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Wildlife
What is “wildlife?” Perhaps it’s not as easy a question
as you first thought. What about house mice? Are they wildlife? Or
what about mustangs, which are domesticated horses that have been wild for generations?
Typically, people think of wildlife as mammals and birds. But what about
amphibians and reptiles, such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and lizards? Or
how about fish? Some folks include fish in their definition of wildlife. Insects
are important food for bobwhites and turkeys. Are butterflies and bugs
wildlife? And what about their habitat?
Looking at the big picture, wildlife should include all
animals and their associated habitats. Perhaps a
good working definition is all living organisms out of
the direct control of humans, including undomesticated
or cultivated plants and animals, as proposed by Dr. Greg
Yarrow and Mr. Rhett Johnson in a Master
Wildlifer course.
However, there are always exceptions to the rule. So next time someone
talks about wildlife, you may want to clarify what they mean.
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