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Wildlife Management

Course developer

Course abstract

Mammals and birds are integral parts of the forest ecosystem. The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of mammals and birds and their impact on the forest ecosystem, the impact of forest management on vertebrate fauna, legislation regulating hunting and firearms, hunting safety requirements, hunting farm organization, animal registration, as well as game animal population formation.
During practical lessons, students learn the basic principles of creating a hunting farm, the construction of hunting infrastructure elements.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Upon successful completion of the course, students:
• knows forest mammals, birds and other vertebrates, their ecological characteristics and impact on the forest, the basic principles of game management; (Test 1, practical work)
• knows how to assess the impact of forest management on forest fauna; (Test 1; practical work)
• knows how to assess damage caused by game animals in the forest and knows the methods of their prevention; (Test 2; practical work)
• know how to organize a hunting farm, comply with safety requirements in the hunting process; (Test 2, practical work)
• knows how to organize the management of game animal populations; (practical work, seminar)
• by studying this course, the student acquires the competence to independently organize and manage a hunting farm and hunting, to safely use a hunting weapon. (practical work)

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Biology, ecology, breeding and population management, hunting, conservation of Latvian mammals, wild birds and other vertebrate species. Impact of forestry on birds and mammals, species protection. (Lecture 3h. Practical work 2h)
2. Hunting farm and the basic principles of its organization. Hunting dogs, their use. (Lecture 2h; Practical work 4h)
3. Basic principles of hunting animals and methods used in Latvia. (Lecture 1h; Practical work 3h)
4. Regulatory acts regulating hunting. (Lecture 2h)

Test 1 (topics 1-4)

5. Types of hunting. (Lecture 1h; Practical work 2h)
6. Pre-treatment and hygiene requirements of the hunted animal. Diseases of wild animals. Basic principles of hunting trophies and their evaluation. (Lecture 3h; Practical work 2h)
7. Recognizing, assessing and preventing damage caused by game animals. (Practical work 3h)
8. Breeding and keeping game animals in captivity (Seminar 4h)

Test 2 (topics 5-8)

Requirements for awarding credit points

To receive a final grade:
• must attend classes and pass two tests;
• all practical works provided for in the study course must be positively evaluated.
• must participate in the seminar class.
• You must present your vision for a solution to the problem of the hunting farm and related sectors of the economy.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Prepare a 15-minute presentation on a previously agreed solution to problems related to hunting and related economic sectors.
To independently learn in depth the topics included in the course plan.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Assessment of knowledge, skills and competence takes place on a 10-point scale. An oral or written answer is successful if at least 50% of the questions are answered correctly. Tests are evaluated according to the established procedure - based on the answers to the questions given in the methodological descriptions at the beginning of each stage of study, while the evaluation of practical tasks takes place in the nature of how competently the student is able to apply the acquired theoretical knowledge and skills.

Compulsory reading

1. Adams, C., Ash, S., & Lindsey, K. (2006). Urban wildlife management / Clark E. Adams, Kieran J. Lindsey, Sara J. Ash. Boca Raton ; London ; New York: Taylor & Francis.
2. Gbolagade Stephen A. Lameed. (2017). Global Exposition of Wildlife Management. IntechOpen.
3. Jafari R. Kideghesho, & Alfan A. Rija. (2019). Wildlife Management - Failures, Successes and Prospects. IntechOpen.

Further reading

1. Autoru kolektīvs. Medības Latvijā (2014), AS ”Lauku Avīze”, Rīga, Latvija, 334 lpp
2. Baumanis J., Sisenis L., Stepanova A. (2014) Medījamo dzīvnieku un trofeju novērtēšana, AS Lauku Avīze, Rīga, Latvija, 92 lpp.
3. Vanags J. Medības - atziņas un patiesības (2010), Autora izdevums, 360 lpp.
4. Medību likums (spēkā esošā redakcija), pieejams: https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=77455 5. Medību noteikumi (spēkā esošā redakcija), pieejams: https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=267976

Periodicals and other sources

1. The Journal of Wildlife Management. (n.d.). Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal of Wildlife Management.
2. Žurnāls "Medības"
3. Žurnāls "MMD - Medības, makšķerēšana, daba".

Notes

Compulsory study course for students of the academic bachelor's study program "Sustainable forestry". Elective course for students of other study programs.