Attitude strength and social acceptability of cormorant control programs on Lake Champlain |
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| Authors: | Walter F. Kuentzel David E. Capen Zoe L. Richards Bryan R. Higgins |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada;2. Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Road, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada;3. Bruce Power, P.O. Box 1540, Tiverton, Ontario, Canada;1. School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;2. Institute for Fisheries Research, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;3. NOAA-Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;4. Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;1. Office of Undergraduate Biology, 216 Stimson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;2. Great Lakes Center, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY 14222,USA;3. The Research Foundation of The State University of New York, Buffalo State College, Office of Sponsored Programs, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA;4. Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5245, USA |
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| Abstract: | Federal and state wildlife managers have endeavored to reduce populations of cormorants on Lake Champlain since 1999. These efforts have relied on the presumption of a nuisance species attitude toward cormorants shared among the public. We employed the concept of attitude strength to explore beliefs, sentiments, and intentions that different recreational groups hold toward cormorants, and to gauge the social acceptability of population control on Lake Champlain. Results confirmed that people generally agreed with the nuisance species label. Overall attitudes toward cormorants leaned toward the negative side, and respondents tended to support hazing of nesting birds, egg oiling, and even state-sponsored shooting as population control measures. Strongest objections to cormorants came from anglers and lakeshore homeowners, whereas boaters and conservation group members were more ambivalent about cormorants and population control measures. Moreover, when analyzing attitude strength dimensions, results showed that overall ambivalence about cormorants was prevalent, negative attitudes may be based in cultural differences and social class, and those with the strongest negative attitudes may be fitting knowledge to attitudes. |
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