A comparison of cat-related risk perceptions and tolerance for outdoor cats in Florida and Hawaii

© 2016 Society for Conservation Biology.

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology. - 1999. - 30(2016), 6 vom: 23. Dez., Seite 1233-1244
1. Verfasser: Wald, Dara M (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Lohr, Cheryl A, Lepczyk, Christopher A, Jacobson, Susan K, Cox, Linda J
Format: Online-Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 2016
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology
Schlagworte:Journal Article Felis catus capacidad de aceptación hacia la vida silvestre feral cats gatos ferales public público wildlife acceptance capacity
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:© 2016 Society for Conservation Biology.
Risk perceptions and attitudes toward animals often explain tolerance for wildlife and management preferences. However, little is understood about how these relationships vary across different geographic regions and stakeholder groups. To address this gap in knowledge, we compared differences in acceptance capacity, risk perceptions, perceived enjoyment from outdoor cats, and experiences with outdoor cats among 3 groups (general public, conservation community, and animal-welfare community) in Hawaii and Florida, two states with large conservation challenges. We combined independently collected data from Florida and Hawaii, to determine how perception of the risks presented by outdoor cats, group membership, and state of residence influenced people's tolerance for outdoor cats. Florida respondents were significantly more tolerant of outdoor cats and less concerned about cat-related risks than Hawaii respondents (p < 0.05). In both states, animal-welfare group members reported greater enjoyment seeing cats and perceived a smaller increase in the cat population and lower levels of risk than other groups (p < 0.05). All groups exhibited similar relationships between acceptance capacity and enjoyment and the perceived increase in the cat population. Our results suggest public tolerance for cats varied due to the influence of local or geographical concerns, but that strongly held beliefs, risk perceptions, and feelings about cats explained more of the variance in stakeholder tolerance
Beschreibung:Date Completed 04.01.2018
Date Revised 02.12.2018
published: Print
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1523-1739
DOI:10.1111/cobi.12671