Photo: Irrigation system, southwest Montana. © 2020 Delena Norris-Tull
Federal Legislation signed into law in the 1930s
Summarized by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, updated June 2022
Animal Damage Control Act, 1931, as amended
Control of Wild Animals Act, 1985, amended through 2018
Pubic Law 99-19, Control of Wild Animals, 1985
Related laws:
Pub. L. 99-190, 1986, Appropriations
Pub. L. 102-237, Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act Amendments, 1991
Pub. L. 111-11, Omnibus Public Land Management Act, 2009
Pub. L. 106-387, 2000, Appropriations
Pub. L. 115-270, America’s Water Infrastructure Act, 2018,
7 USC 8351-8356
Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 109, Control of Wild Animals
Sections 8351-8356, Predatory and Other Wild Animals
Agency: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
[Administered by the USDA beginning in 1985. Formerly administered by the US Dept. of the Interior.]
Gives APHIS authority to control wildlife damage on Federal, State, or private land. Protects fields crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural crops, commercial forests, freshwater agricultural ponds, marine species cultivation areas, livestock, public and private facilities, civilian and military aircraft, public health. Includes regulations to control or to prevent importation of injurious mammalian predators, birds, and rodents, both native and non-native. It allows the use of snares, traps, and poisons. Over time, the law has been expanded to regulate other animals, such as non-native snakes.
The Control of Wild Animals Act, 1985, transferred authority for enacting the Act from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Agriculture: Provides funding to ranchers who have lost livestock to predation by federally protected species (also refer to the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act of 2020, below); allows ranchers to attain permits to kill black vultures or ravens who take livestock during calving and lambing seasons.
Omnibus Public Land Management Act designates lands for the National Wilderness Preservation System, and authorizes certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.
America’s Water Infrastructure Act (includes the Water Resources Development Act) among many other things, provides funding for research on aquatic invasive species; authorized and regulates Army Corps of Engineers projects; requires Tribal input in projects; provides funds for community drinking water system improvement projects.
Bacon, 2012, provides a lengthy discussion of the history of and concerns related to the Animal Damage Control Act.
Bacon, T. (2012). The Implementation of the Animal Damage Control Act: A Comment on Wildlife Services' Methods of Predatory Animal Control, 32. Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary, 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/naalj/vol32/iss1/6
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), 1934, as amended
Pub. L. 97-79, § 9(b)(2), 95 Stat. 1079, Nov. 16, 1981, Lacey Act Amendments
Pub. L. 116-188, Title I, § 105, 134 Stat. 916, Oct. 30, 2020, America’s Conservation Enhancement Act
16 USC 661 - 667e
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Chapter 5A, Protection & Conservation of Wildlife
Subchapter 1, Game, Fur-bearing Animals, and Fish
The FWCA provides the authority for the US Fish & Wildlife Service to protect fish and wildlife resources. The FWCA was enacted to protect fish and wildlife that may be impacted by water resource development projects. 1946 amendments required the US Fish & Wildlife Service to consult with States regarding any activities under the Act.
The FWCA states, “For the purpose of recognizing the vital contribution of our wildlife resources to the Nation, the increasing public interest and significance thereof due to expansion of our national economy and other factors, and to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs through the effectual and harmonious planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation… the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (1) to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, in minimizing damages from overabundant species, in providing public shooting and fishing areas, including easements across public lands for access thereto, and in carrying out other measures necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act; (2) to make surveys and investigations of the wildlife of the public domain, including lands and waters or interests therein acquired or controlled by any agency of the United States.”
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, 1935, as amended
Pub. L. 74-46, April 27, 1935
Pub. L. 115–334, December 20, 2018
16 USC 590
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Chapter 3B, Soil Conservation
Section 590
Agency: USDA
Beginning in 1933, the Soil Erosion Service, under the Department of the Interior, began to tackle the severe loss of soils in the US. In 1935, the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act created the Soil Conservation Service, under the USDA. The law “declared that the Federal Government bore permanent responsibility for reducing water and wind erosion of the nation's soils.”
The law was passed in response to the national catastrophe known as the Dust Bowl, a phenomenon caused by poor farming practices and severe drought. Particularly extreme in the dry, windy western states, eroded soils resulted in massive soil losses, particularly between 1932-1935. Conservation of soil and water resources was a priority under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The agency created under this act was called the Soil Conservation Service. The SCS employed over 10,000 individuals (mostly men) in the 1930s within the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1993, during the Clinton Administration, the title of the SCS was changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as its mission had broadened over the years, to tackle issues related to water conservation and protection of natural and agricultural resources (including plants and animals: fish & wildlife, insects & other pollinators, and livestock). Its mission is to “improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with State and local agencies.”
According to the USDA website, “the NRCS provides America’s farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground, not only helping the environment, but agricultural operations, too.” NRCS representatives also have an important role is assisting landowners on the implementation of the requirements of the Farm Bill.
NRCS does not manage public lands (that role is held by the Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service). Advising State and local agencies and landowners in the management of private lands, and in the management of invasive species is an important aspect of the NRCS.
Federal Seed Act, 1939, amended through 1998
Pub. L. 97-439
7 USC 1551-1611
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 37, Seeds
Sections 1551-1611
Agency: USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Details of the Federal Seed Act
Links to additional Federal & State Laws on Invasive Species:
Federal Legislation signed into law in the 1930s
Summarized by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, updated June 2022
Animal Damage Control Act, 1931, as amended
Control of Wild Animals Act, 1985, amended through 2018
Pubic Law 99-19, Control of Wild Animals, 1985
Related laws:
Pub. L. 99-190, 1986, Appropriations
Pub. L. 102-237, Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act Amendments, 1991
Pub. L. 111-11, Omnibus Public Land Management Act, 2009
Pub. L. 106-387, 2000, Appropriations
Pub. L. 115-270, America’s Water Infrastructure Act, 2018,
7 USC 8351-8356
Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 109, Control of Wild Animals
Sections 8351-8356, Predatory and Other Wild Animals
Agency: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
[Administered by the USDA beginning in 1985. Formerly administered by the US Dept. of the Interior.]
Gives APHIS authority to control wildlife damage on Federal, State, or private land. Protects fields crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, horticultural crops, commercial forests, freshwater agricultural ponds, marine species cultivation areas, livestock, public and private facilities, civilian and military aircraft, public health. Includes regulations to control or to prevent importation of injurious mammalian predators, birds, and rodents, both native and non-native. It allows the use of snares, traps, and poisons. Over time, the law has been expanded to regulate other animals, such as non-native snakes.
The Control of Wild Animals Act, 1985, transferred authority for enacting the Act from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Agriculture: Provides funding to ranchers who have lost livestock to predation by federally protected species (also refer to the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act of 2020, below); allows ranchers to attain permits to kill black vultures or ravens who take livestock during calving and lambing seasons.
Omnibus Public Land Management Act designates lands for the National Wilderness Preservation System, and authorizes certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.
America’s Water Infrastructure Act (includes the Water Resources Development Act) among many other things, provides funding for research on aquatic invasive species; authorized and regulates Army Corps of Engineers projects; requires Tribal input in projects; provides funds for community drinking water system improvement projects.
Bacon, 2012, provides a lengthy discussion of the history of and concerns related to the Animal Damage Control Act.
Bacon, T. (2012). The Implementation of the Animal Damage Control Act: A Comment on Wildlife Services' Methods of Predatory Animal Control, 32. Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary, 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/naalj/vol32/iss1/6
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), 1934, as amended
Pub. L. 97-79, § 9(b)(2), 95 Stat. 1079, Nov. 16, 1981, Lacey Act Amendments
Pub. L. 116-188, Title I, § 105, 134 Stat. 916, Oct. 30, 2020, America’s Conservation Enhancement Act
16 USC 661 - 667e
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Chapter 5A, Protection & Conservation of Wildlife
Subchapter 1, Game, Fur-bearing Animals, and Fish
The FWCA provides the authority for the US Fish & Wildlife Service to protect fish and wildlife resources. The FWCA was enacted to protect fish and wildlife that may be impacted by water resource development projects. 1946 amendments required the US Fish & Wildlife Service to consult with States regarding any activities under the Act.
The FWCA states, “For the purpose of recognizing the vital contribution of our wildlife resources to the Nation, the increasing public interest and significance thereof due to expansion of our national economy and other factors, and to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs through the effectual and harmonious planning, development, maintenance, and coordination of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation… the Secretary of the Interior is authorized (1) to provide assistance to, and cooperate with, Federal, State, and public or private agencies and organizations in the development, protection, rearing, and stocking of all species of wildlife, resources thereof, and their habitat, in controlling losses of the same from disease or other causes, in minimizing damages from overabundant species, in providing public shooting and fishing areas, including easements across public lands for access thereto, and in carrying out other measures necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act; (2) to make surveys and investigations of the wildlife of the public domain, including lands and waters or interests therein acquired or controlled by any agency of the United States.”
Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, 1935, as amended
Pub. L. 74-46, April 27, 1935
Pub. L. 115–334, December 20, 2018
16 USC 590
US Code, Title 16, Conservation
Chapter 3B, Soil Conservation
Section 590
Agency: USDA
Beginning in 1933, the Soil Erosion Service, under the Department of the Interior, began to tackle the severe loss of soils in the US. In 1935, the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act created the Soil Conservation Service, under the USDA. The law “declared that the Federal Government bore permanent responsibility for reducing water and wind erosion of the nation's soils.”
The law was passed in response to the national catastrophe known as the Dust Bowl, a phenomenon caused by poor farming practices and severe drought. Particularly extreme in the dry, windy western states, eroded soils resulted in massive soil losses, particularly between 1932-1935. Conservation of soil and water resources was a priority under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The agency created under this act was called the Soil Conservation Service. The SCS employed over 10,000 individuals (mostly men) in the 1930s within the Civilian Conservation Corps.
In 1993, during the Clinton Administration, the title of the SCS was changed to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, as its mission had broadened over the years, to tackle issues related to water conservation and protection of natural and agricultural resources (including plants and animals: fish & wildlife, insects & other pollinators, and livestock). Its mission is to “improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with State and local agencies.”
According to the USDA website, “the NRCS provides America’s farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily put conservation on the ground, not only helping the environment, but agricultural operations, too.” NRCS representatives also have an important role is assisting landowners on the implementation of the requirements of the Farm Bill.
NRCS does not manage public lands (that role is held by the Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service). Advising State and local agencies and landowners in the management of private lands, and in the management of invasive species is an important aspect of the NRCS.
Federal Seed Act, 1939, amended through 1998
Pub. L. 97-439
7 USC 1551-1611
US Code, Title 7, Agriculture
Chapter 37, Seeds
Sections 1551-1611
Agency: USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Details of the Federal Seed Act
Links to additional Federal & State Laws on Invasive Species:
- 1940s-1960s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 1970s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 1980s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 1990s Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 2000-2010 Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- 2011-2022 Federal Laws on Invasive Species
- Federal Bills on Invasive Species not passed
- Executive Orders on Invasive Species
- Federal Excise Taxes
- State Laws and Lists of Noxious Weeds