Crops

Wild animals have always been an important source of food and useful materials for humans. Most people who live in rural areas in poorer countries supplement their diet with meat obtained by hunting wild animals. Hunting is also popular as a sport among many rural people in wealthier countries. For example, each year in North America millions of deer are killed by hunters as food and a source of hide, especially white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (O. hemionus), and elk (Cervus canadensis). There are also large hunts of upland game birds, such as ruffled grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and of wild ducks and geese, especially the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Canada goose or honker (Branta canadensis), and snow goose (Chen hyperboreus).