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Commentary: Fish and wildlife directors should serve natural resources, not politicians

At its core, wildlife management is supposed to operate on long biological timelines rather than electoral cycles. "Put bluntly, short-term politics and competent fish and wildlife management don’t mix," Mason writes. (File photo courtesy of the Michigan DNR)

In Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the Departments of Natural Resources are led by political appointees with little to no formal training or experience in fish and wildlife.
Nationally, about 60% of all Natural Resources Directors lack professional qualifications or experience. Nearly all serve in at-will positions appointed the sitting Governor. The most obvious problem with this growing trend is that policy can (and usually does) become vulnerable to short-term political agendas, partisan swings, and interest-group pressure.

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