Extirpated Species

Maryland and the Mid- Atlantic Region had much different plant and animal communities before European settlers arrived here. Early accounts by explorers and naturalists spoke of an abundance of wildlife-- moose, elk, deer, black bear, lynx, bobcat, wolves, bison, and cougars. Early accounts say that 90% of Maryland was composed of old growth forests. Most of this old growth was removed to build early settlements or clear land for agriculture. Many of the large animals that were originally present are no longer found in the Mid-Atlantic or they exist in very small populations. A term used for populations that are locally extinct in one area but found in other regions is “extirpation.” Extirpation of species from a region can be the result of human activity, or it can be the result of external factors. Some of the activities that caused these large mammals to become locally extinct from Maryland include unrestricted and commercial hunting, bounties placed on predatory animals, loss of habitat, large scale cutting of forest, pollution, introduction of exotic species, and other conflicts resulting from the growth of our region. This period of unrestrained expansion and exploitation lasted until the early 1900’s when a general conservation ethic swept across America as a whole. Early conservation efforts that regulated hunting, promoted wise management of our natural resources, and reestablished habitat allowed populations of white tail deer, wild turkey, and bobcat to bounce back; but animals like the red and gray wolf, elk, cougar, bison, and moose did not rebound. Federal, state, local, and private conservation groups sprang up that helped provide the manpower and guidance necessary to help reinvigorate our natural resources.