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Human Dimensions of Wildlife Damage Management

Wildlife management, including wildlife damage management (WDM), used to be based primarily on a biological approach-objective biological facts were all managers needed to choose the correct management action. However, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, responding to a changing social, cultural and political landscape, wildlife managers began to incorporate human dimensions into their decision-making process.

What are "Human Dimensions"?

Because wildlife is a publicly owned resource, those entrusted to manage it, are accountable to the people. "Human dimensions," a term coined about 1970, concerns what people think and do about wildlife and wildlife management and why they think and do that. Thus, researchers in human dimensions look to the social sciences (e.g., social psychology, communication, education) for theories concerning peoples' values, beliefs, attitudes, social norms (standards of behavior) and motivations. They then use social science concepts to formulate studies that capture and explain human values, beliefs, etc. as they apply to wildlife. Knowledge gained from these studies (primarily quantitative surveys), in essence, gives the public a voice in wildlife management decisions.

Why are Human Dimensions Important?

Most human dimensions work has been directed at controversies. In fact, growth of the field has been driven by a desire to avoid problems and, as such, results of work in the field can contribute much to wildlife damage management. WDM issues are often controversial. Some of the most popular species of wildlife, such as deer, also cause the biggest problems. Damage to crops, homes, gardens, and even health and safety have become increasingly common as wildlife and people try to coexist.

People affected by, or concerned about, wildlife damage, and methods used to limit the damage, are called "stakeholders." These stakeholders include hunters, farmers, ranchers, landowners, trappers, wildlife enthusiasts, animal protection activists, metropolitan and rural residents, and government natural resource and wildlife agencies. Controversies occur, in part, because people have differing capacities for tolerating wildlife problems. Controversies also occur because damage can be highly localized. While some people in an area may be seeking relief from obvious damage problems, others nearby may be experiencing no problems or inconveniences. The latter, as a result, may question either the need for management action, or the type of action requested or proposed.

How are Human Dimensions Studies Used?

Nearly all of today's wildlife-planning activities are influenced by conflicting opinions, power struggles and differing motivations of a broad group of stakeholders who desire to be involved in decision-making by making their interests known. Agencies with a WDM function are mandated to meet public needs and reconcile diverse often opposing needs and expectations. Human dimensions research, by providing knowledge about the public's thoughts and actions towards wildlife, can help managers reduce conflict among stakeholders, educate people about practices, encourage participation in wildlife-related activities, and make informed decisions about management actions.

Examples of Human Dimensions Studies:

• A study of elk bow-hunters in Colorado helped managers develop standards for acceptable crowding levels.
• A study on bear viewing in Katmai National Park helped establish limits for the number of people that could use bear-viewing platforms at 1 time.
• A survey study in New York asked residents about preferences and tolerances for deer population sizes.
• A survey of Montana residents attitudes, perceptions and management preferences for mountain lion populations revealed that people had more favorable attitudes e than expected.
• A survey of user-needs helped public officials make conservation land-use decisions in Seattle, Washington.

*The above discussion was summarized from Decker et al. (2001), and Conover (2002).

RESOURCES

Web

Cornell University Human Dimensions Research Unit

Journals

Human Dimensions of Wildlife
Human Dimensions of Wildlife

Books

CONOVER, M. 2002. Resolving wildlife conflicts: the science of wildlife damage management. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida.

DECKER, D. J., T. L. BROWN, AND W. F. SIEMER, editors. 2001. Human dimensions of wildlife management in North America. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

DECKER, D. J., AND G. R. GOFF, editors. 1987. Valuing wildlife: economic and social perspectives. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

EWERT, A. W. 1996. Natural resource management: the human dimension. Westview Press, Boulder, Colorado, USA.

GRAY, G. G. 1995. Wildlife and people: the human dimensions of wildlife ecology. University of Illinois Press, Champaign, USA.

MANGUN, W. R. 1992. American fish and wildlife policy: the human dimension. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, USA.