Wildlife Law

This course covers management of, and legal protections for, biological diversity. It analyzes the property and constitutional underpinnings of state and federal wildlife laws, looks at examples and structures of state regulation of wildlife, and examines the special case of American Indians’ rights to, and control over, wildlife resources. The course also focuses on several federal statutory schemes, including the Endangered Species Act, Lacey Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. Additionally, the course considers federal management of wildlife habitat, and briefly covers international efforts to protect biodiversity. The course includes optional field trips.