The Professional Evolution of Wildlife Damage Management

The term -- wildlife damage management, in lieu of animal damage control, vertebrate pest control, or nuisance animal control -- has become the currently recognized term for an area of wildlife management that a growing number of professionals spend a significant part of their time and/or career working in. The acceptance of this terminology is, however, a part of the continuing evolution of the profession and not simply a name change for political correctness. Admittedly, my purpose is not to validate or beg acceptance of this terminology. Rather, what I hope to do is to justify the underlying premise of the title, and applaud those (mostly unnamed) within our profession who have contributed to this evolution. I will close with some challenges that must be addressed to ensure that the field of wildlife damage management continues to evolve