Understanding and managing human tolerance for a large carnivore in a residential system. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lischka, Stacy A.; Teel, Tara L.; Johnson, Heather E.; Crooks, Kevin R.
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 238(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Black bears -- Social science -- Human-bear conflict -- Colorado -- Bear-proofing -- Human-wildlife conflict; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.07.034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Human tolerance for interactions with large carnivores is an important determinant of their persistence on the landscape, yet the relative importance of factors affecting tolerance is not fully understood. Further, the impact of management efforts to alter tolerance has not been adequately assessed. We developed a model containing a comprehensive set of predictors drawn from prior studies and tested it through a longitudinal survey measuring tolerance for black bears ( Ursus americanus ) in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, USA. Predictors included human-bear conflicts, outcomes of interactions with bears, perceptions of benefits and risks from bears, trust in managers, perceived similarity with the goals of managers, personal control over risks, value orientations toward wildlife, and demographic factors. In addition, we monitored changes in tolerance resulting from a bear-proofing experiment designed to reduced garbage-related conflicts in the community. Residents who perceived greater benefits associated with bears and more positive impacts from bear-related interactions had higher tolerance. Residents who perceived greater risks and more negative impacts and who had greater trust in managers, domination wildlife value orientations, and older age were less tolerant. Conflicts with bears were not an important predictor, supported by our finding that changes in conflicts resulting from our bear-proofing experiment did not affect tolerance. In contrast to conservation approaches that focus primarily on decreasing human-wildlife conflicts, our findings suggest that communication approaches aimed at increasing public tolerance for carnivores could be improved by emphasizing the benefits and positive impacts of living with these species. Highlights: Tolerance for black bears increased with perceived benefits, positive interactions. Tolerance decreased with perceived risk, negative interactions, trust in managers. Tolerance decreased with domination values, age. Management that changed rates of garbage-related conflicts did not affect tolerance. Emphasis on benefits and positive impacts of coexistence may increase tolerance.