Adam S. Willcox

Predicting Cattle Rancher Wildlife Management Activities: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Integrating wildlife management into routine livestock operations has become a priority of many wildlife conservation agencies and nongovernmental organizations because grazing lands occupy more than one-third of the United States. We surveyed 1,093 beef cattle ranchers by mail to predict cattle rancher intentions to consider wildlife management in routine cattle management activities. We framed our survey using the theory of planned behavior, whereby attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral controls explain behavioral intent. Our results indicated that attitudes and subjective norms best explained rancher intentions. Wildlife agency personnel and program planners can apply these results to design new or increase participation in existing cattle rancher wildlife conservation assistance programs by fostering positive attitudes regarding the integration of wildlife management in routine cattle operations and targeting key social groups of the ranching and conservation communities.

To Eat or not to Eat an Endangered Species: Views of Local Residents and Physicians on the Safety of Sea Turtle Consumption in Northwestern Mexico

Sea turtles have historically been an important food resource for many coastal inhabitants of Mexico. Today, the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs continues in northwestern Mexico despite well-documented legal protection and market conditions providing easier access to other more reliable protein sources. Although there is growing evidence that consuming sea turtles may be harmful to human health due to biotoxins, environmental contaminants, viruses, parasites, and bacteria, many at-risk individuals, trusted information sources, and risk communicators may be unaware of this information. Therefore, we interviewed 134 residents and 37 physicians in a region with high rates of sea turtle consumption to: (1) examine their knowledge and perceptions concerning these risks, as a function of sex, age, occupation, education and location; (2) document the occurrence of illness resulting from consumption; and (3) identify information needs for effective risk communication. We found that 32% of physicians reported having treated patients who were sickened from sea turtle consumption. Although physicians believed sea turtles were an unhealthy food source, they were largely unaware of specific health hazards found in regional sea turtles, regardless of location. By contrast, residents believed that sea turtles were a healthy food source, regardless of sex, age, occupation, and education, and they were largely unaware of specific health hazards found in regional sea turtles, regardless of age, occupation, and education. Although most residents indicated that they would cease consumption if their physician told them it was unhealthy, women were significantly more likely to do so than men. These results suggest that residents may lack the necessary knowledge to make informed dietary decisions and physicians do not have enough accurate information to effectively communicate risks with their patients.

Effects of Token Financial Incentives on Response Rates and Item Nonresponse for Mail Surveys

Self-administered mail questionnaire surveys are commonly used by human dimensions of wildlife researchers, but nonresponse error and item nonresponse can decrease questionnaire data quality. By using token financial incentives, researchers can increase response rates and reduce error. We surveyed two random samples of 500 Georgia cattle ranchers to conduct an incentive experiment by giving one group a

Identifying women’s attitudes and barriers to participating in a proposed community-based conservation group in western Belize

1 Jefferson coin and the other nothing. The financial incentive increased the response rate by nine percentage points. The incentive reduced nonresponse error for ethnicity but not other demographic or ranch characteristic variables. Item nonresponse for sensitive questions about income and threatened or endangered species and other more benign questions about demographics, crop damage, songbirds, deer, and turkey were also unaffected by the incentive. Token financial incentives can be a cost-effective way to increase wildlife survey response rates and increase data quantity and quality.

Common Influences on the Success of Habitat Conservation Planning under the Endangered Species Act

With mounting research showing the many benefits of having women involved in community-based conservation (CBC) efforts, we wanted to identify and measure the attitudes and barriers to women participating in a CBC program in western Belize. We surveyed 500 women in communities surrounding the Vaca Forest Reserve to measure their interest in, attitudes toward, and possible barriers to participating in a CBC program. We assessed women’s intent to participate in CBC activities using the Theory of Planned Behavior to identify the attitudinal, normative, and behavioral control constructs that best predict their intentions to participate. Women indicated positive attitudes toward participating in a CBC program, while perceived behavioral controls had the largest influence on their intent to participate. Understanding the importance of and influence of these constructs on women’s participation will help us and other conservation scientists work with women to collaboratively design effective conservation programs.

Explaining Cattle Rancher Participation in Wildlife Conservation Technical Assistance Programs in the Southeastern United States

ABSTRACT Over half of the endangered species in the United States depend on private lands for habitat. In 1982, Congress amended the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to address the conservation of endangered species on private lands through the introduction of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). HCPs enable landowners to comply with the ESA and can foster creative partnerships between the federal government and local stakeholders. Researchers have investigated the scientifically biological merits of HCPs, but comparatively little attention has been given to social aspects despite an emphasis on stakeholder involvement in HCPs. We explore stakeholder perceptions of HCP development through 19 semi-structured key informant interviews. Findings include the influence of interpersonal themes, shared understanding and capacity on process outcomes, and the importance of the external context in which HCP development occurs. Our research highlights the central role of understanding social dimensions to achieve the desired outcomes from collaborative conservation planning processes.

Wildlife hunting practices and bushmeat dynamics of the Banyangi and Mbo people of Southwestern Cameroon

Abstract US natural resources and wildlife agencies have been increasing their efforts to involve cattle ranchers in wildlife conservation through technical assistance programs that provide for wildlife conservation activities. Understanding why ranchers choose to be involved in these programs is fundamental to increasing participation and ensuring their success. Using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical model, we surveyed 1 093 ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi to explain and predict intention to participate in technical assistance programs, specifically, wildlife workshops and field days. All three theory components—attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control—were important to intent to participate and explained 41% of the variance, with perceived behavioral control and subjective norm having the greatest standardized effects (β = 0.329 and β = 0.316, respectively). Investigation of the construct components yielded insight into how agencies could increase participation. Ranchers generally held positive attitudes toward wildlife workshops, perceiving them to be a good way to learn about wildlife management and perceiving that most ranches were suitable for wildlife, an instance of perceived behavioral control. However, ranchers did not perceive that workshops and field days were widely advertised or promoted, limiting the amount of perceived control they had over their participation. Additionally, ranchers identified normative groups whose opinions were important to them, namely their families, friends and neighbors, fellow ranchers, and agency staff. However, these same groups were not seen to actively encourage ranchers to participate in technical field days and workshops. Using key members of these normative groups to advertise and promote workshops and field days among their peers should increase rancher behavioral control and attitudes associated with technical workshops and field days. Employing strategies from this research to increase attendance at technical workshops and field days should improve wildlife conservation technical assistance program effects.