People need to understand the knock on effects of large scale removal of natural predators, particularly apex predators from certain areas.
For example, it’s well documented that that the starvation of Mule Deer in the Kaibab Plateau during the earlier part of the 20th century was in large part due to hunting and reduction of their natural predators. Combine that with drought in the 1920s and there were conditions for a large scale starvation of mule deer.
” it’s well documented that that the starvation of Mule Deer in the Kaibab Plateau during the earlier part of the 20th century was in large part due to hunting and reduction of their natural predators”
The die off of the mule deer on the Kaibab was due to the elimination of deer hunting. Subsequently, the deer herd continued to grow, thereby out growing the carrying capacity of the area.
The philosophy was to “let nature take its course”.
When the drought hit, the deer died to lack of forage.