Understanding differences in the way people think about wildlife across countries is important as... more Understanding differences in the way people think about wildlife across countries is important as many conservation challenges transcend jurisdictions. We explored differences in wildlife value orientations in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Serbia. Standard scales assessed domination (prioritizing human well-being) and mutualism (striving for egalitarian relationships with wildlife). We used student samples (total n = 2176) for cross-cultural comparisons. Reliabilities of the wildlife value orientations scales were adequate in all countries. Relationships between demographics and wildlife value orientations were different across countries. Men were generally more oriented towards domination and less towards mutualism than women, except in Serbia, where it was the other way around. Estimated at the level of the individual (using ANOVA), wildlife value orientations varied across countries, with nationality explaining a larger portion ...
Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, Aug 16, 2017
Human-wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling... more Human-wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread acknowledgment of the need for ethical and evidence-based approaches to managing such conflicts. We explored international perspectives on and experiences with human-wildlife conflicts to develop principles for ethical wildlife control. A diverse panel of 20 experts convened at a 2-day workshop and developed the principles through a facilitated engagement process and discussion. They determined that efforts to control wildlife should begin wherever possible by altering the human practices that cause human-wildlife conflict and by developing a culture of coexistence; be justified by evidence that ...
Human feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon with very diverse effects on conservation, an... more Human feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon with very diverse effects on conservation, animal welfare and public safety. From a review of the motivations, types and consequences of wildlife feeding, an evaluative framework is presented to assist policy-makers, educators and managers to make ethical-and biologically-based decisions about the appropriateness of feeding wildlife in the context of research, wildlife management, tourism and recreation.
Raptors undergoing wildlife rehabilitation are often fed small rodents during their recovery. One... more Raptors undergoing wildlife rehabilitation are often fed small rodents during their recovery. One possible source for these rodents is animal research facilities. Rodents used in research are typically killed by exposure to carbon dioxide (CO₂), but, for welfare reasons, new Canadian guidelines dictate that rodents first be anesthetized with isoflurane before killing with CO₂. Little is known about the effects of feeding wildlife undergoing rehabilitation rodents that have been exposed to an anesthetic, raising concerns about the suitability of this practice. A pilot study at the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in British Columbia, Canada, found no differences in observed behavioral changes in two hawks fed mice anesthetized with isoflurane before killing with CO₂ compared to a diet of mice killed with CO₂ alone. These results suggest that there is little risk associated with feeding raptors mice exposed to isoflurane before CO₂ and recommendations for future study are outl...
The "pot bears" received international media attention in 2010 after police discovered the intent... more The "pot bears" received international media attention in 2010 after police discovered the intentional feeding of black bears during the investigation of an alleged marijuana-growing operation in Christina Lake, British Columbia. Residents of this small community were surveyed by phone twice over the following year, before and after government actions. This study aimed to understand local attitudes on how these bears should be managed and whether they differed from existing bear management policy. Results indicate a significant problem with the public view of wildlife feeding and a gap between public and expert opinion on relocation and killing of food-conditioned wildlife.
ABSTRACT The field of wildlife management has been on a collision course with human nature for so... more ABSTRACT The field of wildlife management has been on a collision course with human nature for some time, documented by the growing and important body of human dimensions of wildlife research. As the evolution of this field continues, a new dimension of “humane” considerations in wildlife management should be investigated. An exploratory online study of opinions about management decisions with 351 British Columbians of various wildlife engagement levels was conducted. Many participants were not willing to accept trading-off individual animals to protect populations, or killing other species to protect an endangered species, expressing both conservation and animal welfare rationales. Participants' wildlife engagement level and utilitarian or protectionist values influenced how they perceived the acceptability of invasive monitoring and population reduction techniques. The application of animal welfare science to conservation can improve the humaneness of practices and in turn, will help managers communicate with the public and generate support for their programs.
Wolf populations have increased in Western Europe and North America. Lethal control of problem wo... more Wolf populations have increased in Western Europe and North America. Lethal control of problem wolves is controversial and support varies among stakeholder groups. Knowing why people support or oppose policies can assist managers in dealing with the public. We examined the influence of emotions toward wolves on the acceptability of lethal wolf control. Two perspectives were used to classify emotions. The discrete perspective distinguishes qualitatively different emotions (e.g., fear, joy). The dimensional perspective differentiates emotions on the basis of valence and arousal. We conducted a survey among Dutch (n=369) and Canadian (n=208) university students. The independent variables were discrete emotions toward wolves (joy, fear, surprise, anger, disgust, sadness, interest) as well as valence and arousal. The dependent variables were acceptability of lethal control of wolves in three situations that reflect different problem levels (wolves present, wolves kill sheep, wolves kill human). Emotional dispositions toward wolves predicted up to 20 % of the variance of acceptability of lethal control. Disgust in both samples and joy in the Dutch sample were the best predictors. The predictive potential of fear was smaller and confined to two scenarios in the Dutch sample. Discrete emotions predicted acceptability better than valence and arousal. Emotions beyond fear should be considered in wildlife decision-making.
Human activities may cause conservation concerns when animal populations or ecosystems are harmed... more Human activities may cause conservation concerns when animal populations or ecosystems are harmed and animal welfare concerns when individuals are harmed. In general, people are concerned with one or the other, as the concepts may be regarded as separate or even at odds. An online purposive survey of 339 British Columbians explored differences between groups that varied by gender, residency, wildlife engagement level and value orientation (conservation-oriented or animal welfare-oriented), to see how they rated the level of harm to wildlife caused by different human activities. Women, urban residents, those with low wildlife engagement, and welfare-orientated participants generally scored activities as more harmful than their counterparts, but all groups were very similar in their rankings. Activities that destroy or alter habitat (urban development, pollution, resource development and agriculture) were rated consistently as most harmful by all groups, including the most conservation-oriented and the most welfare-oriented. Where such a high level of agreement exists, wildlife managers should be able to design management actions that will address both conservation and animal welfare concerns. However, the higher level of concern expressed by female, low engagement and welfare-oriented participants for activities that involve direct killing indicates a need for wildlife managers to consult beyond traditional stakeholders.
Squirrelpox virus (SQPV), an unapparent infection of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinen... more Squirrelpox virus (SQPV), an unapparent infection of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), is considered to be mediating the ecological replacement of the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. Evidence suggests that the Eastern grey squirrel is the natural reservoir host of SQPV and therefore there is considerable concern amongst conservationists that when translocated out of its natural range in North America, the Eastern grey squirrel could pose a similar threat to encountered indigenous squirrel populations. Serum samples collected from Eastern grey squirrels from British Columbia (BC), Canada, an introduced population derived from squirrels translocated at the beginning of the 20th Century, were surveyed for evidence of antibodies against SQPV. None of the 130 samples tested had antibodies to the virus, contrasting with 15 out of 19 (79%) positive serum samples collected from Ontario, a population within the natural range of the Eastern grey squirrel. We conclude that BC is currently free of SQPV and that to maintain the virus-free status further translocations of grey squirrels from their native range should be prevented. A comprehensive study of the founding population and comparison with the other populations in BC, including broad epidemiological surveillance for the virus is recommended as an early warning for potential incursions of the virus and the threats that this may pose.
Understanding differences in the way people think about wildlife across countries is important as... more Understanding differences in the way people think about wildlife across countries is important as many conservation challenges transcend jurisdictions. We explored differences in wildlife value orientations in seven countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Serbia. Standard scales assessed domination (prioritizing human well-being) and mutualism (striving for egalitarian relationships with wildlife). We used student samples (total n = 2176) for cross-cultural comparisons. Reliabilities of the wildlife value orientations scales were adequate in all countries. Relationships between demographics and wildlife value orientations were different across countries. Men were generally more oriented towards domination and less towards mutualism than women, except in Serbia, where it was the other way around. Estimated at the level of the individual (using ANOVA), wildlife value orientations varied across countries, with nationality explaining a larger portion ...
Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, Aug 16, 2017
Human-wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling... more Human-wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread acknowledgment of the need for ethical and evidence-based approaches to managing such conflicts. We explored international perspectives on and experiences with human-wildlife conflicts to develop principles for ethical wildlife control. A diverse panel of 20 experts convened at a 2-day workshop and developed the principles through a facilitated engagement process and discussion. They determined that efforts to control wildlife should begin wherever possible by altering the human practices that cause human-wildlife conflict and by developing a culture of coexistence; be justified by evidence that ...
Human feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon with very diverse effects on conservation, an... more Human feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon with very diverse effects on conservation, animal welfare and public safety. From a review of the motivations, types and consequences of wildlife feeding, an evaluative framework is presented to assist policy-makers, educators and managers to make ethical-and biologically-based decisions about the appropriateness of feeding wildlife in the context of research, wildlife management, tourism and recreation.
Raptors undergoing wildlife rehabilitation are often fed small rodents during their recovery. One... more Raptors undergoing wildlife rehabilitation are often fed small rodents during their recovery. One possible source for these rodents is animal research facilities. Rodents used in research are typically killed by exposure to carbon dioxide (CO₂), but, for welfare reasons, new Canadian guidelines dictate that rodents first be anesthetized with isoflurane before killing with CO₂. Little is known about the effects of feeding wildlife undergoing rehabilitation rodents that have been exposed to an anesthetic, raising concerns about the suitability of this practice. A pilot study at the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society in British Columbia, Canada, found no differences in observed behavioral changes in two hawks fed mice anesthetized with isoflurane before killing with CO₂ compared to a diet of mice killed with CO₂ alone. These results suggest that there is little risk associated with feeding raptors mice exposed to isoflurane before CO₂ and recommendations for future study are outl...
The "pot bears" received international media attention in 2010 after police discovered the intent... more The "pot bears" received international media attention in 2010 after police discovered the intentional feeding of black bears during the investigation of an alleged marijuana-growing operation in Christina Lake, British Columbia. Residents of this small community were surveyed by phone twice over the following year, before and after government actions. This study aimed to understand local attitudes on how these bears should be managed and whether they differed from existing bear management policy. Results indicate a significant problem with the public view of wildlife feeding and a gap between public and expert opinion on relocation and killing of food-conditioned wildlife.
ABSTRACT The field of wildlife management has been on a collision course with human nature for so... more ABSTRACT The field of wildlife management has been on a collision course with human nature for some time, documented by the growing and important body of human dimensions of wildlife research. As the evolution of this field continues, a new dimension of “humane” considerations in wildlife management should be investigated. An exploratory online study of opinions about management decisions with 351 British Columbians of various wildlife engagement levels was conducted. Many participants were not willing to accept trading-off individual animals to protect populations, or killing other species to protect an endangered species, expressing both conservation and animal welfare rationales. Participants' wildlife engagement level and utilitarian or protectionist values influenced how they perceived the acceptability of invasive monitoring and population reduction techniques. The application of animal welfare science to conservation can improve the humaneness of practices and in turn, will help managers communicate with the public and generate support for their programs.
Wolf populations have increased in Western Europe and North America. Lethal control of problem wo... more Wolf populations have increased in Western Europe and North America. Lethal control of problem wolves is controversial and support varies among stakeholder groups. Knowing why people support or oppose policies can assist managers in dealing with the public. We examined the influence of emotions toward wolves on the acceptability of lethal wolf control. Two perspectives were used to classify emotions. The discrete perspective distinguishes qualitatively different emotions (e.g., fear, joy). The dimensional perspective differentiates emotions on the basis of valence and arousal. We conducted a survey among Dutch (n=369) and Canadian (n=208) university students. The independent variables were discrete emotions toward wolves (joy, fear, surprise, anger, disgust, sadness, interest) as well as valence and arousal. The dependent variables were acceptability of lethal control of wolves in three situations that reflect different problem levels (wolves present, wolves kill sheep, wolves kill human). Emotional dispositions toward wolves predicted up to 20 % of the variance of acceptability of lethal control. Disgust in both samples and joy in the Dutch sample were the best predictors. The predictive potential of fear was smaller and confined to two scenarios in the Dutch sample. Discrete emotions predicted acceptability better than valence and arousal. Emotions beyond fear should be considered in wildlife decision-making.
Human activities may cause conservation concerns when animal populations or ecosystems are harmed... more Human activities may cause conservation concerns when animal populations or ecosystems are harmed and animal welfare concerns when individuals are harmed. In general, people are concerned with one or the other, as the concepts may be regarded as separate or even at odds. An online purposive survey of 339 British Columbians explored differences between groups that varied by gender, residency, wildlife engagement level and value orientation (conservation-oriented or animal welfare-oriented), to see how they rated the level of harm to wildlife caused by different human activities. Women, urban residents, those with low wildlife engagement, and welfare-orientated participants generally scored activities as more harmful than their counterparts, but all groups were very similar in their rankings. Activities that destroy or alter habitat (urban development, pollution, resource development and agriculture) were rated consistently as most harmful by all groups, including the most conservation-oriented and the most welfare-oriented. Where such a high level of agreement exists, wildlife managers should be able to design management actions that will address both conservation and animal welfare concerns. However, the higher level of concern expressed by female, low engagement and welfare-oriented participants for activities that involve direct killing indicates a need for wildlife managers to consult beyond traditional stakeholders.
Squirrelpox virus (SQPV), an unapparent infection of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinen... more Squirrelpox virus (SQPV), an unapparent infection of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), is considered to be mediating the ecological replacement of the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland. Evidence suggests that the Eastern grey squirrel is the natural reservoir host of SQPV and therefore there is considerable concern amongst conservationists that when translocated out of its natural range in North America, the Eastern grey squirrel could pose a similar threat to encountered indigenous squirrel populations. Serum samples collected from Eastern grey squirrels from British Columbia (BC), Canada, an introduced population derived from squirrels translocated at the beginning of the 20th Century, were surveyed for evidence of antibodies against SQPV. None of the 130 samples tested had antibodies to the virus, contrasting with 15 out of 19 (79%) positive serum samples collected from Ontario, a population within the natural range of the Eastern grey squirrel. We conclude that BC is currently free of SQPV and that to maintain the virus-free status further translocations of grey squirrels from their native range should be prevented. A comprehensive study of the founding population and comparison with the other populations in BC, including broad epidemiological surveillance for the virus is recommended as an early warning for potential incursions of the virus and the threats that this may pose.
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