As
humans alter natural habitats through development, agriculture, and
other activities, we have changed the habitats of many wildlife populations
and have caused some species to be eradicated. For example, the wolf
population has been entirely removed from Pennsylvania as a resullt
of human expansion. Once the wolf declined the deer population increased
dramatically because the wolf is the deer's natural predator. Once,
the predator of the deer was removed, deer began to overpopulate the
Northeastern forests. Many states allow hunting season on deer to control
this problem, as well as for sport. This keeps the population in control
and the hunters happy. Authorities will set restrictions on hunting
according to their scientific assessment of how many deer can be killed
to control the population without wiping the population out completely.
In a sense, the wolf population has been replaced by human hunters.
