Question

In the 1900s, New England's harbor and gray seals were hunted to the brink of extinction due to bounty policies aimed at reducing their population. The seals began to make a slow comeback after the bounty was dropped in 1962, but they continued to be hunted because of their perceived threat to the fishing industry. In 1972, seals became a protected species under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Since then, both harbor and gray seal populations have increased dramatically. What are some ways humans have negatively impacted the seal population?
Responses
A Fur traders hunted harbor seal pups for their coats.Fur traders hunted harbor seal pups for their coats.
B The bounty for seals was removed before seals became a protected species.The bounty for seals was removed before seals became a protected species.
C Harbor seals are host to a variety of parasites, which may attack many body systems.Harbor seals are host to a variety of parasites, which may attack many body systems.
D Harbor seal adults and pups can be preyed upon by killer whales, sharks, polar bears, sea lions, walruses, coyotes, and eagles.

Answer 1

A only.

Fur traders hunted harbor seal pups for their coats — a direct human-caused decline. The other options describe non-human factors or actions that were not harmful (B describes removing the bounty, which helped recovery; C and D are natural parasites/predators).