Birds and mammals cause damage to crops ranging from ground squirrel and elk damage in alfalfa to bird damage in berry, grain, and grass crops. Woodpeckers cause millions of dollars worth of damage to utility poles annually. These problems are not confined to rural or farm properties. Deer eating roses, raccoons eating pet fish in the backyard pond, and woodpeckers drilling on house siding are probably common problems in your area. Disease transmission by wildlife is a concern in many areas.
Wildlife can act as reservoirs for diseases that affect both livestock and humans.
Rabies occurs in many bat, raccoon, skunk, and fox populations in the United States, and sometimes these wildlife are implicated the spread of the disease. Livestock are also a concern. Brucellosis and hoof and mouth disease are just two of many pathogens that can pass from wildlife to livestock. Since the establishment of the United States, natural resource philosophies and ethics have evolved to encompass an array of beliefs and needs related to wildlife. These philosophies and ethics have been a source of debate among natural resource professionals and the public for many years and will continue to shape wildlife conservation into the future.