I am not a trained biologist or wildlife expert, but historically it appears to me that the best way to preserve a specific species is to exploit it. The number of cattle killed worldwide must number in the hundreds of millions annually, and there is no shortage of cows, hogs, etc.
Likewise, managing a wildlife population, such as deer, wild turkey, etc. has led to a population boom in the U.S. Tennessee has so many deer that they are now a nuisance species - bag limits are so high that you cannot possibly harvest enough of them in a season to reach your tag limit.
While I agree that humans are encroaching on native species' habitats, it is my opinion that we have just as much of a right to the environment as snakes, alligators, etc., and finding a balance of our competing interests should not result in decreased safety for humans - rattlesnakes, alligators, coyotes, etc. are now thriving species, to the extent that they encroach on human safety.
An interesting issue is that of wild hogs. They are nonnative to North America, introduced by the European settlers. They have no natural predators, and are an extreme nuisance, as well as a danger to humans. I have no problem with the eradication of the feral hog population in North America. They serve no legitimate purpose to the wildlife habitat.
I'm not sure what the issue is with humans killing animals - animals do it every day. The deer taken in its natural habitat has lived a much more dignified and humane life than the feedlot heifer or cooped chicken. Every wild game animal harvested for human consumption is one less animal that participated in the degrading commercial food production system. To me it's a win-win.
Likewise, managing a wildlife population, such as deer, wild turkey, etc. has led to a population boom in the U.S. Tennessee has so many deer that they are now a nuisance species - bag limits are so high that you cannot possibly harvest enough of them in a season to reach your tag limit.
While I agree that humans are encroaching on native species' habitats, it is my opinion that we have just as much of a right to the environment as snakes, alligators, etc., and finding a balance of our competing interests should not result in decreased safety for humans - rattlesnakes, alligators, coyotes, etc. are now thriving species, to the extent that they encroach on human safety.
An interesting issue is that of wild hogs. They are nonnative to North America, introduced by the European settlers. They have no natural predators, and are an extreme nuisance, as well as a danger to humans. I have no problem with the eradication of the feral hog population in North America. They serve no legitimate purpose to the wildlife habitat.
I'm not sure what the issue is with humans killing animals - animals do it every day. The deer taken in its natural habitat has lived a much more dignified and humane life than the feedlot heifer or cooped chicken. Every wild game animal harvested for human consumption is one less animal that participated in the degrading commercial food production system. To me it's a win-win.