Unrecognized values of wildlife and the consequences of ignoring them

The goals of wildlife management are slowly shifting from maximizing sustainable yields to increasing wildlife values for society. The difficulty with this latter goal, of course, is assessing whether it has been achieved. This is especially true when some values or benefits provided by wildlife are unrecognized. In this paper we argue that there are 3 wildlife values that people sense at a subconscious level but wildlife biologists have failed to articulate. These are the historical, empathic, and character-assessment values of wildlife. Recognition of these values and their importance can explain apparent paradoxes that occur when wildlife policies that should "be correct" based on recognized wildlife values do not "feel correct" at a subconscious level.