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Official Pennsylvania Hunting Safety Course Link to Pennsylvania Game Commission

Chapter 4: Wildlife Conservation and Management
Carrying Capacity

The resources in any given habitat can support only a certain quantity of wildlife. As seasons change, food, water, or cover may be in short supply. Carrying capacity is the number of animals the habitat can support all year long. The carrying capacity of a certain tract of land can vary from year to year. It can be changed by nature or humans.

Limiting factors that affect the potential production of wildlife include:

  • Disease/parasites
  • Accidents
  • Starvation
  • Old age
  • Predators
  • Hunting
  • Pollution
Graphic of bucket showing population dynamics of animal reproduction exceeding the loss from all limiting factors

If the conditions are balanced, game animals will produce a surplus, which can be harvested on an annual basis.

Animal populations graphic

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Pennsylvania Hunting
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Official hunting safety course for Pennsylvania hunters last modified: August 17, 2010
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