Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences
Date of this Version
October 1987
Abstract
Controversies regarding wildlife damage control often result from incorrect perceptions by the general public or conservation groups. Such controversies can usually be settled to most people's satisfaction by indisputable data. In the past, however, data were often lacking. The ban, by Executive order in 1972, of chemical toxicants for predator control on federal lands and by federal agencies is a good case in point. Indisputable data were not available concerning the level of predation. The only data were derived from questionnaires filled out by livestock producers; Government officials and the public simply would not accept such data as unbiased.