Colorado State & Ohio State Universities released a nationwide study on wildlife values in April 2019. The report highlights state changes in perceptions toward wildlife, including differing views on management. In general, ‘traditionalist’ views, defined as those who believe that wildlife should be managed primarily for human use, have declined, while ‘mutualist’ views, those that view animals as deserving of their own rights, have increased. These shifting views provide cautious optimism for the recovery and conservation of North America’s apex predators as well as the other species in their ecosystems.
The study and summary article links below:
Defenders of Wildlife (September 29, 2019): https://defenders.org/blog/2019/09/americas-wildlife-values
Ohio State University (May 24, 2019): https://cfaes.osu.edu/stories/beliefs-about-wildlife-management-are-changing
Colorado State University (Study Website): https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/wildlifevalues/
America’s Wildlife Values Final Report (April 2019): https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/9915/4049/1625/AWV_-_National_Final_Report.pdf
Cascade Coexistence Center 