Wildlife - Government Agencies Thatcontrol Wildlife

In the United States, wildlife issues are overseen by various federal and state agencies. At the federal level, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the primary agency. Originally called the U.S. Fish Commission, the USFWS was formed in 1871 to examine problems with declining food-fish stocks and recommend remedies. In 1903 the agency was given oversight of the first national TABLE 3.1
Major federal laws impacting wildlife, 1900–92
SOURCE: Created by Kim Masters Evans for Thomson Gale

Major federal laws impacting wildlife	Year enacted
Lacey Act	1900
Game and Bird Preserves Act	1905
Weeks-McLean Act	1912
National Park Service Act	1916
Migratory Bird Treaty Act	1918
Migratory Bird Conservation Act	1920s
Tariff Act (Enhanced Lacey Act)	1930
Animal Damage Control Act	1931
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act	1934
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (Duck Stamp Act)	1934
Taylor Grazing Act	1934
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act)	1937
Bald Eagle Protection Act	1940
Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson Act)	1950
Whaling Convention Act	1950
Tuna Conventions Act	1950
Fisherman's Protective Act	1954
Fish and Wildlife Act	1956
Great Lakes Fishery Act	1956
Multiple Use Act	1960
Surplus Grain for Wildlife Act	1961
Refuge Recreation Act	1962
Wilderness Act	1964
Refuge Revenue Sharing Act	1964
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act	1965
Anadromous Fish Conservation Act	1965
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act	1966
Endangered Species Preservation Act	1966
Fur Seal Act	1966
National Environmental Policy Act	1969
Endangered Species Conservation Act	1969
Federal Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act	1971
Marine Mammal Protection Act	1972
Endangered Species Act	1973
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act	1980
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act	1980
National Aquaculture Act	1980
Salmon and Steelhead Conservation and Enhancement Act	1980
Atlantic Salmon Convention Act	1982
Northern Pacific Halibut Act	1982
Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act	1984
Pacific Salmon Treaty Act	1985
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act	1986
South Pacific Tuna Act	1988
The African Elephant Conservation Act	1988
Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act	1990
Non-Indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act	1990
Wild Bird Conservation Act	1992
Alien Species Prevention and Enforcement Act	1992
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act	1994
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act	1997

wildlife refuge, Pelican Island, a three-acre bird sanctuary in Sebastian, Florida.

As of January 2005, the USFWS managed ninety-five million acres in 545 refuges in the National Wild-life Refuge System. It also manages migratory bird conservation, oversees thousands of wetlands and other management areas, and operates dozens of national fish hatcheries, fishery resources offices, and ecological services field stations. The USFWS administers and enforces the following federal wildlife laws:

• The Lacey Act prohibits interstate and international shipment of illegally taken wildlife.
• The Migratory Bird Treaty Act bans the taking, possession, purchase, sale, or barter of any migratory birds and their feathers, eggs, nests, or parts.
• The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act requires all waterfowl hunters aged sixteen and up to possess a Federal Duck Stamp.
• The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act distributes to state fish and wildlife agencies money obtained from federal excise taxes on hunting equipment. The states use these funds to acquire, develop, and manage wildlife habitats; educate hunters; develop and manage shooting ranges; and restore wild birds and animals.
• The Eagle Protection Act prohibits the import, export, taking, sale, purchase, or barter of bald and golden eagles.
• The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act distributes to state fish and wildlife agencies money obtained from federal excise taxes on fishing and boating equipment. The states use these funds to manage sport fishing, boating access, and aquatic education programs.
• The Endangered Species Act lists, protects, and recovers endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, and plants.
• The Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits taking and importing marine mammals, including sea otters, walruses, polar bears, dugongs, and manatees.
• The Wild Bird Conservation Act addresses international trade in wild-caught birds.
• The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act establishes wildlife conservation as the primary goal of the refuge system, but recognizes recreational uses, such as hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and photography, and environmental education as priority public uses of the system.

The USFWS works with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to monitor wildlife trade and stop illegal shipments of protected plants and animals. It also enforces the country's participation in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This international agreement regulates the importing and exporting of thousands of species. Other federal agencies involved in controlling wild populations include the Wildlife Services (WS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Bureau of Land Reclamation (BLR), and the National Park Service. WS is the primary federal agency in charge of controlling wildlife that can damage agriculture, property, and natural resources or threaten public health and safety. WS operates the National Wild-life Research Center (NWRC) in Fort Collins, Colorado.