Bjørn P. Kaltenborn

Patterns of self-reported fear towards large carnivores among the Norwegian public

Abstract In this paper, we analyse self-reported fear of four large carnivore species in a representative sample of the Norwegian population. People reported the most fear of the two largest and most dangerous carnivores, brown bears and wolves, and less fear of lynx and wolverines. Women expressed significantly more fear of these species than did men, and expressed fear increased with age in both sexes. Human population density had very little effect on the degree of self-reported fear of large carnivores, but people living in rural areas with one carnivore species in their vicinity expressed less fear of this species than people from rural areas where this carnivore species was absent. Activities related to experience with, or knowledge of, the large carnivores also effected fear patterns. People with higher education and those who expressed interest in outdoor activities like small game hunting and mountain hiking generally reported less fear than did respondents with lower education and no interest in outdoor activities, respectively. We argue that a good management strategy is to develop educational programs where people learn about the biology and habits of the large carnivores and are encouraged to gain first-hand outdoor experience in areas with large carnivores

Attitudes Toward Animals Among Norwegian Adolescents

ABSTRACTAttitudes towards a wide range of animals were measured among a sample of 562 children and adolescents, aged between 9 and 15 years, from one urban and two rural areas in Southern Norway. The respondents completed a questionnaire based on Kellerts (1996) attitude typology toward animals. The results showed that the humanistic attitude type ranked first, followed by the moralistic, ecologistic, naturalistic, negativistic, dominionistic, and utilitarian attitude types. Gender differences appeared on the moralistic and negativistic (girls highest), and the naturalistic, dominionistic, and utilitarian (boys highest) sub-scales. Scores on the ecologistic, naturalistic, and dominionistic sub-scales decreased with increasing age. Urban respondents had higher moralistic, and rural respondents had higher dominionistic sub-scale scores. Respondents who owned a pet had higher humanistic, moralistic, and lower utilitarian sub-scale scores than had non-owners.

Attitudes Toward Animals Among Norwegian Children and Adolescents: Species Preferences

Five hundred and sixty two children and adolescents, aged between 9 and 15 years, from one urban and three rural areas in southern Norway, completed a questionnaire in which they expressed their degree of preference for various animal species. The dog, cat, horse, and rabbit were the favourite species, while the crow, worm, bee, and spider were the least liked. Girls were more positive toward horses, and were more pet-orientated than boys, while more boys than girls preferred wild animals. Younger respondents liked animals more than did 15-year-olds, with a few exceptions: the wolf, bear, and whale. Urban respondents liked animals more than rural respondents did, a finding which applied to the large carnivores in particular. Interests in wildlife decreased with increasing age, and few respondents wished to save ecologically-significant species (ants, bees, ladybirds) from extinction.

LOCUS OF CONTROL AND ATTITUDES TOWARD LARGE CARNIVORES

It has been hypothesized that the negative attitudes toward carnivores found among rural groups is only one element embedded in a larger sociopolitical complex of disputes over resource use and rural development. Negative attitudes may reflect a protest against increased control of land use by central political authorities. In a survey among sheep farmers, wildlife managers, and research biologists in Norway we found that the sheep farmers expressed an external locus of control, indicating a belief that external forces control events, relative to the two other groups. Among sheep farmers and research biologists a positive association was found between an external locus of control and negative attitudes toward large carnivores.

Attachment to Livestock and Attitudes Toward Large Carnivores Among Sheep Farmers in Norway

ABSTRACTThe present study investigated the relationship between emotional investment and attachment to livestock among Norwegian sheep farmers, and their perception of large predators such as the wolf, bear, lynx and wolverine. Most studies on attachment have focused on infants and children. However, more recently, the effects of pet ownership on child development have received increased attention among researchers. In the current work we hypothesized that attachment to livestock would affect the attitudes towards large carnivores. Based on questionnaire data from 491 respondents, a structural equation model (SEM) was set up to test this assumption. Results showed that attachment to livestock significantly predicted attitudes toward carnivores. In particular, negative attitudes were strongly related to attachment in such a way that the deeper the attachment farmers had for livestock, the more negative were their attitudes towards the predators. This article discusses the need for a differentiation among a...

Attitudes of Norwegian ptarmigan hunters towards hunting goals and harvest regulations: the effects of environmental orientation

Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) hunting has long traditions in Norway. It is often assumed that hunters are more consumptively and less conservation oriented than other recreational groups. Considering the large numbers of hunters and the popularity of the sport it is more likely that hunters value both consumptive and appreciative aspects and represent diversity in their concern for the environment. In this study we surveyed 2,717 ptarmigan hunters to examine environmental orientation, and the effects of environmental orientation on different management regulations. Results showed that environmental concern is a discriminating factor for how the hunters rate hunting goals, harvest regulation measures, and acceptance of protecting parts of the bird populations in refuges. Increasing environmental concern is positively correlated with higher acceptance of regulatory management actions aimed at preserving the resource. Socio-demographic variables had limited effect on the relationship between environmental concern and attitudes toward management. Small game management needs to balance consumptive and appreciative experience dimensions, and degree of environmental orientation may be an indicator of acceptance of management actions.

World Heritage status as a foundation for building local futures? A case study from Vega in Central Norway

World Heritage Sites (WHSs) are motivated by such diverse reasons as heritage celebration, alarm calls, tourism branding and marketing and place making. Irrespective of the primary motivation for their creation, WHSs are often used to develop tourism based on cultural and natural resources of international significance. Heritage conservation may or may not be in agreement with what local populations perceive as desirable development paths. We conducted a survey among the island community of Vega in Norway that received WHS status in 2004 motivated by conservation alarm, tourism marketing and place making. We examined the local populations views of the key aspects of future development and how this related to WHS status. The islanders placed high value on social and community conditions as well as heritage linked to cultural and natural resources. While a majority supported tourism based on sustainable use of heritage they also felt that WH listing should not limit development opportunities. There were differences between younger people and adults. WHS may be an effective agent of sustainable tourism development if the main goals and strategies of the WHS are clearly understood and prioritized in the local community, leave room and perhaps link to other development opportunities.

Predators, stewards, or sportsmen – how do Norwegian hunters perceive their role in carnivore management?

Hunting is increasingly seen as a management strategy in regulating large carnivore populations and reducing conflicts with human interests. A central theme in the carnivore debate is the role of the hunter in simulating natural predation and structuring of ecosystems. We surveyed a sample of Norwegian hunters to examine how they see their role in the ecosystem and to what extent environmental attitudes affect their perceptions of key functions of hunting. The hunters share a positive perception of themselves as responsible and law-abiding actors and important stewards of the ecosystem of great importance to wildlife management. Factor analysis revealed four underlying dimensions of the hunters’ perceptions of salient functions of hunting related to management, recreation, predation, and poaching. Environmental orientation was shown to affect perceptions of recreational and experiential functions of hunting, views on poaching, and perceptions of the stewardship role of hunters. Data on the multifaceted role of hunters can be important in the development of a socially legitimate hunting ethic in the increasingly complex sociopolitical landscape of carnivore management.

Hunting desertion in Norway: barriers and attitudes toward retention measures.

Hunting participation is declining in many Western countries. We surveyed 1,113 persons in Norway who had completed the mandatory hunting education program but not continued to hunt in order to examine reasons for desertion. Key barriers included lack of knowledge, associated expenses, and a lack of people to hunt with. Measures that may increase participation include improved knowledge about hunting practices and weapon handling, hunting opportunities, how to treat harvested game, as well as support from family and friends. We recommend the following measures to increase recruitment: a mentor arrangement where experienced hunters take the responsibility for assisting new hunters through their first season; a practical follow-up course in shooting, weapons handling, and field skills; and improved information about hunting opportunities that are accessible locally and regionally.

Cool dudes in Norway: climate change denial among conservative Norwegian men

ABSTRACT In their article ‘Cool dudes: The denial of climate change among conservative white males in the United States’ the authors state: ‘Clearly the extent to which the conservative white male effect on climate change denial exists outside the US is a topic deserving investigation.’ Following this recommendation, we report results from a study in Norway. McCright and Dunlap argue that climate change denial can be understood as an expression of protecting group identity and justifying a societal system that provides desired benefits. Our findings resemble those in the US study. A total of 63 per cent of conservative males in Norway do not believe in anthropogenic climate change, as opposed to 36 per cent among the rest of the population who deny climate change and global warming. Expanding on the US study, we investigate whether conservative males more often hold what we term xenosceptic views, and if that adds to the ‘cool dude-effect’.1 Multivariate logistic regression models reveal strong effects from a variable measuring ‘xenosceptic cool dudes’. Interpreting xenoscepticism as a rough proxy for right leaning views, climate change denial in Norway seems to merge with broader patterns of right-wing nationalism.