At the other extreme, some wildlife species may become so locally abundant that they threaten private property and people's livelihoods. Dealing with those species and conditions can require population or habitat controls. Wildlife is one of Colorado's most visible natural resources. Equally popular in Colorado are nonconsumptive wildlife activities such as bird watching or photography. Colorado's wildlife is a major part of the total environment which has made Colorado one of the most esthetically pleasing states in the country.
Wildlife management is, therefore, an important function of Colorado state government.
The state agency responsible for managing Colorado's wildlife is the Colorado Division of Wildlife in the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Wildlife managers are professionals who implement techniques which help ensure that the objectives of wildlife management are met. While some of what wildlife managers do focuses strictly on wildlife, the challenges are complex and often require that the wildlife manager have expertise in a variety of areas. Often, too, the challenges require specialists in specific areas. There are a number of potential wildlife management careers available, including those in management, research, administration, public relations, land acquisition, education, law enforcement, and land-use planning.