| Summary: | University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. December 2021. Major: Conservation Biology. Advisor: Joseph Bump. 1 computer file (PDF); xv, 107 pages. The hunting hypothesis emphasizes the importance that hunting has had on the development of the human species. Anthropologists often credit hunting with tool development, increased meat eating, and larger brain size (Domínguez-Rodrigo 2002). One such tool, or method, that hunters developed was the use of bait to attract animals to an ideal hunting location. This centuries old method is even recognized as one possible reason for animals domestication (Svizzero 2016). Today this hunting method is used around the world to lure animals away from places such as farm fields, increase herd size or supplement feed in winter, or for the original purpose, hunting (Litvaitis and Kane 1994, Smith 2001, Putman and Staines 2004). Baiting for the purpose of hunting is controversial among the wildlife managers, the public, and hunters alike (Peyton 1989, Dunkley and Cattet 2003). It challenges the hunting ethic of fair chase that values the pursuit of an animal and emphasizes the fairness of the capture and kill (Morris 2013). Conversely, the idea of an ethical shot stresses a quick kill with minimal suffering (Stokke et al. 2018). Hunting over bait increases the possibility of an ethical shot and increases the likelihood of harvesting an animal. Though baiting has proven to be an effective method for attracting target species to bait for the purpose of hunting, it does not come without consequences to the bait consumers. For example, black bears in Wisconsin that frequent bait often limit hibernation time to maximize bait consumption (Kirby et al. 2019). This results in shorter telomere length consequently impacting cellular aging (Kirby et al. 2019). Impacts and visitation of non-target species to bait is less known, however. In this dissertation, I focus on three aspects of hunter bait: non-target species use of black bear bait (chapter 1 and 2), gray wolf (Canis lupus) ...
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