ssp 2005 06 pstr publicviewsongrizzlybearmanagement 0

BACKGROUND

The Foothills Model Forest is used extensively for human activities including industry,

hunting, recreation, tourism, and transportation. Levels of human activities and landscape

conditions are related to grizzly bear numbers and population health. The Foothills Model

Forest Grizzly Bear Research Program has done extensive research on these relationships,

however less is known about the public’s values and opinions on grizzly bears and grizzly

bear conservation. It is understood that managing for a sustainable population of

grizzlies in the FtMF may require society to make choices between human activities and

conservation of grizzly bears. Therefore, it is important to understand how well informed

the public is about grizzly bears, how they feel about them, and the social acceptability of

management options for conservation.

METHODS

A study was undertaken in 2004 to better understand the public’s willingness to make trade-

offs between economic development, recreational activities and grizzly bear conservation.

Mail surveys were administered to residents of Jasper (n = 388); residents of FtMF (i.e. Hinton

and surrounding communities) (n = 660); and residents of Edmonton (n = 652). Response

rate on the survey was 67%.

RESULTS

Respondents’ environmental value orientations, knowledge of grizzly bears, attitudes towards

grizzly bears, views on the sustainability of grizzly bear populations in the FtMF and perceived

risk factors, management preferences, views of public involvement, and demographic

information were all measured through this study.

All groups had a very positive attitude towards grizzly bears. For example, they agreed

that grizzly bears are important to the balance of nature; that it is important Alberta

always has a sustainable grizzly bear population, and that grizzly bears have a right to

exist for their own sake regardless of human concerns. They also disagreed that it is a

grizzly bear’s nature to want to kill humans and that grizzly bears are a nuisance. FtMF

and Edmonton residents shared similar positive attitudes toward grizzly bears, while

Jasper residents had a significantly more positive attitude.

CONCLUSIONS

• Residents of the Foothills Model Forest (i.e. residents of Jasper, Hinton and surrounding

communities) and Edmonton have positive views towards grizzly bears but are not well

informed about grizzly bears.

• There is support for making some sacrifices of industrial development and economic

opportunities to enhance grizzly bear conservation.

• Some management options that restrict hunting (such as a temporary ban on hunting

grizzly bears) and access (such as a temporary closure of roads) were supported.

• Jasper residents differed from FtMF and Edmonton residents. They were better informed,

had more positive views of grizzly bears, and were more supportive of reduced industrial

activity.

• Opposition to some of the management options appears to be driven primarily by specific

interest groups, including hunters, recreational off-road vehicle users, and Foothills Model

Forest residents employed in the mining sector.

3. WHAT ARE THE PUBLICS’ PREFERENCES FOR GRIZZLY BEAR MANAGEMENT IN THE

FtMF?

Different management options are available to land and resource managers, including:

education, bear management (i.e. bear proofing areas, relocation, and law enforcement

patrols), public access management, and hunting of grizzly bears. Respondents indicated

whether they opposed or favoured resource management options, on a scale of 1 to 5,

with 1 = strongly oppose and 5 = strongly favour.

3c. Public access to crown lands:

All groups support temporary closure of roads or trails to recreational off-road vehicle

use (Fig. 5). However, there is less support among Jasper and Edmonton residents for

permanent closure to recreational off-road vehicles and FtMF residents are opposed

to permanent closures to recreational off-road vehicles. Further analysis revealed

opposition to permanent closures is associated primarily with off-road vehicle users in

all three groups.

All groups support establishing more protected areas with no industrial activity or

recreational off-road vehicle use. FtMF residents are significantly less supportive of

establishing more protected areas.

3d. Hunting of grizzly bears:

All groups were in favour of reducing the number of hunting licences, a temporary ban

on hunting until populations are sustainable, and training hunters in bear identification.

However, there was less support among Jasper and Edmonton residents for a permanent

ban on hunting and FtMF residents were opposed to a permanent hunting ban. Further

analysis revealed that opposition to a permanent hunting ban was associated primarily

with hunters in all three groups.

3a. Is the public willing to change existing industrial facilities and operations so the

needs of grizzly bears are better addressed?

All groups favoured changing existing industrial operations to better address grizzly bear

needs, although FtMF residents (i.e. residents, of Hinton, and surrounding communities)

were less in favour of changes than residents of Jasper and Edmonton (Fig. 3).

All groups opposed new industrial developments in grizzly bear habitat. FtMF residents

were the least opposed and Jasper residents the most opposed. FtMF residents neither

favoured nor opposed new mining development. Further analysis revealed that support

for new mining developments was strongest among people in the FtMF group who have

someone in their household employed by the mining sector.

3b. Education and other management options:

There is very strong support among all three groups for educating forest users, bear

proofing areas, moving dangerous bears, and increasing law enforcement patrols to deal

with poachers.

P U B L I C V I E W S O NG R I Z Z LY B E A R M A N A G E M E N T

S O C I A L S C I E N C E P R O G R A M

Box 6330, Hinton AB T7V 1X6T: (780) 865-8330F: (780) 865-8331fmf@fmf.ab.cawww.fmf.ab.ca

R.C.G. Stumpf-Allen, B.L. McFarlane, and D.O.T. WatsonNatural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service,

Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

1. WHAT DOES THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS?

Responses to 10 true or false statements allowed us to guage public knowledge about

grizzly bears. None of the groups demonstrated high knowledge about grizzly bears.

Jasper residents were the most informed and Edmonton residents were the least informed

about grizzly bears (Fig 1.).

2. HOW DOES THE PUBLIC FEEL ABOUT GRIZZLY BEARS?

Public attitudes towards grizzly bears were assessed using 13 statements rated on a

scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). An attitudinal score was created

by summing the responses and reclassifying the total scores to reflect either positive

or negative attitudes toward grizzly bears (2= very positive, 0 = neutral, and -2 = very

negative).