Protected Resources

Last Modified: March 15, 2024

We recommend and conduct integrated wildlife damage management activities to protect many types of resources, including expansive sunflower fields in the Dakotas; small vegetable gardens in suburban backyards; orchards in Oregon; pasture land and cattle in Texas; bridges, roads and airports throughout the nation; rare wetland ecosystems; threatened and endangered shorebirds; air passenger safety; and industrial facilities in towns and cities.

Protecting Agriculture

Agricultural resources are associated with farming and ranching, and associated industries. They include livestock (e.g., sheep, cattle, calves, fowl, and swine), crops (e.g., corn, soybeans, strawberries, and pecans), rangeland and timber, aquaculture (e.g., farm raised catfish and trout), agricultural animal feed, and animal products. WS activities to protect agriculture may include managing predators to protect livestock, alleviating bird damage at aquaculture facilities, and applying integrated waterfowl and deer damage management programs to reduce crop damage.

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Scenic shot of a barn with fields in front.

Protecting Natural Resources

Natural resources are those associated with publicly managed parks, lakes, state and national forests, wildlife and fish, (including sensitive, threatened, and endangered species), and wetlands. Natural resource protection includes the protection of natural areas from the impacts of invasive species such as nutria and feral swine, the safeguarding of rare, threatened and endangered wildlife species from the negative impacts of more abundant ones, and the provision of information and education on the ecology and values associated with wildlife encountered by the public.

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feral swine on a pavement trail in the woods

Protecting Property

Property resources are non-agricultural possessions. This resource category includes business and residential buildings and structures, equipment, vehicles, and machinery, pets and other companion animals, and a myriad of other items that are valued by people. WS work to protect property may consist of waterfowl management to protect golf courses, dispersing vultures to protect vehicles and homes, and providing recommendations to reduce deer damage to backyard gardens and landscape plantings.

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rooting damage

Protecting Human Health and Safety

Human health and safety work is associated with the protecting people from death, injury, and threats. This category includes human safety protection and response related to wildlife-aircraft collisions, attacks on people by mountain lions and other wildlife species, and rabies management activities.

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ws-airport hazards- Canadian geese