Illegal killing of nongame wildlife and recreational shooting in conservation areas

Abstract

Illegal killing of nongame wildlife is a global yet poorly documented problem. The prevalence and ecological consequences of illegal killing are often underestimated or completely unknown. We review the practice of legal recreational shooting and present data gathered from telemetry, surveys, and observations on its association with illegal killing of wildlife (birds and snakes) within conservation areas in Idaho, USA. In total, 33% of telemetered long-billed curlews (Numenius americanus) and 59% of other bird carcasses found with known cause of death (or 32% of total) were illegally shot. Analysis of spatial distributions of illegal and legal shooting is consistent with birds being shot illegally in the course of otherwise legal recreational shooting, but snakes being intentionally sought out and targeted elsewhere, in locations where they congregate. Preliminary public surveys indicate that most recreational shooters find abhorrent the practice of illegal killing of wildlife. Viewed through this lens, our data may imply only a small fraction of recreational shooters is responsible for this activity. This study highlights a poorly known conservation problem that could have broad implications for some species and populations of wildlife.

Age‐specific survival rates, causes of death, and allowable take of golden eagles in the western United States

“…A particularly troubling finding from our study is that the apparent leading cause of AY3 golden eagle mortality in the western United States is shooting, accounting for nearly 700 golden eagle deaths annually. This finding is consistent with other recent work documenting high rates of illegal shooting of raptors and other species in Idaho (Katzner, Carlisle, et al, 2020). Purposeful killing of golden eagles is a criminal infraction under the Eagle Act, yet prosecution and associated penalties apparently have been insufficient to curtail widespread shooting.…”

“…Our IPM results suggest the proportion of AY3 golden eagles breeding each year in the coterminous western United States was high and temporally stable, but we did not allow for breeding by younger individuals in our IPM. Yet, golden eagles in subadult plumage (primarily Y3 in this context, Katzner, Kochert, et al, 2020) can and do successfully breed (Hunt et al, 2017; Murphy et al, 2019; Steenhof et al, 1983), likely most often in situations where there are insufficient numbers of AY3 individuals to fill all available breeding opportunities. As relevant examples, Whitfield et al (2004) demonstrated that the proportion of breeding golden eagles in subadult plumage in Scotland increased in areas where eagles were being persecuted and adult mortality was high.…”

“…and Sylvilagus spp. (Katzner, Kochert, et al, 2020). Previous studies estimated that when prey density is high, between 93% and 97% of golden eagle pairs attempt to breed (Steenhof et al, 1997).…”

“…The WGES provided late‐summer golden eagle population size estimates for the four BCRs covered by the survey. The WGES was timed to precede most post‐fledging dispersal and large‐scale fall migratory movements of golden eagles (Bedrosian et al, 2018; Katzner, Kochert, et al, 2020; McIntyre et al, 2008; Murphy et al, 2017). Good et al (2007) and Nielson et al (2014) provide details on the design and methods used to collect data for the WGES.…”

“…Golden eagles are an iconic, apex predator that occurs throughout the northern hemisphere (Katzner, Kochert, et al, 2020). Golden eagles and humans have a complex history, ranging from the eagle's religious significance in many indigenous cultures (Watson, 2010) to relentless persecution in some developed and developing nations (Watson, 2010; Whitfield et al, 2004).…”