Building tolerance for bears: A communications experiment

Slagle, Kristina M.; Zajac, Ryan M.; Bruskotter, Jeremy T.; Wilson, Robyn S.; Prange, Suzie

doi:10.1002/jwmg.515

Cited by 88 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This finding supports work on technology acceptance which poses that understanding what influences an individual to accept a new technology (e.g., critical weed-free practices), requires an understanding of both the perceived risks and benefits of that technology so both may uniquely contribute to acceptance (Siegrist 2000). In addition, research in a variety of environmental and natural resource contexts points to the importance of perceived benefits for motivating changes in attitudes and behavior (Ascher et al 2012;Paveglio and Carroll 2009;Slagle and Zajac 2013).…”

Section: -----------------------------------------Principle Componentsupporting

confidence: 66%

Organic Farmer Knowledge and Perceptions are Associated with On-Farm Weed Seedbank Densities in Northern New England

Jabbour¹,

Gallandt

Zwickle

et al. 2014

Weed sci.

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Weed management remains a high priority for organic farmers, whose fields generally have higher weed density and species diversity than those of their conventional counterparts. We explored whether variability in farmer knowledge and perceptions of weeds and weed management practices were predictive of variability in on-farm weed seedbanks on 23 organic farms in northern New England. We interviewed farmers and transcribed and coded interviews to quantify their emphasis on concepts regarding knowledge of ecological weed management, the perceived risks and benefits of weeds, and the perceived risks and benefits of weed management practices. To characterize on-farm weed seedbanks, we collected soil samples from five fields at each farm (115 fields total) and measured germinable weed seed density. Mean weed seed density per farm ranged from 2,775 seeds m−2to 24,678 seeds m−2to a soil depth of 10 cm. Farmers most often reported hairy galinsoga and crabgrass species (Digitariaspp.) as their most problematic weeds. The proportion of the sum of these two most problematic weeds in each farm's seedbank ranged from 1 to 73% of total weed seed density. Farmer knowledge and perceptions were predictive of total seed density, species richness, and proportion of hairy galinsoga and crabgrass species. Low seed densities were associated with farmers who most often discussed risks of weeds, benefits of critical weed-free management practices, and learning from their own experience. These farmers also exhibited greater knowledge of managing the weed seedbank and greater understanding of the importance of a long-term strategy. Targeted education focusing on this set of knowledge and beliefs could potentially lead to improved application and success of ecological weed management in the future, thus decreasing labor costs and time necessary for farmers to manage weeds.

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Section: -----------------------------------------Principle Componentsupporting

confidence: 66%

Organic Farmer Knowledge and Perceptions are Associated with On-Farm Weed Seedbank Densities in Northern New England

Jabbour¹,

Gallandt

Zwickle

et al. 2014

Weed sci.

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“…To enhance acceptance of bears where they are still perceived as a threat, including areas outside our study area and where bears would be expected to expand their range in the near future, experiential learning programs could be adopted, such as guided tours emphasizing the lack of fatal attacks perpetuated by bears and including conflict‐avoidance techniques (e.g., Swenson et al, ). In general, communication campaigns that emphasize anecdotes of positive, personal experiences with bears, as well as benefits gained by bear presence, will likely help to reduce fear among residents of the PNALM and elsewhere in adjacent areas (Slagle, Zajac, Bruskotter, Wilson, & Prange, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local attitudes toward Apennine brown bears: Insights for conservation issues

Glikman

Ciucci²,

Marino

et al. 2019

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Human‐carnivore coexistence is a multi‐faceted issue that requires an understanding of the diverse attitudes and perspectives of the communities living with large carnivores. To inform initiatives that encourage behaviors in line with conservation goals, we focused on assessing the two components of attitudes (i.e., feelings and beliefs), as well as norms of local communities coexisting with Apennine brown bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) for a long time. This bear population is under serious extinction risks due to its persistently small population size, which is currently confined to the long‐established protected area of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (PNALM) and its surrounding region in central Italy. We interviewed 1,611 residents in the PNALM to determine attitudes and values toward bears. We found that support for the bear's legal protection was widespread throughout the area, though beliefs about the benefits of conserving bears varied across geographic administrative districts. Our results showed that residents across our study areas liked bears. At the same time, areas that received more benefits from tourism were more strongly associated with positive feelings toward bears. Such findings provide useful information to improve communication efforts of conservation authorities with local communities.

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“…Wildlife managers urgently need tools to help maintain populations of cougars and other carnivores in ways that simultaneously support (1) the benefits of ecological regulation, (2) responsibility for the protection of biodiversity, and (3) human security in shared landscapes. Education can be a powerful tool for fostering coexistence (e.g., Manfredo et al 2003, Bruskotter andWilson 2014), but only when the factors that promote it are understood (Slagle et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance for cougars diminished by high perception of risk

Knopff¹,

Knopff²,

Clair³

2016

E&S

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ABSTRACT. In North America, both human and cougar populations are expanding and increasingly sharing the same space, including modified landscapes viewed by people as their "backyard." Low tolerance for cougars in modified landscapes has been identified as a key factor that could restrict continued cougar range expansion in North America, or even reverse some of the gains made by cougar populations in recent decades. To better understand factors influencing tolerance and identify opportunities to improve conservation prospects for cougars, we implemented a questionnaire in west-central Alberta, where both human and cougar populations have increased over the past 20 years and where we had developed a resource selection function for cougars from telemetry data. Respondents overestimated risk from cougars, and more than half believed cougars posed the same or greater risk as driving a car, even though only one Albertan has been killed by a cougar in the last century and hundreds die in car accidents each year. Although respondents valued cougars highly, they indicated that cougars belonged in the wilderness and not near their homes. We predicted that tolerance for cougars would be negatively correlated with increased probability of cougar selection near the respondent's home, but our prediction was not supported. Although such correlations have been reported at broader spatial scales, we suggest they may break down at finer scales. Other factors, such as education, were important drivers of tolerance for cougars in Alberta. Our results suggest that education undertaken to improve large carnivore conservation should focus on accurately defining the risks and ecological benefits resulting from maintaining cougars on the landscape. Education may also need to focus on the importance of nonwilderness habitats (i.e., the rapidly expanding backyard) as an important part of long-term conservation and continued range expansion and repatriation of adaptable large carnivores, such as cougars.

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Building tolerance for bears: A communications experiment

Cited by 88 publications

References 24 publications

Organic Farmer Knowledge and Perceptions are Associated with On-Farm Weed Seedbank Densities in Northern New England

Organic Farmer Knowledge and Perceptions are Associated with On-Farm Weed Seedbank Densities in Northern New England

Local attitudes toward Apennine brown bears: Insights for conservation issues

Tolerance for cougars diminished by high perception of risk

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