While most of the public is focused on the non-hunted species that have
issues such as the spotted owl, this reminds me of the Dusky Canada Goose.

A subspecies of Canada goose that got into trouble when the 1963 earthquake
happened in Alaska causing its nesting grounds to elevate. As a result,
breeding went down and the complex issues with this bird have since became
legend. Millions of dollars have been spent to "save" the Dusky. Most in
managing the hunting in the areas where it winters, some to control
predators on the nesting grounds. Special hunt seasons, mandatory hunter
education before getting a permit to hunt in these areas, and more. And
still the Dusky is not doing well.

This is a subspecies in trouble not because of us. We do have some control
over its complete demise and to some extent recovery. The small breeding
area will never recover, the Dusky must change its habits here in order to
survive. Meanwhile, we continue to try to save this subspecies. At what
cost and to what end?
I have no answers and offer no opinion on this here.

Just a note that there are other species out there with similar dilemas to
the spotted owl. The decisions on how we go about "saving" them have long
term issues of their own and often huge costs. Biodiversity is important, we
need to keep what we have or give it a good try to do so. Change happens,
sometimes as a result of what we do, sometimes because it just happens on
the earth. Nature will win in the end whatever side she comes down on.

Martha Jordan