Anita T. Morzillo

Resident Attitudes toward Black Bears and Population Recovery in East Texas

A successful species recovery relies on the support of local residents. Our goal was to assess attitudes toward black bears in a location where bears have not existed for several decades. We randomly surveyed East Texas residents to evaluate attitudes toward black bears and a potential bear population recovery. Positive attitudes toward bears were related to sex, age, participation in wildlife-related activities, residential tenure, land ownership, and knowledge about bears. However, substantial proportions of respondents indicated uncertainty regarding their attitudes about black bears and more than one-third of residents were unsure as to whether they supported increasing the local bear population. Lack of knowledge about black bears was the most commonly noted reason for uncertainty. These results suggest that opportunities exist for managers to address existing concerns about bears, assist residents with learning more about bears, and possibly help minimize potential for bear–human conflict.

Urban resident attitudes toward rodents, rodent control products, and environmental effects

Rodent control in urban areas can result in the inadvertent mortality of non-target species (e.g., bobcats). However, there is little detailed information from urban residents about rodent control practices. We evaluated urban rodent control behaviors in two areas of California (southwestern Bakersfield and in proximity to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO)) where biologists have observed non-target mortality among carnivores resulting from exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides. Using a mail survey instrument, we asked residents about rodent control practices including products used and application, attitudes toward rodents, and concern about non-target mortality. Forty-one percent of Bakersfield (response rate = 20%) and 59% of SAMO (response rate = 31%) respondents reported rodent or other animal control on their property. Snap traps and anticoagulants were the most commonly used physical and chemical control products, respectively. Many respondents were unsure whether (12% Bakersfield; 17% SAMO) or which (39% Bakersfield; 46% SAMO) chemical products were used on their property. When told of possible non-target effects, a majority of respondents were either very or somewhat concerned. Attitudes toward rodents were relatively negative across all respondents. Respondents who applied control products themselves (as opposed to a third party) were most supportive of ensuring availability of rodent control products. Our results suggest that residents do not readily connect their personal or household activities with larger environmental effects, and highlight potential focal areas for policy evaluation related to wildlife management, such as providing explicit information about potential environmental effects of rodent control products.

Using an agent-based model to examine forest management outcomes in a fire-prone landscape in Oregon, USA

Fire-prone landscapes present many challenges for both managers and policy makers in developing adaptive behaviors and institutions. We used a coupled human and natural systems framework and an agent-based landscape model to examine how alternative management scenarios affect fire and ecosystem services metrics in a fire-prone multiownership landscape in the eastern Cascades of Oregon. Our model incorporated existing models of vegetation succession and fire spread and information from original empirical studies of landowner decision making. Our findings indicate that alternative management strategies can have variable effects on landscape outcomes over 50 years for fire, socioeconomic, and ecosystem services metrics. For example, scenarios with federal restoration treatments had slightly less high-severity fire than a scenario without treatment; exposure of homes in the wildland-urban interface to fire was also slightly less with restoration treatments compared to no management. Treatments appeared to be more effective at reducing high-severity fire in years with more fire than in years with less fire. Under the current management scenario, timber production could be maintained for at least 50 years on federal lands. Under an accelerated restoration scenario, timber production fell because of a shortage of areas meeting current stand structure treatment targets. Trade-offs between restoration outcomes (e.g., open forests with large fire-resistant trees) and habitat for species that require dense older forests were evident. For example, the proportional area of nesting habitat for northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis) was somewhat less after 50 years under the restoration scenarios than under no management. However, the amount of resilient older forest structure and habitat for white-headed woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) was higher after 50 years under active management. More carbon was stored on this landscape without management than with management, despite the occurrence of high-severity wildfire. Our results and further applications of the model could be used in collaborative settings to facilitate discussion and development of policies and practices for fire-prone landscapes.

Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Local Support for Black Bear Recovery Strategies

There is global interest in recovering locally extirpated carnivore species. Successful efforts to recover Louisiana black bear in Louisiana have prompted interest in recovery throughout the species’ historical range. We evaluated support for three potential black bear recovery strategies prior to public release of a black bear conservation and management plan for eastern Texas, United States. Data were collected from 1,006 residents living in proximity to potential recovery locations, particularly Big Thicket National Preserve. In addition to traditional logistic regression analysis, we used conditional probability analysis to statistically and visually evaluate probabilities of public support for potential black bear recovery strategies based on socioeconomic characteristics. Allowing black bears to repopulate the region on their own (i.e., without active reintroduction) was the recovery strategy with the greatest probability of acceptance. Recovery strategy acceptance was influenced by many socioeconomic factors. Older and long-time local residents were most likely to want to exclude black bears from the area. Concern about the problems that black bears may cause was the only variable significantly related to support or non-support across all strategies. Lack of personal knowledge about black bears was the most frequent reason for uncertainty about preferred strategy. In order to reduce local uncertainty about possible recovery strategies, we suggest that wildlife managers focus outreach efforts on providing local residents with general information about black bears, as well as information pertinent to minimizing the potential for human–black bear conflict.

Spatial Distribution of Attitudes Toward Proposed Management Strategies for a Wildlife Recovery

Wildlife managers regularly incorporate human attitudes into decisions involving wildlife conservation. Knowing the spatial distribution of particular attitudes may further assist managers in determining distribution of support of or threats against wildlife species. Using results from a mail survey and SaTScan 4.0, we assessed the spatial distribution (clustering) of attitudes toward several management strategies for the recovery of black bear in and around Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas. Statistically significant clustering occurred for two attitudes: (a) non-support for a natural (non-human assisted) increase in the bear population near the Angelina National Forest and (b) strong disagreement toward total exclusion of bears from southeastern Texas within the relatively urban Orange County. In addition, respondents closer to the preserve, a potential black bear release site, were more likely to support exclusion of bears. Analysis such as this can greatly assist managers in planning public outreach and monitoring of wildlife populations.

Landscape characteristics affect animal control by urban residents

Ecological patterns exist within urban landscapes. Among urban patterns of biodiversity, species occurrences may coincide with interactions between humans and wildlife. However, research focused on consequences of human reaction to interactions with wildlife is limited. We evaluated landscape characteristics of rodent control behavior across two urban landscapes in California, Bakersfield, and in proximity to Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area (SAMO). Our data were collected prior to a recent policy ruling limiting distribution of particular rodent control products. In both locations, local biologists have observed non-target effects of rodent control products among local carnivores. Mice and rats were among the species most targeted in both locations, but squirrels and gophers also were common targets in SAMO. Carnivore species identified by biologists were among those also reported by residents as targeted for control. In both locations, those who reside in single-family structures and among lower-density development were more likely to practice rodent control. Species targeted varied by distance to open space in both locations, but by development density in SAMO only. In Bakersfield, control was distributed across the study area, but one cluster of control existed among mainly lower-density, single-family residences. In SAMO, clusters of both control (n = 2) and chemical use (n = 3) existed among single-family, lower-density areas in proximity to wash channels and relatively lush vegetation. Our results suggest possible pathways for contact between wildlife and rodent control products, but causal linkages between the two are beyond the scope of our data. Similar to other urban ecological processes, human responses to interactions with ecological phenomena may occur at both fine and landscape scales. Furthermore, our results suggest a possible feedback loop of interacting ecological and social phenomena that may provide information about human activities affecting urban wildlife populations.

Linking human behaviour to environmental effects using a case study of urban rodent control

Pest control is common in many land use activities and can affect non‐target species. Our objectives were to evaluate, among chemical rodent control product (rodenticide) users, awareness of non‐target effects on wildlife and willingness to change rodent control behaviour given knowledge of possible local non‐target effects. Approximately half of respondents to a resident survey in California (USA) practised rodent control; of these, approximately 45% were chemical rodenticide users. Few (10%) were aware of possible non‐target effects. Then, we asked subjects about their potential to pursue each of four rodent control behaviours: continue current use, change product use, reduce use, or stop use. Most respondents indicated that they were most likely to change their rodent control behaviour given the knowledge that rodenticides were possibly affecting non‐target wildlife. Among the four behaviours, the greatest frequency of respondents indicated a potential change of product(s) used. Concern about rodenticides affecting wildlife was the most consistent predictor of potential to change or not change behaviour. Our results highlight importance of awareness about environmental effects of personal actions, and promotion of stewardship may be most effective if efforts focus on development of long‐term personal value in the environment.

Landowner Incentives and Normative Tolerances for Managing Beaver Impacts

Limited research has examined landowner acceptance of using incentives for managing wildlife (e.g., compensation schemes). We examined acceptance of strategies for managing beaver impacts, use of incentives to protect habitat and retain beavers on private property, and how responses differed by impact severity, residential location, and experiences with beavers. Data were obtained from surveys of landowners in four regions of Oregon (n = 1,204). Education about how to coexist with beavers was the most acceptable management response across six impact scenarios (e.g., beaver chews trees, floods buildings). Lethal control was unacceptable across all scenarios. As impacts increased, leaving beavers alone became unacceptable and removing dams became acceptable. Irrespective of impact, landowners would be more likely to use incentives (e.g., financial compensation) than remove beavers. Landowners in Eastern Oregon and those who experienced impacts would be less likely to use incentives and considered aggressive strategies (e.g., removing dams, lethal control) more acceptable.

Evaluating carbon storage, timber harvest, and habitat possibilities for a Western Cascades (USA) forest landscape

Forest policymakers and managers have long sought ways to evaluate the capability of forest landscapes to jointly produce timber, habitat, and other ecosystem services in response to forest management. Currently, carbon is of particular interest as policies for increasing carbon storage on federal lands are being proposed. However, a challenge in joint production analysis of forest management is adequately representing ecological conditions and processes that influence joint production relationships. We used simulation models of vegetation structure, forest sector carbon, and potential wildlife habitat to characterize landscape-level joint production possibilities for carbon storage, timber harvest, and habitat for seven wildlife species across a range of forest management regimes. We sought to (1) characterize the general relationships of production possibilities for combinations of carbon storage, timber, and habitat, and (2) identify management variables that most influence joint production relationships. Our 160 000-ha study landscape featured environmental conditions typical of forests in the Western Cascade Mountains of Oregon (USA). Our results indicate that managing forests for carbon storage involves trade-offs among timber harvest and habitat for focal wildlife species, depending on the disturbance interval and utilization intensity followed. Joint production possibilities for wildlife species varied in shape, ranging from competitive to complementary to compound, reflecting niche breadth and habitat component needs of species examined. Managing Pacific Northwest forests to store forest sector carbon can be roughly complementary with habitat for Northern Spotted Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and red tree vole. However, managing forests to increase carbon storage potentially can be competitive with timber production and habitat for Pacific marten, Pileated Woodpecker, and Western Bluebird, depending on the disturbance interval and harvest intensity chosen. Our analysis suggests that joint production possibilities under forest management regimes currently typical on industrial forest lands (e.g., 40- to 80-yr rotations with some tree retention for wildlife) represent but a small fraction of joint production outcomes possible in the region. Although the theoretical boundaries of the production possibilities sets we developed are probably unachievable in the current management environment, they arguably define the long-term potential of managing forests to produce multiple ecosystem services within and across multiple forest ownerships.

People, predators and place: rodenticide impacts in a wildland-urban interface

Human development near protected areas may pose challenges for carnivore conservation. In southern California, residential use of anticoagulant rodenticides is linked to non-target impacts on wild felids. We use an interdisciplinary policy sciences meta-framework and mixed methods to investigate landscape, social and policy factors affecting secondary rodenticide impacts on bobcats (Lynx rufus). Results suggest that landscape features, such as fruit trees and irrigation ditches are common locations for deploying anticoagulants. Residents construct a wildland-urban interface discourse that influences residential rodent control behaviour. Interviews with pest control operators and wildlife managers reveal a “scientized” management paradigm masking third-party residential anticoagulant use, which may have greater impacts on wild felids than residential use alone. The US Environmental Protection Agency may have reason to refocus anticoagulant use regulations to increase effectiveness in mitigating impacts on non-target wildlife. This study highlights the need for comprehensive, contextual policy to manage wildlife in the common interest.