VOLUME 10NUMBER 4WINTER 1986

The Importance of Wildlife


A 1981 federal/provincial survey on the value attached to wildlife by Canadians demonstrates just how important natural flora and fauna really are to Nova Scotians. In 1981 about $185 million was spent on wildlife related activities in the province. Hunting and fishing accounted for just over half of this total, while trips to observe wildlife accounted for about one third.

According to the survey results, nearly 96 percent of Nova Scotians participated in some wildlife activity - hunting, fishing, trapping, watching birds, photographing wildlife, reading outdoor and nature books and magazines, or viewing films and television programmes on wildlife themes. Over 80 percent of the population of the province held the opinion that maintaining abundant wildlife and protecting endangered species were moderately to highly important priorities. Over half the households in Nova Scotia reported feeding wild birds during the winter as a family activity.

The following table illustrates the number of participants and the amount of expenditures in various popular wildlife related activities.

Activity Participants Expenditures
Big game hunting 77,979 $45,287,084
Small mammal hunting 65,584 14,789,192
Upland bird hunting 37,627 8,784,399
Waterfowl hunting 22,875 10,184,178
Sport fishing 185,040 20,004,270*
Travel to observe wildlife 127,250 60,056,910
Wildlife activities at home or cottage 444,763 5,137,012
Maintaining natural surroundings 34,905 16,268,173
Membership in wildlife/nature organizations 23,207 4,456,992
Total 1,019,230 $184,970,210
*Does not include sport fishing expenditures by individuals over 64 or under 18 years of age.
Reprinted from the Nova Scotia Resource Atlas, a collection of maps and statistics of Nova Scotia, available for $17.50 from the Nova Scotia Government Bookstore, 1597 Hollis St., Halifax, B3J 2L4.

Date Of Post: September 23 / 1998