Problems From Having a Surplus of Animals

Without proper wildlife management, a habitat may experience an issue with a surplus of animals. Having a surplus of animals is a problem for the following reasons.

• The surplus cannot survive. When there is a surplus, many animals will die of starvation, fighting, or other causes related to overpopulation.
• A surplus can cause wildlife to damage personal property. Here are some examples:
  • Beavers build dams that flood crop fields.
  • Mink raid chicken houses.
  • Raccoons can ruin a whole crop of corn.
• A surplus can increase the spread of disease. For example, large populations of foxes are more likely to spread rabies and distemper among themselves. Sick foxes (or other furbearers) then can pass diseases to farm animals, pets, or people.
• A surplus damages the habitat. Here are some examples:
  • Muskrats dig tunnels through the land around a pond. Having too many tunnels can cause flooding that damages the habitat.
  • If too many furbearers live in one area, they will eat all the available plants. This destroys the habitat for all animals in the area.