Fish and Wildlife Values in the West

Abstract

Western states are going through a number of changes that have affected and will continue to affect wildlife management. Changes include population growth, changes in in-migration rates and land ownership patterns, increasing income and education levels, growth in technology, and urbanization. The recent study, Wildlife Values in the West, explores how some of these broad societal forces are shaping the composition of public values toward wildlife throughout the western region. Wildlife Values in the West is a project of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Human Dimensions Committee. It is a collaborative regional effort involving social science researchers from Colorado State University and representatives from 19 participating state fish and wildlife agencies who assisted in development of a mail survey. Data were collected through administration of the survey to a sample of residents in each state in the fall of2004 (n - 12,673). Results and related implications from this 19-state effort will be discussed, including the impacts value shift may have on public acceptance of wildlife management strategies and on demand for participation in wildlife-related recreation activities in Montana. We will also discuss how study results provide a broad context to assist state fish and wildlife agencies better understand diverse publics and plan for the future of wildlife management in the west.