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AMERICA'S "UN-ENDANGERED"® SPECIES
<br />
<br />...it didn't just happen!
<br />
<br />In recent years, there's been a lot written about "endangered
<br />species." So much so, that many people now think that
<br />much of our wildlife is in serious danger of extinction.
<br />
<br />It isn't so. Iv[any previously threatened species have
<br />today been restored to healthy and abundant numbers-
<br />thanks largely to the dedication and commitment of
<br />hunters and anglers.
<br />
<br />As described inside, sportsmen were America's "First
<br />Environmentalists," leading the call to establish laws
<br />and taxes on hunting and fishing equipment that today
<br />provide most of the funding for wildlife and habitat
<br />restoration programs.
<br />
<br />Fortunately, they weren't content to stop there and went
<br />on to form over 10,000 groups like Ducks Unlimited,
<br />The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and The National
<br />Wildlife Federation, which annually contribute hun-
<br />
<br />dreds of millions of dollars and countless hours of hard
<br />work to conservation projects. And they have consistent-
<br />ly served as the nation's "environmental conscience,"
<br />lobbying for policies that resl~nsibly conserve and pro-
<br />tect wildlife and the habitat it needs to flourish.
<br />
<br />The chart below shows just how successful we've been at
<br />helping many species of American wildlife. In addition
<br />to those listed below, other conservation success stories
<br />include the alligator, beaver, Florida panther, peregrine
<br />falcon, red cockaded woodpecker, sea otter, spotted owl
<br />and wood duck.
<br />
<br />So, even if you don't enjoy hunting and fishing yourself,
<br />the fact remains that the cleauer s:reams, revitalized
<br />wetlands and thriving woodlands are there for all of us
<br />to enjoy. And we have hunters and anglers tt3 thank for
<br />their commitment-even if you don't hear about it on the
<br />evening news.
<br />
<br />Here's IAtha! Hunters And Anglers Are Doing For Our i lildli[c:
<br />
<br /> §00,000 while-tailed deer remained In the nation. 19, OOO, 000
<br />
<br />500,000
<br />
<br />Today, some 19 million whitetails roam our forests.
<br />
<br />THEN
<br />
<br />Habitat destruction reduced Canada goose popula-
<br />tions to a Iow of some 1,110,000 in the late 1940s.
<br />
<br />3,760,000
<br />
<br />1,110,000
<br />
<br />Since then, the population has more than tripled.
<br />
<br />ITHEN
<br /> 73
<br />
<br />were left. Today, U~fiving populations 000
<br />total more than 16,000 in tb.e U.S. -----,
<br />
<br /> In 1907, only about 41,000 elk were counted in NOW MOPJ~ THA~
<br /> the U.S. Today, Were are more t~an 800,000 and 800 000
<br /> most western states have surplus populaUons.
<br /> I
<br />
<br />THEN
<br />41,000
<br />
<br />THEN By the eady 1900s, encroaching civilization and habitat NOW MORE THAN
<br />
<br /> loss had reduced wlM tadmy populaUons to 100,000.
<br />100,000 Co~sematJon programs l~ve now restored l~e turkey to 4,500,000
<br /> hea~y numbers in almost all 50 states.
<br />
<br />ITHEN Aimostl00yearsago, lhot0talU.S, populatJ0nofl~o~ NOW ABOUT I ,~~
<br /> m---,lVVV r~d4ng have bolped to restore it to about l mill~q, mfVVVlV~,~'v
<br />
<br />/'-/6,
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