Beliefs and attitudes toward lethal management of deer in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Fulton DC, Skerl KL, Shank EM, Lime DW. 2004. Beliefs and attitudes toward lethal management of deer in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 32(4):1166-1176
We used the theory of reasoned action to help understand attitudes and beliefs about lethal management of deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) Ohio. We used a mail-back survey to collect data from Ohio residents in the surrounding 9-county area. Two strata were defined: residents< 10 km from CVNP and residents =10km from CVNP. Respondents indicated that lethal control of deer was acceptable and taking no action to reduce deer populations was unacceptable. Beliefs about outcomes of lethal control and evaluation of those outcomes proved to be strong predictors of the acceptablility of lethal control of deer in CVNP. Lethal control was more acceptable if it was done to prevent severe consequences for humans or the natural environment than to prevent negative aesthetic impacts or personal property damage. Results from the study can be used to assist park managers as they make decisions regarding alternatives for deer management in the park and to inform others managing abundant deer populations of socially relevant impacts of management actions.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Fulton, David; Skerl, Kevin; Shank, Erin; Lime, David
- Units
- CUVA
- Keywords
- deer management, Overabundance