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Understanding Human-Mountain Lion Management Strategies Using PCI. Jerry J. Vaske Rebecca Howe Michael J. Manfredo Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO. Context. Conflicts with mountain lions increasing Mountain lion populations increasing
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Understanding Human-Mountain Lion Management Strategies Using PCI Jerry J. Vaske Rebecca Howe Michael J. Manfredo Colorado State UniversityFort Collins, CO
Context • Conflicts with mountain lions increasing • Mountain lion populations increasing • Human development intruding into lion habitat • Lions feeding closer to residential areas • Management actions scrutinized in popular presswhen a human is injured or killed • Important to evaluate attitudes to mountain lionsand acceptability of alternative mgmt. actions
Hypotheses H1: As severity of human–lion interactions increases, acceptability of destroying a lion increases H2: As severity of the human–lion interactions increases, consensus regarding destroying a lion decreases
Hypotheses H3: Individuals with positive attitudes toward lions will be less accepting of destroying them regardless of severity of human–lion interaction H4: Individuals with negative attitudes toward lions will have more consensus toward destroying them as severity of human–lion interaction increases
Methods • Mailed survey (3 mailings) • n = 2,668 • Two random sample populations • Denver metro area (response rate = 50%) • Denver foothills (response rate = 67%) • Non-response phone interviewNo statistically significant difference
Independent VariableAttitude toward Mountain Lions • Overall, what are your feelings toward mountain lions? • Beneficial or Harmful • Good or Bad • Positive or Negative • Example response scale
Dependent VariablesEvaluations of 4 Scenarios Example scenario: Someone reports seeing a lion in your residential area Given this scenario, how unacceptable or acceptable would it be for wildlife agencies to take each of the following actions.
Dependent VariablesEvaluations of 4 Scenarios • Situations • Someone reports seeing a mountain lion in your residential area • A mountain lion has come into your residential area and • Kills a pet • Attacks and injures a person • Attacks and kills a person
.50 .61 .38 .23 Overall Acceptability of Destroying Lion Highly Acceptable Neither Highly Unacceptable 3 2 1 Action Acceptability 0 -1 -2 -3 Seenin Area Kills Pet Injures Person KillsPerson
.09 .21 .19 .31 .41 .41 .61 .68 .42 .20 .14 .07 Negative Attitude Positive Attitude Neutral Attitude Acceptability of Destroying Lion by Attitude Highly Acceptable Neither Highly Unacceptable 3 2 1 Action Acceptability 0 -1 -2 -3 Seenin Area Kills Pet Injures Person KillsPerson
Summary • As severity of human–lion interaction increases: • Average acceptability of lethal control increases • Consensus for lethal control decreases • Those with positive attitudes (the majority) are always less accepting of lethal control • Consensus for lethal control varies by attitude • Positive attitude – consensus decreases with severity • Negative attitude - consensus increases with severity