David C. Fulton

Influence of place attachment and trust on civic action: A study at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

ABSTRACT Natural resource management agencies now favor collaborative efforts that include the public in decisions and actions. The collaborative management model, however, faces serious challenges in the form of declining citizen involvement in community affairs and declining levels of trust in individuals and institutions. We examined how place attachment, the functional and emotional ties that connect people to places, and trust influence civic action levels (donations of time, efforts, and resources) at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Findings indicate that individual trust partially mediates the relationship between emotional place attachment and civic action. Results suggest managers can increase civic action levels by recognizing the importance of place attachment and by encouraging the development of individual trust. By monitoring place attachment and trust levels, managers can better direct civic action programs for the benefit of the natural landscape, community, and agency.

The Influence of Gender on the Relationship Between Wildlife Value Orientations, Beliefs, and the Acceptability of Lethal Deer Control in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

This study examines how wildlife value orientations, attitudes, and gender influence acceptance of lethal actions to control deer in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio. Data were collected from female and male residents (n=659) in a nine-county area, the primary service area of the park. Females and males demonstrated significant differences in their wildlife value orientations, attitudes toward lethal deer control, beliefs about the outcome of lethal deer control, and perceived personal impacts of lethal deer control. Gender also acted as a moderator of the relationship between values, beliefs and attitudes. Results indicate that a focus on understanding differences between males and females is essential to public participation in decision making concerning this and similar issues.

Beliefs and attitudes toward lethal management of deer in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Abstract We used the theory of reasoned action to help understand attitudes and beliefs about lethal management of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), Ohio. We used a mail-back survey to collect data from Ohio residents in the surrounding 9-county area. Two strata were defined: residents <10 km from CVNP (near n = 369) and residents = 10 km from CVNP (far n = 312). Respondents indicated that lethal control of deer was acceptable (near 71% ± 4.7%, far 62% ± 5.5%) and taking no action to reduce deer populations was unacceptable (near 75% ± 4.5%, far 72% ± 5.1%). Beliefs about outcomes of lethal control and evaluation of those outcomes proved to be strong predictors of the acceptability of lethal control of deer in CVNP. Lethal control was more acceptable if it was done to prevent severe consequences for humans (e.g., spread of disease, car collisions) or the natural environment (e.g., maintain a healthy deer herd) than to prevent negative aesthetic impacts or personal property damage. Results from the study can be used to assist managers at CVNP as they make decisions regarding alternatives for deer management in the park and to inform others managing abundant deer populations of socially relevant impacts of management actions.

Managing for Preferred Hunting Experiences: A Typology of Minnesota Waterfowl Hunters

Abstract Most research describing the characteristics and behaviors of waterfowl hunters has assumed this group of sportsmen to be relatively homogenous. Using data obtained through a mail survey conducted in 2000, we developed a typology of Minnesota waterfowl hunters based on experience preferences. This type of information may assist wildlife managers in making regulatory recommendations that increase hunter satisfaction, and hence, participation. We used cluster analysis to group hunters into 5 types. We identified 2 types as enthusiasts and 3 as participants. Enthusiasts hunted more days and placed greater importance on almost all experience items than other respondents. We characterized participant hunters as longtime waterfowl-hunting participants, less-engaged waterfowl-hunting participants, and recreational–casual waterfowl-hunting participants. Longtime and less-engaged waterfowl hunters tended to be older than all other respondents. We suggest that modeling hunter participation using experience preferences and satisfaction also may enhance the harvest-management process.

A Panel Design to Assess the Effects of Regulatory Induced Reductions in Opportunity on Deer Hunters’ Satisfaction

Beginning in 1992, regulatory changes in Colorado shortened rifle hunting for buck deer to the first three days of the combined deer and elk rifle seasons. These changes represented a severe reduction in season length (40%–75%) and provided an opportunity to examine the impact of dramatic regulatory changes on hunters’ beliefs, satisfaction, and behavior using a panel study design. Data were collected before and after the regulatory changes, from a panel of 1,018 rifle buck deer hunters (521 residents and 497 nonresidents). Satisfaction with the rifle buck deer hunting experience declined significantly for both resident and nonresident hunters after the new regulations were implemented. Hunters’ beliefs about the consequences of the regulations and their level of support for the regulations explained a relatively large and significant proportion of the change in satisfaction levels. Beliefs about the consequences of and level of support for the regulations were significant predictors of the perceived level of regulatory constraint. In turn, the level of regulatory constraint predicted perceptions of overall constraint to rifle deer hunting and these perceptions were significantly related to actual participation in rifle buck deer hunting. Study results imply that regulations that are perceived as decreasing recreation opportunities can decrease overall satisfaction with the hunting experience. The authors suggest thresholds exist for regulatory constraints beyond which there are severe impacts on satisfaction.

Experience Preferences as Mediators of the Wildlife Related Recreation Participation: Place Attachment Relationship

The human dimensions literature challenges the notion that settings are simply features and attributes that can be manipulated to satisfy public demand; instead, people view specific recreation settings as unique kinds of places. Land managers provide recreation experience opportunities, but most conventional management frameworks do not allow managers to address the personal attachment of people to places. This study examined the relationships among activity participation, recreation experience preferences (REP), and setting and place attachment. Study data was obtained from a visitor study conducted in 2000–2001 at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas in Minnesota. We used structural equation modeling to explore whether recreation experience preferences mediate the relationship between types and frequencies of recreation participation and place attachment at Minnesotas Waterfowl Production Areas. Results offer empirical evidence that recreational experience preferences associated with activity participation may be instrumental to ones development of place attachment to a recreation site. Thus, research in these two areas may be more complementary than has been apparent in the literature.

Site Choice among Minnesota Walleye Anglers: The Influence of Resource Conditions, Regulations and Catch Orientation on Lake Preference

Abstract Understanding angler site choice preferences is important in the management of recreational fisheries to forecast angling demand and effort. This study investigated lake choice by recreational anglers fishing for walleye Sander vitreus in Minnesota and examined how choices were influenced by lake characteristics, angler demographics, and angler catch orientation. We collected data through a stated choice preference experiment using a survey administered to a sample of Minnesota resident (n = 1096) and nonresident (n = 535) anglers. Multinomial probit choice models were used to estimate preferences in lake choice. Lake characteristics included walleye abundance, walleye size, bag limit, slot limit, and distance from primary residence. Models included (1) lake characteristics only, (2) lake characteristics and angler demographics, and (3) lake characteristics with angler demographics and catch orientation factors. The coefficients of lake attributes had expected signs with greater preference for hi...

Smartphones Reveal Angler Behavior: A Case Study of a Popular Mobile Fishing Application in Alberta, Canada

Successfully managing fisheries and controlling the spread of invasive species depends on the ability to describe and predict angler behavior. However, finite resources restrict conventional survey approaches and tend to produce retrospective data that are limited in time or space and rely on intentions or attitudes rather than actual behavior. In this study, we used three years of angler data from a popular mobile fishing application in Alberta, Canada, to determine province-wide, seasonal patterns of (1) lake popularity that were consistent with conventional data and (2) anthropogenic lake connectivity that has not been widely described in North America. Our proof-of-concept analyses showed that mobile apps can be an inexpensive source of high-resolution, real-time data for managing fisheries and invasive species. We also identified key challenges that underscore the need for further research and development in this new frontier that combines big data with increased stakeholder interaction and cooperation.

Assessing Tolerance for Wildlife: Clarifying Relations Between Concepts and Measures

Two parallel lines of inquiry, tolerance for and acceptance of wildlife populations, have arisen in the applied literature on wildlife conservation to assess probability of successfully establishing or increasing populations of controversial species. Neither of these lines is well grounded in social science theory, and diverse measures have been employed to assess tolerance, which inhibits comparability across studies. We empirically tested behavioral measures of tolerance against self-reports of previous policy-relevant behavior and behavioral intentions. Both composite behavioral measures were strongly correlated (r > .70) with two attitudinal measures of tolerance commonly employed in the literature. The strong correlation between attitudinal and behavioral measures suggests existing attitudinal measures represent valid, parsimonious measures of tolerance that may be useful when behavioral measures are too cumbersome or misreporting of behavior is anticipated. Our results demonstrate how behavioral measures of tolerance provide additional, useful information beyond general attitudinal measures.

What Predicts Support for Antler Point Restrictions

Although considerable research has focused on satisfaction with recreation experiences, limited work has examined factors related to regulatory support. In 2005, an antler point restriction (APR) regulation was introduced for hunting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Minnesota’s Itasca State Park. Hunter surveys were conducted following the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 seasons. We modeled how (a) satisfaction with the deer seen, (b) type of deer pursued, (c) agency trust, and (d) years of deer-hunting experience, influenced support for the APR, and compared the model over the four survey years. Type of deer pursued and agency trust were the strongest predictors of APR support, followed by satisfaction with deer seen, and years of hunting experience. Hunters who targeted big bucks, had more trust in the agency, and expressed more satisfaction with deer seen in the field, were more supportive of the APR. Hunters who had more deer-hunting experience were less supportive.