Wisconsin Hunter's Safety Practice Exam

What does "Carrying Capacity" refer to in regards to wildlife?

1. Number of animals legally allowed to be hunted

2. Number of animals seen during a hunting season

3. Number of animals the habitat can support all year long

4. Number of animals that migrate annually

The correct answer is: Number of animals the habitat can support all year long

Carrying Capacity is the maximum number of a species that an ecosystem can support without causing significant harm or damage. Option A is incorrect because "legally allowed" does not necessarily relate to the natural carrying capacity of an ecosystem. Option B might be related, but it's actually the animals that are available for hunters to see, which may not be a representative sample of the entire species population. Option D is incorrect because migration is not necessarily indicative of long-term carrying capacity. Only option C directly captures the definition of carrying capacity in relation to wildlife.