CONTROL FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU OF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
The administration of wild life by the Bureau of Biological Survey involves not only research into the habits, distribution, and requirements of the varieties, and the conservation of fur, game, insectivorous, and other valuable animals, but also the regulation of activities of a limited number of certain species that seriously interfere with the economic interests of man, and, in the case of some of the larger predators, prey upon valuable game species.
The leadership of the Biological Survey in control operations during the years since 1915 has been requested and encouraged by State and other cooperating agencies. The funds made available from these sources for expenditure under the direction of the district leaders of the bureau have been far in excess of those provided for the purpose from the National Treasury. The investigations of the food and other habits, the geographic distribution, and the relationships of the wild birds and mammals of the country (including rodents and predators) have been carried on for almost half a century and provide the basis for the control work recommended and prosecuted. Research along these lines is being continued by scientifically trained men and will be expanded as funds permit.
It is well for the conservation of the wild life of the country that leadership in the control of injurious species has been delegated to a governmental organization that is concerned with the welfare of the various forms and with the administration of wild-life refuges, one that is charged with the enforcement of wild-life conservation laws, and one that recognizes the desirability of preserving representatives of all forms of wild life on suitable areas.
LEGAL AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTROL WORK
The legal sanction for control work by the Federal Government is contained in congressional direction in annual appropriation acts for the Department of Agriculture and in a special enactment authorizing a definite control program. The appropriation acts making funds available for the use of the Bureau of Biological Survey since the year 1915 have provided for investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and cooperation for the control of wild animals injurious to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, and wild game, and for the suppression of rabies in predatory wild animals. The special program of control, which was called for by the Seventieth Congress, was drawn up by the Department of Agriculture to cover a 10-year period, and was approved by the Seventy-first Congress (Public Act No. 776, of March 2, 1931).
INSTRUCTIONS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED
Information regarding new developments and improved practices in control procedure has been made available to the field personnel and to cooperators of the bureau from time to time since the inception of the cooperative work in 1915, in mimeographed and printed form, as well as by individual written instructions and personal contact. It is now desirable to compile the more important of the statements as to policy and specific directions in one publication. All control methods are based on fundamental research and give due consideration to safeguarding the useful and harmless forms of wild life and the public interests in general. Field methods have been adapted to meet varying local conditions as called for by research and the experience of field forces. Investigations and experiments are being continued, and as additional information becomes available, field practices will be subject to such modifications and improvements as the conditions warrant.