U.S. wildlife populations show recovery since late 1800s

Two hundred and fifty years after the founding of the United States, several native wildlife species have increased from near-extinction levels recorded in the late 19th century. White-tailed deer numbered between 300,000 and 500,000 around 1900 and now total between 30 million and 35 million.

American pronghorn rose from 12,000 in 1900 to more than 1 million. Elk increased from 41,000 to more than 1 million over the same period. Bald eagle nesting pairs grew from 412-417 in the mid-1900s to nearly 71,000 pairs, for a total population of nearly 320,000 birds.

Waterfowl species that once faced elimination now support regulated hunting seasons in all 50 states.

Early causes of decline Market hunting and habitat loss from population growth and agriculture contributed to the earlier drops. Large-scale commercial exploitation of game species was identified as a primary factor.

Shift in management approach Federal actions under President Theodore Roosevelt placed millions of acres under protection through national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges. States later adopted regulated seasons, bag limits, and science-based population management.

The 1937 Pittman-Robertson Act directed taxes on guns, ammunition, and archery equipment to habitat restoration and wildlife management. Hunting licenses, tags, and duck stamps supplied additional funds. Private groups including the Boone and Crockett Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supported habitat projects.

The source article states that wildlife became a public trust resource managed through sustainable use rather than exclusive ownership.