A Quantitative Summary of Attitudes toward Wolves and Their Reintroduction (1972-2000)

Simple item page
Author(s)Williams, Christopher K.
Author(s)Ericsson, Göran
Author(s)Heberlein, Thomas A.
Date Accessioned2023-09-27T19:34:23Z
Date Available2023-09-27T19:34:23Z
Publication Date2002
DescriptionThis article was originally published in Wildlife Society Bulletin. The version of record is available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3784518
AbstractThis paper reports an analysis of support for wolves (Canis spp.) reported in 38 quantitative surveys conducted between 1972 and 2000. Of 109 records reported in these surveys, a majority (51 %) showed positive attitudes toward wolves and 60% supported wolf restoration. Attitudes toward wolves had a negative correlation with age, rural residence, and ranching and farming occupations, and positive correlation with education and income. Thirty-five percent of ranchers and farmers surveyed had positive attitudes toward wolves. Among surveys of the general population samples, 61 % expressed positive attitudes. Surveys of environmental and wildlife groups showed an average of 69% support. Surveys in the lower 48 states showed higher proportions of positive attitudes than surveys in Scandinavia and Western Europe, where a majority did not support wolves. Among all surveys, 25% of respondents had neutral attitudes toward wolves. Positive attitudes toward wolves did not appear to be increasing over time. Because attitudes toward wolves are often not strong among the general public, they have the potential to change rapidly if linked to other, stronger attitudes and beliefs. We expect that progress in education and urbanization will lead to increasingly positive attitudes over time. Negative attitudes associated with age are probably a cohort effect, and we should not expect the aging populations in the United States and Europe to lead to more negative wolf attitudes. Paradoxically, successful wolf reintroductions are likely to reduce general positive sentiment, since the presence of wolves gives people a more balanced experience with the animals. Traditionally, people with the most positive attitudes toward wolves have been those with the least experience.
SponsorWe thank T. Bjerke, T. C. Byrne, B.P Kaltenborn, S. R. Kellert, D.W McCollum, S. M. Miller, J. Montag, M. A. Nie, M. E. Patterson, P Polzin, P H. Sand, and J. Trent for data and advice. Goran Ericsson gratefully acknowledges the Fulbright Commission and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) for funding. We acknowledge the Max McGraw Foundation, the Department of Wildlife Ecology, the Department of Rural Sociology, the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Kemp Natural Research Station at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for valuable support during analysis, write-up, and publication.
CitationWilliams, Christopher K., Göran Ericsson, and Thomas A. Heberlein. “A Quantitative Summary of Attitudes toward Wolves and Their Reintroduction (1972-2000).” Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006) 30, no. 2 (2002): 575–84. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3784518.
ISSN2328-5540
URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/33331
Languageen_US
PublisherWildlife Society Bulletin
Keywordsattitudes
Keywordsattitude change
KeywordsCanis
Keywordseducation
Keywordsreintroduction
Keywordsrestoration
Keywordslife on land
TitleA Quantitative Summary of Attitudes toward Wolves and Their Reintroduction (1972-2000)
TypeArticle
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
A Quantitative Summary of Attitudes toward Wolves and Their Reintroduction (1972-2000).pdf
Size:
2.65 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main article
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.22 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Open Access Publications