The demographics of knowledge, attitudes and emotions toward coyotes
Jerry J. Vaske
A C and Carly C. Sponarski B
A Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
B Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: jerryv@colostate.edu
Wildlife Research 48(5) 426-433 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR20071
Submitted: 2 May 2020 Accepted: 13 January 2021 Published: 9 April 2021
Abstract
Context: A coyote-caused human fatality in Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada (CBHNPC) occurred in 2009. Because CBHNPC is federally protected, rangers have a limited number of management options for dealing with human–coyote conflict. The park initiated the present study to understand the publics’ acceptance of coyotes.
Aims: This article examined relationships between each of four independent variables (respondent type (resident vs visitor), sex, age, education) and each of four dependent variables (knowledge, attitude, two emotions) related to coyotes in CBHNPC. Researchers have repeatedly suggested that demographics are related to cognitions and emotions toward wildlife. Managers can use demographic findings to target education campaigns to specific stakeholders.
Methods: Survey data were obtained from (a) residents living around CBHNPC (n = 556, response rate = 70%), and (b) visitors hiking two popular trails in CBHNPC (n = 443, response rate = 60%).
Key results: All four independent variables were related to knowledge. Visitors were more knowledgeable about coyotes than were residents. Females were more knowledgeable than were males. Younger respondents were more knowledgeable than were older individuals. All education categories differed from each other. Findings for the attitude construct were similar. Residents held negative attitudes toward coyotes, whereas visitors were slightly positive. Males and females both held negative attitudes. The youngest age category held a positive attitude, whereas the oldest group was the most negative. Respondents with a high-school degree had a negative attitude; those with a college degree held a positive attitude. For the first emotion concept, residents were more emotional than were visitors. Males were more emotional than were females, and high-school graduates were more emotional than were college graduates. For the second emotion, there were statistical differences between residents and visitors, as well as between males and females. However, age and education were not related to this scenario.
Conclusions: Although there were statistical differences for 13 of 16 tests, over 80% of the effect sizes were minimal and there were interaction effects among the four demographic variables.
Implications: Findings highlighted complexities managers should consider when designing communication strategies aimed at influencing stakeholders’ knowledge of and attitudes and emotions toward wildlife.
Keywords: age, attitudes, education, emotions, knowledge, residents, sex, visitors.
References
Ajzen, I., and Fishbein, M. (1980). ‘Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behavior.’ (Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, USA.)Bright, A. D., Manfredo, M. J., and Fulton, D. C. (2000). Segmenting the public: an application of value orientations to wildlife planning in Colorado. Wildlife Society Bulletin 28, 218–226.
Cacioppo, J. T., and Gardner, W. L. (1999). Emotion. Annual Review of Psychology 50, 191–214.
| Emotion.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10074678PubMed |
CBC News (2009). ‘Coyotes kill Toronto singer in Cape Breton.’ Available at http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/10/28/ns-coyote-attack-died.html [verified 30 April 2013].
Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika 16, 297–334.
| Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dolan, R. J. (2002). Emotion, cognition, and behavior. Science 298, 1191–1194.
| Emotion, cognition, and behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12424363PubMed |
Dougherty, E. M., Fulton, D. C., and Anderson, D. H. (2003). The influence of gender on the relationship between wildlife value orientations, beliefs, and the acceptability of lethal deer control in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Society & Natural Resources 16, 603–623.
| The influence of gender on the relationship between wildlife value orientations, beliefs, and the acceptability of lethal deer control in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Eagly, A. H., and Chaiken, S. (1993). ‘The Psychology of Attitudes.’ (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.: New York, NY, USA.)
Fishbein, M., and Ajzen, I. (2010). ‘Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behaviour: an Introduction to Theory and Research.’ (Psychology Press Taylor and Francis: New York, NY, USA.)
Hamaker, E. L., Nesselroade, J. R., and Molenaar, P. C. M. (2007). The integrated trait–state model. Journal of Research in Personality 41, 295–315.
| The integrated trait–state model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jacobs, M. H., Vaske, J. J., and Roemer, J. M. (2012). Toward a mental systems approach to human relationships with wildlife: the role of emotional dispositions. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 17, 4–15.
| Toward a mental systems approach to human relationships with wildlife: the role of emotional dispositions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kellert, S. R., and Berry, J. K. (1980). ‘Knowledge, Affection and Basic Attitudes toward Animals in American Society.’ (United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, USA.)
Kellert, S. R., and Berry, J. K. (1987). Attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors toward wildlife as affected by gender. Wildlife Society Bulletin 15, 363–371.
Loyd, K. A. T., and Miller, C. A. (2010). Influence of demographics, experience, and value orientations on preferences for lethal management of feral cats among Illinois homeowners. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 15, 262–273.
| Influence of demographics, experience, and value orientations on preferences for lethal management of feral cats among Illinois homeowners.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Manfredo, M. J. (2008). ‘Who Cares about Wildlife?’ (Springer: New York, NY, USA.)
Mankin, P. C., Warner, R. E., and Anderson, W. L. (1999). Wildlife and the Illinois public: a benchmark study of attitudes and perceptions. Wildlife Society Bulletin 27, 465–472.
Mehring, M., Mehlhaus, N., Ott, E., and Hummel, D. (2020). A systematic review of biodiversity and demographic change: a misinterpreted relationship? Ambio 49, 1297–1312.
| A systematic review of biodiversity and demographic change: a misinterpreted relationship?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31760632PubMed |
Moore, G. C., and Millar, J. S. (1986). Food habits and average weights of a fall–winter sample of eastern coyote, Canis latrans. Canadian Field Naturalist 100, 105–106.
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., and Bath, A. J. (2015a). Differences in management action acceptability for coyotes in a national park. Wildlife Society Bulletin 39, 239–247.
| Differences in management action acceptability for coyotes in a national park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., and Bath, A. J. (2015b). Attitudinal differences among residents, park staff, and visitors toward coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada. Society & Natural Resources 28, 720–732.
| Attitudinal differences among residents, park staff, and visitors toward coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., and Bath, A. J. (2015c). The role of cognitions and emotions in human–coyote interactions. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 20, 238–254.
| The role of cognitions and emotions in human–coyote interactions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., Bath, A. J., and Loeffler, T. A. (2016a). Changing attitudes and emotions toward coyotes with experiential education. The Journal of Environmental Education 47, 296–306.
| Changing attitudes and emotions toward coyotes with experiential education.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponarski, C. C., Miller, C. A., Vaske, J. J., and Spacacan, M. (2016b). Modeling perceived risk from coyotes among Chicago residents. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 21, 491–505.
| Modeling perceived risk from coyotes among Chicago residents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sponarski, C. C., Miller, C. A., and Vaske, J. J. (2018). Perceived risks and coyote management in an urban setting. Journal of Urban Ecology 4, 1–5.
Sponarski, C. C., Vaske, J. J., Bath, A. J., and Loeffler, T. A. (2019). Retaining change in attitudes and emotions toward coyotes with experiential education. Wildlife Research 46, 97–103.
| Retaining change in attitudes and emotions toward coyotes with experiential education.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Talarico, J. M., and Rubin, D. C. (2007). Flashbulb memories are special after all: in phenomenology, not Accuracy. Applied Cognitive Psychology 21, 557–578.
| Flashbulb memories are special after all: in phenomenology, not Accuracy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vaske, J. J. (2019). ‘Survey Research and Analysis.’ 2nd edn. (Sagamore-Venture Publishing LLC: Urbana, IL, USA.)
Vaske, J. J., and Donnelly, M. P. (2007). Public knowledge and perceptions of the desert tortoise. Report for the National Park Service. HDNRU report no. 81. Colorado State University, Human Dimensions in Natural Resources Unit: Fort Collins, CO, USA.
Vaske, J. J., and Manfredo, M. J. (2012). Social psychological considerations in wildlife management. In ‘Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management’. 2nd edn. (Ed. D. J. Decker, S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer.) pp. 43–57. (JHU Press: Baltimore, MD, USA.)
Vaske, J. J., Roemer, J. M., and Taylor, J. G. (2013). Situational and emotional influences on the acceptability of wolf management actions in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37, 122–128.
| Situational and emotional influences on the acceptability of wolf management actions in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Winkielman, P., Knutson, B., Paulus, M., and Trujillo, J. L. (2007). Affective influence on judgments and decisions: moving towards core mechanisms. Review of General Psychology 11, 179–192.
| Affective influence on judgments and decisions: moving towards core mechanisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
