The utilization distribution: wildlife research methods as a tool for understanding visitor use in remote parks and protected areas. Issue 2 (4th March 2022) - Nettles, John M.
ABSTRACT: In remote parks and other protected areas, estimates of visitor use levels and distributions are often limited in accuracy and feasibility. Visitors to these areas may not see any staff during their visit or even know the locations they visited. As a result, visitor use management efforts often require information from other sources, including annual reports submitted by Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit holders. We used a case study approach at Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks and Preserves to demonstrate the potential of a common wildlife analysis method for understanding visitor use in parks and protected areas: the utilization distribution. Utilization distributions are used for defining the home range, or primary area of use, for an individual or population. This novel research provides an example of the benefits of incorporating wildlife methods into social science practices to better manage parks and other protected areas.