CORE Environmental Stewardship 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which action by an angler best protects fish populations for future generations?
- Keeping every fish caught up to the legal limit
- Practicing catch-and-release with proper handling techniques (Correct answer)
- Fishing only in stocked ponds
- Using barbed hooks for better retention
Correct answer: Practicing catch-and-release with proper handling techniques
Catch-and-release with proper handling — wet hands, minimal air exposure, gentle release — maximizes fish survival and sustains populations.
Question 2: An invasive species is best defined as one that:
- Is native to the region but overpopulated
- Is introduced to a new area and causes ecological or economic harm (Correct answer)
- Lives in more than one ecosystem type
- Has been reintroduced after local extinction
Correct answer: Is introduced to a new area and causes ecological or economic harm
Invasive species are non-native organisms whose introduction causes harm to the environment, economy, or human health.
Question 3: The Pittman-Robertson Act funds wildlife conservation primarily through:
- Federal income tax on all US citizens
- An excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition (Correct answer)
- State hunting license fees
- International treaty agreements
Correct answer: An excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition
The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) places an excise tax on firearms and ammunition sales, funding wildlife restoration programs.
Question 4: What is the best practice when encountering a wildfire while hiking?
- Climb to higher ground for a better view of the fire's direction
- Move downhill and downwind away from the fire (Correct answer)
- Shelter in place under a rocky overhang
- Move uphill and into the wind to find fresh air
Correct answer: Move downhill and downwind away from the fire
Wildfires travel faster uphill and with the wind, so moving downhill and downwind provides the best escape route.
Question 5: Which human activity most commonly leads to soil erosion in natural areas?
- Using binoculars for wildlife observation
- Removing vegetation through overgrazing or off-trail travel (Correct answer)
- Practicing archery in open fields
- Fishing from established riverbanks
Correct answer: Removing vegetation through overgrazing or off-trail travel
Plant roots hold soil in place, so removing vegetation exposes soil to wind and water erosion.
Question 6: A hunter notices a deer appears lethargic, has lost significant weight, and is drooling excessively. These symptoms most likely indicate:
- Normal breeding season behavior
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) (Correct answer)
- A common vitamin deficiency
- Injury from a predator encounter
Correct answer: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
CWD is a fatal prion disease affecting deer, elk, and moose, characterized by neurological symptoms including weight loss, stumbling, and excessive salivation.
Question 7: The 'North American Model of Wildlife Conservation' is distinctive because it establishes that wildlife is:
- Owned by individual landowners where it lives
- A public trust resource held for all citizens (Correct answer)
- Managed exclusively by federal agencies
- Protected only within designated national parks
Correct answer: A public trust resource held for all citizens
The North American Model holds that wildlife belongs to all citizens as a public trust, not to individuals or corporations, managed by government on the public's behalf.
CORE Environmental Stewardship 3
Which action by an angler best protects fish populations for future generations?