The Potential of Regulated Commercial Hunting as a Management Tool to Help Regenerate NY Forests with Dr. Paul Curtis

Last week's show discussed "The Myth of the Market Hunting Boogeyman." We don't necessarily believe that markets did not have a negative impact upon wildlife, but that habitat destruction (agricultural expansion) & the lack of property rights may have had more impact. Is market hunting an opportunity in the 21st century, or should it be left in the 20th century's dustbin? Let's get another's perspective.

On this week's show, we'll move to Dr. Paul Curtis's recent article in the NY Forest Owners Association magazine entitled: "The Potential of Regulated Commercial Hunting as a Management Tool to Help Regenerate NY Forests." Dr. Curtis will discuss arguments both for and against developing such a program.

With a PhD in Zoology from North Carolina State University, Dr. Paul Curtis is now a Professor in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University. He has coordinated the Wildlife Damage Management Program at Cornell for the past 30 years, which focuses on reducing conflicts, economic losses and human health and safety concerns caused by wildlife in both rural and suburban landscapes. His work includes wildlife fertility control and population management, community-based wildlife management issues and public education. Dr. Curtis is also testing novel methods for reducing wildlife damage to agricultural crops and forest regeneration.