Attitudes Toward the Management of Bears and Other Large Carnivores

Responsive Management has extensive experience conducting public opinion polling on the management of bears, wolves, and other large carnivore species. We recently worked with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to examine attitudes and beliefs about the cultural carrying capacity for canids and issues related to red wolves in five counties, including how opinions differ by stakeholder and demographic characteristic. In a project for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Responsive Management surveyed residents regarding their attitudes toward the management of black bears and interactions with bears. Similar research for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries involved statewide surveys on black bear management. The Louisiana study used a stratified sample based on residence in bear-populated and non-bear-populated regions. Responsive Management also recently worked with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to determine West Virginia residents’ opinions on black bear management and to examine trends in opinions based on studies spanning the past decade.

Recent examples of our studies regarding the management of bears, wolves, and other large carnivores include the following:

Massachusetts Residents’ Attitudes Toward Black Bears and Black Bear Management: This study was conducted for the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit to explore Massachusetts residents’ attitudes toward black bears and black bear management in the state. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of Massachusetts residents 18 years old and older.
Louisiana Residents’ and Landowners’ Attitudes on Black Bears and Black Bear Management in Louisiana (separate studies conducted in 2013 and 2017): These studies were conducted for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to determine residents’ and landowners’ attitudes toward and experiences with black bears and black bear management in Louisiana. The studies entailed scientific telephone surveys of Louisiana residents and Louisiana landowners who reside in bear populated areas and own at least 40 acres of land. The 2017 study includes a trends analysis comparing the updated results with findings from the 2013 survey.
The Opinions of Maine Residents, Landowners, and Hunters Regarding Deer, Moose, Bear, and Turkey: This study was conducted for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to measure residents’, hunters’, and landowners’ opinions on white-tailed deer, moose, black bear, and wild turkey management, including support for and opposition to changes to the current management program. The data were used to develop a new Big Game Management Plan.
Florida Residents’ Opinions on Black Bears and Black Bear Management: This study was conducted for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to determine Florida residents’ attitudes toward black bears, their opinions on the management of black bears, and whether they have had any interactions with black bears, positive or negative. Additionally, the survey explored Florida residents’ attitudes toward hunting in general and the hunting of black bears in particular. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of adult Florida residents.
Washington Residents’ Opinions on Bear and Wolf Management and Their Experiences with Wildlife That Cause Problems: This study was conducted for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine residents’ opinions on bear and wolf management, their opinions on management of predators in general, their experiences with wildlife that cause problems, and their participation in outdoor recreation. The study entailed a telephone survey of Washington residents.
Public Attitudes Toward Black Bear Management in Maryland: This study assessed Maryland residents’ knowledge and awareness of black bears in the state, encounters with the species, attitudes toward bear nuisance behaviors, and opinions on management and regulation options.
Tennessee Residents’ Opinions on Black Bears in General and the Management and Hunting of Black Bears: This study determined residents’ opinions on the size of the black bear population in Tennessee, their level of tolerance of black bears, and their opinions on the hunting of black bears.
West Virginia Residents’ Opinions on Black Bears and Black Bear Hunting (separate studies conducted in 2006, 2012, and 2017): These studies were conducted for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to determine West Virginia residents’ opinions on black bears and black bear management and to examine trends in opinions. Each study entailed a scientific telephone survey of West Virginia residents 18 years old and older.
Anchorage, Alaska Residents’ Attitudes Toward Bears and Bear Management Issues: This study was conducted to determine Anchorage residents’ opinions on bear populations, problems caused by bear, and bear management. The study entailed focus groups of Anchorage residents and trail users and a telephone survey of Anchorage residents at least 18 years old.
Virginia Residents’ Opinions on Black Bears and Black Bear Management: This study determined public acceptance of and intolerance to bear, the frequency of encounters and conflicts with bear and how these encounters affect residents’ behaviors and patterns, and public awareness of various bear management options.
Virginia Bear Management Plan 2011-2020: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries contracted with Responsive Management to revise its state Bear Management Plan. Responsive Management assessed public opinion in various regions of the state to develop the most informed bear management strategies and recommendations.
Pennsylvania Residents’ Opinions on and Attitudes Toward Black Bears: This study was conducted to determine Pennsylvanians’ opinions on black bears in general, black bear management, and the hunting of black bears. Responsive Management’s research team integrated geographic information system data with census block group data so that a statistically valid study sample of Pennsylvania residents age 18 and older could be drawn based on Pennsylvania’s WMUs.
Michigan Black Bear Survey: This study examined Michigan residents’ opinions on, attitudes toward, and awareness of black bears.
New Hampshire Residents’ Opinions and Attitudes Toward Deer, Moose and Bear in New Hampshire: This study was conducted to determine public opinions on and attitudes toward populations and management of white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, and wild turkey.
Public Attitudes Toward Grizzly Bear Management in Wyoming: This survey of Wyoming residents assessed attitudes toward and opinions on the possible removal of the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species List.
Attitudes Toward Reintroducing Grizzly Bears to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area of Idaho and Montana: This project assessed support for and opposition to the reintroduction of grizzly bears to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area of Idaho and Montana.
Washington State Residents’ Attitudes Toward Grizzly Bears and Grizzly Bear Augmentation: This study was conducted on behalf of the National Wildlife Federation, Grizzly Bear Recovery Team and included a telephone survey of Washington residents regarding their knowledge of, support for, and attitudes toward grizzly bears and grizzly bear augmentation.
Washington Residents’ Opinions on Grizzly Bear Recovery in the North Cascades Mountains: In a study for the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Management Subcommittee, Responsive Management examined socio-demographic factors related to knowledge of grizzly bear recovery in the North Cascades as well as public attitudes toward recovery options.
Public Opinion and Knowledge of Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Cabinet Mountains and Yaak Valley: This telephone survey was conducted for the Cabinet Yaak Grizzly Bear Outreach Project to determine the behaviors and opinions of people within Lincoln and Sanders Counties regarding grizzly bears and grizzly bear recovery efforts in the Cabinet Mountains and Yaak Valley in Montana. The study was designed to assess public participation in outdoor activities, exposure to and encounters with grizzly bears, knowledge of grizzly bears and opinion on bear populations, attitudes toward bear-human conflicts, and opinion on grizzly bear recovery efforts.
Arizona and New Mexico Residents’ Awareness of and Opinions on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Project: Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of residents in Arizona and New Mexico to determine public awareness of Mexican wolf reintroduction and opinions on various aspects of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Project.
Wyoming Residents’ Attitudes Toward and Opinions on Wolf Management in Wyoming: For this project, Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of Wyoming residents to assess their opinions on wolves and wolf management in Wyoming. The survey was used to develop Wyoming’s draft wolf management plan.
Public Opinion on and Attitudes Toward the Reintroduction of the Eastern Timber Wolf to Adirondack Park: This study entailed focus groups of Adirondack Park and New York residents and a telephone survey of Adirondack Park, New York, and New England residents.
Public Opinion of Wolves and Wolf Management in the Greater Yellowstone Area: Responsive Management conducted a telephone survey of Wyoming residents to assess their opinions on and attitudes toward wolves and wolf management in the Greater Yellowstone Area for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
New Mexico Residents’ Opinions Toward Mexican Wolf Reintroduction: This telephone survey of New Mexico residents was conducted to assess their awareness of and opinions on Mexican wolf reintroduction.
Albemarle Peninsula Residents’ Perspectives and Views on Coyote and Red Wolf Management: This study was conducted to determine the perspectives and views of residents and landowners of the Albemarle Peninsula regarding coyotes and red wolves, the management of those species, and the Red Wolf Recovery Program. The study entailed a multi-modal scientific survey of residents and landowners of the Albemarle Peninsula.
Floridians’ Knowledge of, Opinions on, and Attitudes Toward Panther Habitat and Panther-Related Issues: Conducted for the Florida Advisory Council on Environmental Education, this study involved a telephone survey of Florida residents to assess their awareness and knowledge of, opinions on, attitudes toward, and behaviors regarding panther conservation efforts, panther funding, panther reintroduction efforts, and panther habitat preservation efforts.