Ungulate Ecology

By the early 1900s, deer, elk, moose, bison, and other hoofed mammals—“ungulates”—were eliminated from much of their historic range in the United States. Current distributions and abundance reflect successes and failures of conservation efforts during the last century and pose new management challenges. Restoration and protection are still important concerns for some species in some areas. However, access to hunting and viewing opportunities for a growing human population and effects of overabundant ungulates on vegetation, other wildlife, and human activity are also priorities. Ungulate management is a contentious issue because many stakeholders are invested deeply, both emotionally and materially, in competing interests. For [...]