between people and predators. When predators lose this fear, due to either protectionist policies or prolonged lack of human interaction, they are more likely to approach humans and populated areas, resulting in higher risks of conflict. Predators that no longer see humans as threats or as something to avoid become emboldened, leading to attacks on people, livestock, and pets.

By maintaining predator populations through managed hunting, wildlife retains its natural wariness of humans, which is crucial for their survival and the safety of human communities. Hunting creates a psychological and behavioral boundary that reinforces the "wildness" of these animals, ensuring they remain in their natural habitats and maintain healthy population dynamics. 

Have you heard of the rewilding movement?  I would suggest the outcomes of their motives are actually "unwilding."

5. The Role of Hunting in the Ecosystem: Hunting is one of the most effective management tools for controlling predator populations. It provides a means of regulating numbers, preventing overpopulation, and ensuring that prey species are not driven to unsustainable levels of decline. In addition, hunting funds many conservation programs. In the United States, for example, hunters contribute billions of dollars to wildlife management through license fees, excise taxes on firearms, and donations to conservation groups. These funds support habitat restoration, research, and the management of wildlife populations across the country.

In areas where predator hunting has been curtailed, there have been notable ecological and societal consequences. California’s experiences with mountain lion attacks and the costs associated with handling conflicts are just one example. Colorado faces similar challenges as debates over mountain lion hunting continue, highlighting the necessity of human involvement in predator management.

Final Thoughts: The arguments that humans are encroaching on predator territory or that we should abandon regions due to wildlife presence fail to acknowledge the complexity of human-wildlife interactions. Humans have evolved as part of these ecosystems, and as stewards, we have a responsibility to manage them. Predator management, through regulated hunting, ensures that wildlife populations remain healthy and that the predators themselves retain their "wildness" by maintaining a natural fear of humans. Without this management, both humans and wildlife face greater risks, and the ecological balance we strive to maintain could be thrown into chaos.

By ensuring a balanced approach to predator management, we can preserve the integrity of ecosystems while also protecting human populations from unnecessary harm. Managed hunting allows for the coexistence of humans and wildlife in a way that respects the necessity of both human and animal presence in the natural world.