Public attitudes toward the presence and management of bats roosting in buildings in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Southeastern United States

Fagan, Kirstin E.; Willcox, Emma V.; Willcox, Adam S.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.02.004

Cited by 23 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Individuals are classi ed differentially into emotional, behavioural and cognitive negative attitudes, allowing different negativistic pro les to be identi ed based on the combinations of the scores in the three sub-scales. This is a particularly important contribution in the eld of conservation, since these attitudes are related with aggressive behaviour, support for population control strategies and the killing of bats (Fagan et al, 2018;Reid, 2016;Shapiro et al, 2020;Tanalgo et al, 2016). Detailed knowledge of negativistic individuals can help in the development of more relevant prevention and intervention strategies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other authors have developed speci c scales, including analysis of content validity and internal consistency, mostly using Cronbach's alpha coe cient and/or principal component analysis. All offer information on group comparisons based on variables like gender, age or level of education, re ecting the ability of the scales to discriminate between individuals (Barnes, 2013;Fagan et al, 2018;Musila et al, 2018;Prokop et al, 2009;Prokop & Tunnicliffe, 2008). Kross et al (2018) designed a scale on the perception of three types of animal (one per factor): bats, birds and birds of prey.…”

Section: Measuring Attitudes Towards Batsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kross et al (2018) designed a scale on the perception of three types of animal (one per factor): bats, birds and birds of prey. Fagan et al (2018) measured attitudes towards bats in a sample of 420 visitors to a natural park in USA, with a one-dimensional scale formed of four statements on hypothetical encounters with bats in buildings. The other quantitative instruments found in the literature all follow the same line, based on the typology of nine basic attitudes towards wildlife and its natural habitats developed by (Kellert, 1984(Kellert, , 1976: Naturalistic, Ecologistic, Humanistic, Moralistic, Scientistic, Aesthetic, Utilitarian, Dominionistic and Negativistic.…”

Section: Measuring Attitudes Towards Batsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Design and psychometric properties of BAtSS: A new tool to assess human attitudes towards bats.

Pérez¹,

Álvarez²,

Boso³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Despite the benefits that bats offer the ecosystem, these animals are feared due to mythological beliefs and their association with dirt and disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated this situation, exacerbating the already habitual attacks on these creatures. Today there is an urgent need to address the human-bat conflict in order to develop conservation policies. Understanding peoples' attitudes towards bats is a key part of this process. The object of this study was to design the Bats Attitudes Standard Scale (BAtSS) and analyse its psychometric properties. We developed an initial version of the scale in which we established the content validity; we analysed the items and structure in a pilot sample. In the next phase, we analysed psychometric properties in a sample of 1639 Chilean people. The final BAtSS consists of 34 Likert-type items configured in an oblique-hierarchical structure of 4 factors (Scientistic, Positivistic, Negativistic and Myths) and 3 facets (Negativistic-Emotional, Negativistic-Behavioural and Negativistic-Cognitive). It presents adequate internal consistency and the analysis of concurrent validity confirms the capacity of the scale to discriminate between groups. Women and participants with a lower level of education are more Negativistic and less Positivistic. People with a higher level of education have a less mythological view of bats. We also analysed the items which would be more/less difficult to change under the assumptions of Item Response Theory (IRT). Finally, BAtSS is a robust tool to assess the human attitudes and could help to understand and solve human-wildlife conflicts and therefore, improving the conservation actions

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measuring Attitudes Towards Batsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measuring Attitudes Towards Batsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Design and psychometric properties of BAtSS: A new tool to assess human attitudes towards bats.

Pérez¹,

Álvarez²,

Boso³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In North America, bats belong to the most misunderstood and threatened group of vertebrates not associated primarily with aquatic habitat (Hammerson et al 2017). Additionally, public understanding is low regarding the biology of, and ecosystem services provided by, bats (Prokop & Tunnicliffe 2008), as well as the threat of whitenose syndrome; even in areas in the USA where this disease has decimated populations (Fagan et al 2018). Conversely, people enjoy learning about bats at zoos (Kahn et al 2008), and zoos connect people with wildlife and stimulate proconservation behaviors (Skibins & Powell 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zoos play an important role in wildlife education for conservation (Fa et al 2014. Public education and support are crucial for bat conservation (O'Shea et al 2016, Fagan et al 2018; however, conservation exhibits emphasizing local, free-flying bats are rare at zoos in the USA. Here, we used an ultrasound detector in a zoo to document the presence, diversity, and activity patterns of free-flying resident (i.e., bats that hibernate locally) and migrant bats (i.e., bats with seasonal continental-scale migration) (Cryan 2003) within the Idaho Falls Zoo.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acoustic surveys for local, free-flying bats in zoos: an engaging approach for bat education and conservation

2019

Barb

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Bats are a highly diverse mammal taxon, and many populations are threatened in the wild. Zoos play an important role in wildlife education for conservation, and public education and support are critical for conserving bats, especially with the recent threats of white-nose syndrome in North America and wind-energy development. Conservation exhibits at zoos for local, free-flying bats, however, are rare. Here, we used an ultrasound detector set in the Idaho Falls Zoo to document local diversity and activity of free-flying bats. We then used that information to support bat conservation education in the zoo. From June to October 2018, we recorded 15,617 bat passes. We recorded 5 resident and 2 migrant species at the zoo, 6 of which were classed as being of conservation concern. Bat activity was highest in June, at sunset, and 64% of activity occurred within 4 hours after sunset. Bats in the zoo likely roosted in buildings, trees, and other structures, as well as foraged near water and foliage; therefore, the zoo and its exhibits provided diverse, extensive habitat for local, free-flying bats that came from inside and outside of the zoo. Our data led to public education activities at the zoo; and this technique required minimal space and maintenance. Our approach of acoustical monitoring bats at zoos is a simple, portable exhibit that could lead to research and increased public education and conservation of local, free-flying bats, which will help zoos be education centers for local species.

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How has White‐nose Syndrome Changed Cave Management in National Parks?

Shapiro

Willcox

Verant

et al. 2021

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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After the introduction of white‐nose syndrome (WNS) to the United States in 2006, managing agencies were quick to implement multiple interventions to prevent the spread of the disease and protect vulnerable cave‐roosting bat populations. One key agency that has dealt with the spread of WNS is the National Park Service (NPS), which has implemented screening and decontamination procedures in caves and adapted educational programs to emphasize the impact of WNS on bats and the ecosystem services they provide. However, despite the close connection NPS has with the public, few studies have focused on the social consequences of rapidly changing cave management plans in response to WNS spread. The primary goal of our study was to understand how WNS has changed bat and cave management in areas managed by NPS and key stakeholder perceptions of these changes. We explored federal and state land managers’ and caving organization leaders’ perceptions towards, and experiences with, bat and cave management at caves managed by the NPS through 15 key informant interviews. Respondents reacted positively to the NPS's use of park‐specific management plans, which they believed successfully balanced the conservation and recreation objectives of the show caves. Additionally, informants agreed on the management challenges NPS currently faces, including a paucity of knowledge about bat populations within the parks, a need for additional resources to effectively manage WNS, and the need to reach more visitors with information on WNS. However, respondents were divided on the effectiveness of the federal government's handling of the spread of WNS, as some caver informants believed that certain approaches were heavy‐handed and placed a burden on those who frequently visit caves for recreation and research. Understanding how WNS has shaped cave management in national parks is crucial for enhancing park visitor experiences and support for bat conservation. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.

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Public attitudes toward the presence and management of bats roosting in buildings in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Southeastern United States

Cited by 23 publications

References 41 publications

Design and psychometric properties of BAtSS: A new tool to assess human attitudes towards bats.

Design and psychometric properties of BAtSS: A new tool to assess human attitudes towards bats.

Acoustic surveys for local, free-flying bats in zoos: an engaging approach for bat education and conservation

How has White‐nose Syndrome Changed Cave Management in National Parks?

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