!A.!Treves,!V.!Shelley,!L.!Naughton.!All!rights!reserved ...faculty.nelson.wisc.edu/treves/wolves/reports/2009_Survey_Results... · Sample sizes vary because not all of our respondents

A. Treves, V. Shelley, L. Naughton. All rights reserved. The informa;on in this report is the intellectual property of the authors. No reproduc;on of the informa;on without explicit permission from the authors.

With assistance from •  Rebecca Grossberg, Kerry Martin, Emily Jones, Adrian Wydeven, Randy

Jurewicz, Tom Heberlein, David Wilcove, Jordon Peugh, Seth Magle, Peter David, Jack Naughton, Dietram Scheufele, Bad River Natural Resouces Department

With financial support from •  Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies •  The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation •  National Fish & Wildlife Foundation •  Derse Foundation •  UW-Madison Graduate School •  Berryman Institute East •  Wildlife Conservation Society •  COEX: Sharing the Land with Wildlife, Inc,

Background to our findings Goal of the Survey To measure public attitudes to wolves and wolf policy scenarios

Methods •  Target population: Residents of Wisconsin’s wolf range who

responded to our previous surveys in 2001 and 2004. See next page for further details.

•  Survey instrument: The initial survey packet included: (1) a copy of the questionnaire, (2) a $2 incentive, (3) a cover letter explaining the survey foal, respondent confidentiality, and the endorsement of state interest groups; (4) a postage paid return envelope. Two weeks after the initial mailing a reminder postcard was sent out to initial non-responders. Another two weeks later, a second mailing of the questionnaire was sent out to non‐responders. There was no $2 incentive included in the second mailing. Two weeks after that, another reminder postcard was sent out to non-responders.

•  Data presentation: Survey questions are presented in quotation marks. Answer options are in italics. Sample sizes vary because not all of our respondents answered all of our questions.

WI 2009 Respondents to two previous surveys

Target population WI 2001: All WI residents with ≥1 verified wolf attack on a domestic animal and random residents in their municipalities or random

WI Bear Hunters' Association members

WI 2004: Random

residents from Butternut, Owen and Wausau zip codes within WI

wolf range

Current livestock producers

38% 21%

Bear hunters 49% 21%

N of respondents 252 403

Response rate 77.7%

Blue text for WI 2001: Naughton-Treves et al. (2003) Conservation Biology 17: 1500-1511 Green text for WI 2004: Treves et al. (2009) Biodiversity and Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10531-009-9695-2 Orange text for WI2009: This study

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Never 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

24.6%

5.8% 7.6%

27.0%

61.3%

% of respo

nden

ts

Answers by n = 641 residents of Wisconsin's wolf range

Ques=on: "During which years do you think you have seen or heard wolves around your

land?" (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

There should be no wolves

in Wisconsin

250 350 540 1000 No cap should be placed on the number of wolves

21.0% 21.5% 24.0%

12.2% 8.7% 12.7%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "In your opinion, the wolf popula=on in Wisconsin should be kept below:" (Check only

ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Authori;es should take no

immediate ac;on toward the wolf, but monitor the

situa;on

Authori;es should capture and relocate the

wolf to a wilderness area

Authori;es should try to

frighten the wolf away or deter it from approaching residen;al areas

Authori;es should kill the

wolf

45.8%

26.0%

5.4%

22.8% % of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a wolf is sighted in a rural area..." (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%



situa;on






wolf

5.5%

25.6%

5.8%

63.1%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a wolf kills livestock..." (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%



situa;on






wolf

5.8%

23.3%

5.7%

65.3%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a wolf kills a family pet (e.g. dog or cat)..." (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%



situa;on






wolf

28.2% 18.7%

4.7%

48.4%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a wolf kills a hun=ng dog on public land...” (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%



situa;on






wolf

5.5%

25.6%

5.8%

63.1%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a wolf kills livestock..." (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Farm animals (livestock, small stock, poultry, etc.)

Game animals (deer, game birds, etc.)

House pets that

are allowed outdoors

Bird hun;ng dogs

Bear hun;ng dogs

Other I don’t own or manage any

animals

23.9%

3.3%

51.3%

14.8% 9.0% 5.3%

33.5%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: “Do you own or manage any of the following animals?” (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

22.4% 16.2%

59.5%

27.0%

2.7% 4.5%

15.3% 19.8% %

of respo

nden

ts

Ques=on: "Have any of your animals been injured or killed by wildlife in the last 5

years?” (Check only ONE) n = 425 residents of wolf range responded

Of the 111 responding “Yes” (white bar), we asked a second ques;on: “Which wildlife do you think caused those injuries or deaths to your animals in the last 5 years?” (Check ALL that apply)

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

43%

30% 35%

15% 9%

36%

17% 21% 14% 8% 4%

15%

72%

6%

22% 22%

10%

% of respo

nden

ts

Ques=on: "Have you ever taken steps to protect your animals from wolves?”

(Check only ONE) n = 423 residents of wolf range responded

Of the 206 responding “Yes” (white bar), we asked a second ques;on: “What steps have you taken to protect your animals from wolves?” (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

No I don’t think wolves are a threat to my animals

It is not my responsibility

to keep wolves away from my animals

My animals are already protected well enough

I cannot afford more protec;on for my animals

42.6% 49.2%

10.2%

20.3% 15.4%

% of respo

nden

ts

Ques=on: "Have you ever taken steps to protect your animals from wolves?”

(Check only ONE) n = 423 residents of wolf range responded

Of the 246 responding “No” (black bar), we asked a second ques;on: “Why have you not taken steps to protect your animals from wolves?” (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Have you hunted in the past two years?

Have you regularly hunted at any other ;me in your life?

Have you hunted bears or wolves at some ;me

in the past?

64.9%

81.9%

29.7% % of respo

nden

ts

Answers by n = 649-‐651 residents of Wisconsin's wolf range

Ques=ons about hun=ng

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

I am not a bear hunter

Dog Bait Other

72.4%

14.7% 22.0%

3.3%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If you are currently a bear hunter, what hun=ng methods do you use?" (Check only

ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Yes, immediately Yes, as soon as biologists think

the wolf popula;on can sustain annual

harvests

Yes, but only when

depreda;ons become

unmanageable

No, never

47.1%

29.9%

16.9% 6.0%

% of respo

nden

ts

Answers by n =649 residents of Wisconsin's wolf range

Ques=on: "Do you believe there should be a public hun=ng or trapping season on

wolves?” (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Worsen Stay the same Improve

6.2%

53.3%

40.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) opened a hun=ng or trapping season on wolves in Wisconsin, would this affect you opinion of the WDNR?” (Check only ONE) My opinion of the WDNR would:

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

I would not hunt wolves

I would pay $25-‐$49



I would pay more then

$100

Not sure

48.4%

26.1%

4.5% 1.4% 3.7%

15.8% % of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "How much would you pay for a permit (tag) to hunt a wolf in Wisconsin?” Note: A bear permit costs $49; a deer permit costs $24.

(Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

I would not hunt wolves

Track and shoot

Dog Trap Predator calling

Bait Not sure Other

44.2%

23.8%

11.1% 16.6%

24.4% 22.3% 14.5%

2.3%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If you received a wolf permit (tag), what hun=ng methods would you want to

use?” (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

No use of d

ogs

No use of tr

aps

No use of b

ait

No hun;ng

females

No hun;ng

wolf pups

No out-‐of-‐st

ate hunters

No use of p

oison

Hun;ng on

ly the wolve

s that have

caused prop

erty damage

29.3% 26.3% 18.6%

11.5%

35.8% 27.6%

70.8%

26.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "If a public hun=ng or trapping season were planned for Wisconsin wolves, which, if

any, of the following rules would you support?” (Check ALL that apply)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

No Yes Not sure

70.2%

14.2% 15.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "Do you know anyone who has ever a_empted to kill a wolf in Wisconsin?”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

No Yes Never Yes in the past

99.8%

0.2%

99.0%

1.0%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: "Do you currently own a Wisconsin Endangered Resources wolf license plate?”

Of the 585 who responded “No” (black bar), we asked a second question: “Have you owned one at any time in the past?”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Less likely to purchase

More likely to purchase

No change Not sure

12.9%

74.6%

3.9% 8.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: “If wolf hun=ng were introduced in Wisconsin, would you be more or less likely to

purchase the Endangered Resources Fund license plate?” (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

No Yes Not sure

84.5%

8.3% 7.2%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: “In the past five years, have you donated to the Endangered Resources Fund on your state income tax form? (the logo on the tax

form looks like this:”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Less likely to donate

More likely to donate

No change Not sure

10.0%

67.9%

9.6% 12.5% % of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: “If wolf hun=ng were introduced in Wisconsin, would you be more or less likely to donate to the Endangered Resources Fund on your state income tax form?” (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

A wolf supporter Not a wolf supporter, but not opposed to wolf conserva;on

Opposed to wolf conserva;on

12.1%

57.9%

30.0%

% of respo

nden

ts


Ques=on: “Do you consider yourself ” (Check only ONE)

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree

agree neutral disagree Strongly disagree

3.2% 9.5%

18.2% 28.5%

40.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement:

“Wolves should be protected from hun=ng and lethal control because of their cultural

significance”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


4.0%

18.0% 19.7% 28.0% 30.2%

% of respo

nden

ts



“All wolves in Wisconsin should be co-‐managed by U.S. and Tribal governments”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


2.3% 7.3% 10.5%

34.1%

45.8%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Losses/damages caused by wolves are a part of raising livestock and should not be

compensated”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


14.5% 20.9%

29.4% 22.3%

12.8% % of respo

nden

ts



“My tolerance for wolves would decrease if compensa=on programs were no longer

available”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


15.0%

31.5% 30.2%

16.8%

6.5%

% of respo

nden

ts



“My tolerance for Wisconsin wolves would increase if people could hunt them”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


22.8%

40.5%

19.2% 11.3%

6.2%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Even when wolves are no longer threatened or endangered, compensa=on programs should

con=nue”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


19.7% 23.4% 20.7% 26.2%

9.9%

% of respo

nden

ts



“I would be afraid if wolves lived near my home”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


7.7%

30.6%

16.0% 20.5%

25.2%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Wolves keep deer herds healthy by killing the sick and weak animals”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


11.3%

34.9% 27.2%

22.9%

3.7%

% of respo

nden

ts



“People who own animals would manage them differently if there were no wolves around”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


22.9%

40.5%

20.2% 13.4%

2.9%

% of respo

nden

ts



“I think the authori=es should keep wolves away from farm animals and pets”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


20.8% 28.4%

18.5% 24.5%

7.7%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Killing wolves is the only way to stop them from threatening farm animals and pets”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


31.0% 30.9%

14.2% 17.6%

6.3%

% of respo

nden

ts



“I think Wisconsin’s growing wolf popula=on threatens deer hun=ng opportuni=es”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


28.5% 37.2%

17.1% 11.9%

5.2%

% of respo

nden

ts



“If there are enough wolves, I think we should allow some of them to be killed for their fur”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


17.9% 14.1%

26.0% 30.0%

12.1%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Wolves belong in places like Alaska, not in Wisconsin”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


8.2%

19.3% 24.6% 25.5% 22.4% %

of respo

nden

ts



“Seeing a wolf in the wild would be one of the greatest outdoor experiences of my life”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


8.7%

26.8% 22.6% 22.1% 19.8% %

of respo

nden

ts



“I think wolves are essen=al to maintaining the balance of nature”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


6.9% 9.6%

24.6% 33.6%

25.3%

% of respo

nden

ts



“If I were out hun=ng and saw a wolf I might shoot it”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


17.9% 16.8% 26.1% 24.5%

14.8% % of respo

nden

ts



“I want to be able to hunt wolves in Wisconsin without restric=ons”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


3.3% 3.7%

14.1%

36.4% 42.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: “I would oppose all hun=ng of wolves”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


1.2% 1.2% 10.0%

27.5%

60.0%

% of respo

nden

ts



“Wolves should only be hunted by Na=ve Americans”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


20.9% 28.9% 25.9%

19.7%

4.6%

% of respo

nden

ts


Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Wolves have lost their fear of people”

0.0%

25.0%

50.0%

75.0%

100.0%

Strongly agree


5.7% 11.9%

17.2%

34.8% 30.3%

% of respo

nden

ts



“We should let nature determine the number of wolves in Wisconsin”

Respondent characteris;cs (n = 656 residents of WI wolf range)

How many years have you lived in Wisconsin? 52 ± 18 years

In what year were you born? 1949 ± 13

Male 85.1% Female 14.9% Na=ve American 1.5% Did your parents ever raise

livestock? 58.3% Is raising livestock your household’s

major source of income?  No, never = 71.5%  No, not currently but was in the

past = 21.5%   Yes, currently = 7.0%

Please select the highest level of schooling you have completed: (Check the HIGHEST level)   Some high school = 6.3%  High school = 38.9%   Some college = 27.7%  B.A. or equivalent = 18.0%  M.A. or equivalent = 6.9%  Advanced degree (M.D., Ph.D., etc.)

= 2.2% Please es=mate your total 2008

household income before taxes:   Less than $20,000 = 12.0%   $40,000 -‐ $59,999 = 25.2%  More than $80,000 = 16.4%   $20,000 -‐ $39,999 = 21.0%   $60,000 -‐ $79,999 = 0.0%

Documents

!A.!Treves,!V.!Shelley,!L.!Naughton.!All!rights!reserved ...faculty.nelson.wisc.edu/treves/wolves/reports/2009_Survey_Results... · Sample sizes vary because not all of our respondents