Wildlife Conservation & Awareness
1904 – 1930
Not only was the term “conservation” coined during this period, but the work of federal wildlife conservation became much more urgent—among other things, the Migratory Bird Act was passed, the Grand Canyon was initially established as a game preserve to protect its deer population, and President Theodore Roosevelt designated 17 wildlife reservations in a single day.
1906:
GRAND CANYON PRESERVE: To preserve a deer herd, Theodore Roosevelt establishes the Grand Canyon National Game Preserve at Kaibab Plateau. The Kaibab predator control program kills 674 cougar, 11 wolves, 3,000 coyotes, and 120 bobcats to protect less than 1,000 deer. Learn more.
1907:
“CONSERVATION” COINED: Term “conservation,” meaning “prudent use,” is coined by Overton Price and Gifford Pinchot. Learn more.
1909:
WILDLIFE RESERVATIONS: On a single day, Theodore Roosevelt sets aside 17 wildlife reservations, 13 of them in one Executive Order. Learn more.
1913:
OUR VANISHING WILDLIFE: Our Vanishing Wildlife is published by William T. Hornaday, Director NYZS Zoological Park. Hunting is seen as being solely responsible for the decline in wildlife populations. Learn more.
MIGRATORY BIRD ACT: Congress passes Migratory Bird Act of 1913. This first Federal wildlife conservation law declares migratory game and insectivorous birds to be within the custody and protection of the United States; it’s constitutionality was challenged in court. Learn more.
1914:
PASSENGER PIGEON EXTINCT: Martha, the last passenger pigeon, dies at the Cincinnati Zoo. Learn more.
1915:
VIRGIN FOREST DECIMATED: The last virgin forest is logged in Maine. Learn more.
WOODLAND CARIBOU DISAPPEAR: Woodland caribou inhabited the northern forest of the United States from Maine to Washington State. By 1915 caribou are gone from the forest of Maine as a result of over hunting. Learn more.
1916:
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: National Park Service is established. Learn more.
1918:
CAROLINA PARAKEET EXTINCT: The Carolina parakeet is extinct by 1918. Learn more.
1920:
FEDERAL CONSERVATION AUTHORITY: The Supreme Court upholds the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and confirms Federal authority to conserve wildlife covered by treaties. Learn more.
1925:
GAME MANAGEMENT THEORY: Aldo Leopold stresses the importance of habitat. Learn more.
1927:
U.S. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY’S FREDRICK LINCOLN: U.S. Biological Survey’s Frederick Lincoln and others analyze bird banding and other data to discover waterfowl migrate in well-defined corridors and populations within each are largely distinct. Learn more about why we band birds. Learn more about Fredrick Lincoln
WATERFOWL MIGRATION STUDIES: U.S. Biological Survey’s Frederick Lincoln and others analyze bird banding and other data to discover waterfowl migrate in well-defined corridors and populations within each are largely distinct. Learn more.
