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Research article2024Peer reviewedOpen access

Sustaining the Public's Positive Feelings towards Ungulates at the Local Level

Johansson, Maria; Dressel, Sabrina; Sjolander-Lindqvist, Annelie; Sandstrom, Camilla

Abstract

In Europe, spatial distributions and densities of ungulates have been increasing, triggering both negative and positive feelings. Ecosystem-based and collaborative approaches to wildlife management have been introduced to, among other things, consider the perspectives of the local public. Consequently, it becomes necessary to understand the public's emotional appraisals and feelings toward the presence of moose and other ungulates. We studied four socio-ecological contexts in Sweden. Statistical analyses of a postal questionnaire (N = 1111) showed that negative feelings were weak and positive feelings were modest across all settings. In particular, wildlife value orientation of mutualism and perceptions of moose and other ungulates as supporting recreation opportunities sustained positive feelings. Currently there seems to be little need among the public to cope with negative implications of ungulates. Management may benefit from informing about adequate strategies and building social trust if negative impacts of ungulates were to become salient to the public.

Keywords

Emotional appraisals; feelings; moose; motivation; ungulates; wildlife management

Published in

Society and Natural Resources
2024, volume: 37, number: 9, pages: 1273-1293
Publisher: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS INC

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Sociology (excluding Social work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Fish and Wildlife Management

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2024.2344212

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129957