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Free-roaming domestic cats pose risks to wildlife, domestic animals, humans, and importantly, the cats themselves. Behavior change campaigns that seek to minimize these risks by increasing cat containment require an understanding of the factors that predict cat owners' containment behaviors. We conducted an online survey in Victoria, Australia (N = 1,024) to identify cat owners' (N = 220) behaviors in containing their cats, explore beliefs and attitudes that predict containment behavior, and compare attitudes about cat containment with respondents that do not own cats (N = 804). We found that 53% of cat owning respondents do not allow any roaming. These respondents were more likely to hold concerns about risks to cats' safety while roaming and less likely to perceive that cats have a right to roam. Concern about impacts to wildlife was not a significant predictor of containment behavior. Expectations that cat owners should manage cats' roaming behavior was a social norm among cat owners and other respondents, and cat containers were more likely to indicate that they would try to change behaviors of their peers that they perceived to be harmful to the environment. Cat containment campaigns could be improved by appealing to owners' concerns about cat well-being, engaging respected messengers that align with these concerns, including owners who already contain their cats.
Lily M. van Eeden; Fern Hames; Richard Faulkner; Andrew Geschke; Zoe E. Squires; Emily M. McLeod. Putting the cat before the wildlife: Exploring cat owners' beliefs about cat containment as predictors of owner behavior. Conservation Science and Practice 2021, e502 .
AMA StyleLily M. van Eeden, Fern Hames, Richard Faulkner, Andrew Geschke, Zoe E. Squires, Emily M. McLeod. Putting the cat before the wildlife: Exploring cat owners' beliefs about cat containment as predictors of owner behavior. Conservation Science and Practice. 2021; ():e502.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. van Eeden; Fern Hames; Richard Faulkner; Andrew Geschke; Zoe E. Squires; Emily M. McLeod. 2021. "Putting the cat before the wildlife: Exploring cat owners' beliefs about cat containment as predictors of owner behavior." Conservation Science and Practice , no. : e502.
Financial tools can present a solution to conservation conflicts. However, their effectiveness may be limited unless they address the underlying drivers of conflict. The restoration of controversial megafauna can be tied to a clash of urban and rural values and rejection by rural landowners of government control over their actions. Here, we consider a latent financial opportunity presented by general public support for large predator restoration to maintain a wolf-livestock coexistence program in Washington state, USA. We measured respondents' (N = 420) willingness-to-pay for gray wolf (Canis lupus) conservation and their preferences for program funding mechanisms, including voluntary contributions, mandatory taxes, and a ‘predator-friendly’ ranching certification scheme. Respondents were supportive of a publicly funded program, which represented around USD246 million in estimated economic value. This benefit is more than 150 times the cost of the current government-run program. There were mixed preferences for funding mechanisms, so we recommend adopting multiple approaches. A new funding source would allow the program to be rancher-led, shifting agency from government to rural communities, as well as providing outreach opportunities for ranchers to the urban public. As such, our proposal addresses two of the major socio-political conflicts underlying the wolf debate in North America while also generating funding to protect the ranching industry.
Lily M. van Eeden; Carol Bogezi; Danyan Leng; John M. Marzluff; Aaron J. Wirsing; Sergey Rabotyagov. Public willingness to pay for gray wolf conservation that could support a rancher-led wolf-livestock coexistence program. Biological Conservation 2021, 260, 109226 .
AMA StyleLily M. van Eeden, Carol Bogezi, Danyan Leng, John M. Marzluff, Aaron J. Wirsing, Sergey Rabotyagov. Public willingness to pay for gray wolf conservation that could support a rancher-led wolf-livestock coexistence program. Biological Conservation. 2021; 260 ():109226.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. van Eeden; Carol Bogezi; Danyan Leng; John M. Marzluff; Aaron J. Wirsing; Sergey Rabotyagov. 2021. "Public willingness to pay for gray wolf conservation that could support a rancher-led wolf-livestock coexistence program." Biological Conservation 260, no. : 109226.
That dogs can live and breed as free-living animals contributes to public health risks including zoonotic transmission, dog bites, and compromising people’s sense of safety in public spaces. In Australia, free-living dog populations are comprised of domestic dogs, dingoes, and dog–dingo hybrids, and are described using various terms (for example, stray or community), depending on social or geographic context. Urban expansion and regional migration mean that risks associated with contact between humans and free-living dogs are increasing. Public health authorities, local governments, and community organisations have called for transdisciplinary partnerships to address dog-related health risks with a sustainable long-term approach. Values pluralism and a lack of sustained community engagement in affected areas have meant that the outcome of such efforts to date has been mixed. To identify ideas in public circulation about the impact of unrestrained and free-living dogs on human health and well-being, and understand the framework through which these animals are problematised and solutions are proposed in public discourse, we systematically examined coverage of these issues in print media. Our analyses indicate that reporting in Australian newspapers tends to frame the public health impacts of free-living dogs as problems of public order requiring direct government action to re-establish control. The public health impacts of free-living dog populations in Australia have complex causes that intersect at the nexus between human and canine behaviour, agricultural and land management practices, local bylaws, and efforts to conserve ecological systems. Placing responsibility on governments limits opportunities for greater community involvement in developing integrated One Health approaches. Better-quality evidence of the impacts of dog populations on community health and well-being, and broad community support are needed to reshape public debates on animal control, which, ultimately, will promote more effective approaches to mitigate dog-related public health risks at the human–animal–environment interface.
Chris Degeling; Julie Hall; Lily van Eeden; Summer Finlay; Suk Gurung; Victoria Brookes. Representations of Free-Living and Unrestrained Dogs as an Emerging Public Health Issue in Australian Newspapers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5807 .
AMA StyleChris Degeling, Julie Hall, Lily van Eeden, Summer Finlay, Suk Gurung, Victoria Brookes. Representations of Free-Living and Unrestrained Dogs as an Emerging Public Health Issue in Australian Newspapers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (11):5807.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChris Degeling; Julie Hall; Lily van Eeden; Summer Finlay; Suk Gurung; Victoria Brookes. 2021. "Representations of Free-Living and Unrestrained Dogs as an Emerging Public Health Issue in Australian Newspapers." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5807.
Controversial wildlife conservation and management, such as that involving gray wolves (Canis lupus), can be symbolic of broader social conflicts. We conducted an online survey (N = 420) to determine factors shaping public attitudes toward wolf management among residents of Washington state, United States. We used 12 Likert‐type statements to form a single latent construct that represented attitudes toward wolf management in a multi‐use landscape and fit a simple structural equation model to identify demographic predictor variables. The strongest predictors were that voters self‐identifying as Democrats were more likely to hold positive attitudes toward wolves and management to conserve them than those identifying with other political parties (standardized latent variable coefficient = 0.585) and women were more likely than men to hold negative attitudes (−0.459). Older respondents were also more likely to hold negative attitudes (−0.015) and respondents who tried to stay informed about wolf issues were more likely to hold positive attitudes (0.172). Perceived links between wildlife management issues and political ideology may exacerbate community disagreements, hindering coexistence between rural livelihoods and wolves. We recommend appropriate framing and messengers to account for this linkage and improve communication of policy and promote science‐based decision‐making.
Lily M. van Eeden; Sergey S. Rabotyagov; Morgan Kather; Carol Bogezi; Aaron J. Wirsing; John Marzluff. Political affiliation predicts public attitudes toward gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) conservation and management. Conservation Science and Practice 2021, 3, e387 .
AMA StyleLily M. van Eeden, Sergey S. Rabotyagov, Morgan Kather, Carol Bogezi, Aaron J. Wirsing, John Marzluff. Political affiliation predicts public attitudes toward gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) conservation and management. Conservation Science and Practice. 2021; 3 (3):e387.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. van Eeden; Sergey S. Rabotyagov; Morgan Kather; Carol Bogezi; Aaron J. Wirsing; John Marzluff. 2021. "Political affiliation predicts public attitudes toward gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) conservation and management." Conservation Science and Practice 3, no. 3: e387.
Achieving conservation goals, such as coexistence between wildlife and humans, requires an evidence‐based understanding of the factors that shape conservation contexts. For addressing conflict between humans and wildlife, this means understanding the barriers and opportunities to changing human behaviors toward wildlife. Here, we develop a Theory of Change (ToC) to promote coexistence between livestock producers and dingoes in Australia. The ToC is based on behavior change principles and interdisciplinary research identifying four key stakeholder groups who may influence dingo management. It employs four overlapping strategies to address these barriers: (a) a media campaign to promote public awareness of dingo management practices, which may result in pressure upon governments to restrict lethal control; (b) promoting more inclusive decision‐making processes, specifically including Aboriginal Australians; (c) monitoring and evaluation of the effects of dingo management on livestock and ecosystems to identify opportunities for nonlethal dingo management; (d) campaign to encourage adoption of nonlethal management methods by livestock producers based on an understanding of sociopsychological factors that shape behaviors. The framework is a tool for conservation advocates and policymakers to implement and monitor change that facilitates both wildlife conservation and thriving rural communities.
Lily van Eeden; Christopher Dickman; Mathew Crowther; Thomas Newsome. A Theory of Change for promoting coexistence between dingoes and livestock production. Conservation Science and Practice 2020, 3, 1 .
AMA StyleLily van Eeden, Christopher Dickman, Mathew Crowther, Thomas Newsome. A Theory of Change for promoting coexistence between dingoes and livestock production. Conservation Science and Practice. 2020; 3 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily van Eeden; Christopher Dickman; Mathew Crowther; Thomas Newsome. 2020. "A Theory of Change for promoting coexistence between dingoes and livestock production." Conservation Science and Practice 3, no. 3: 1.
Dingo classification and management is complicated by hybridisation with domestic dogs. Northern Australia is a relatively high-risk zone for a rabies incursion, and in the event of an incursion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who reside in this region would prioritise the protection of dingoes. Therefore, the classification of dingoes in this context is important. Twelve pictures of canids with features associated with both dingoes and domestic dogs from camera traps in the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), northern Queensland, were shown to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rangers (n = 3), biosecurity officers (n = 2), environmental health workers (n = 2), and residents (n = 39) in the NPA. Nearly all pictures (10/12) were classified as dingo or domestic dog (none as hybrid) and two were inconclusive (no overall agreement). Dingoes were consistently identified as medium to large-framed dogs, with a long nose, pointed ears, narrow abdomen, a bushy or feathered tail, and smooth coats of a single base colour. Some hybrid features were acceptable, including sable coats, lack of white tail tip or feet, and curled tail. These findings are a preliminary guide for identifying canids in the NPA region for whom management might be controversial. Building on this approach via further consultation with residents is needed to inform rabies response policy. Our approach using locally acquired camera trap pictures could also be extended to other regions in which dingoes have value but their management is controversial.
Victoria J. Brookes; Chris Degeling; Lily M. Van Eeden; Michael P. Ward. What Is a Dingo? The Phenotypic Classification of Dingoes by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residents in Northern Australia. Animals 2020, 10, 1230 .
AMA StyleVictoria J. Brookes, Chris Degeling, Lily M. Van Eeden, Michael P. Ward. What Is a Dingo? The Phenotypic Classification of Dingoes by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residents in Northern Australia. Animals. 2020; 10 (7):1230.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVictoria J. Brookes; Chris Degeling; Lily M. Van Eeden; Michael P. Ward. 2020. "What Is a Dingo? The Phenotypic Classification of Dingoes by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Residents in Northern Australia." Animals 10, no. 7: 1230.
Public opposition has shaped management of wild animals in Australia, but public interest in dingo control has been minimal. We hypothesised that this is due to lack of awareness of dingo management practices, in part because using the term “wild dogs” to describe management renders “dingoes” invisible, framing the issue as one of control of introduced pests rather than control of an iconic Australian animal. We distributed an online questionnaire survey to the Australian public ( N = 811) to measure how the public perceived dingoes and their management, how these views compared with other animals managed as pests in Australia, and whether the term “wild dogs” has shaped views and knowledge of dingo management. Most respondents (84.6%) considered dingoes to be native to Australia and there was low approval of lethal control methods, except when justification was provided (e.g., to protect livestock or endangered native species). Only 19.1% were aware that “wild dog” management included dingoes, and attitudes towards “wild dogs” were more negative than those towards dingoes. If public awareness about dingo management increases, pressure from the public may result and shape future management actions, including restricting the use of lethal control practices like poison baiting on public lands. As such, public attitudes should be incorporated into decision-making, and appropriate communication strategies need to be employed to prevent backlash.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Mathew Crowther; Chris R. Dickman; Thomas M. Newsome. Wicked “wild dogs”: Australian public awareness of and attitudes towards dingoes and dingo management. Australian Zoologist 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Mathew Crowther, Chris R. Dickman, Thomas M. Newsome. Wicked “wild dogs”: Australian public awareness of and attitudes towards dingoes and dingo management. Australian Zoologist. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Mathew Crowther; Chris R. Dickman; Thomas M. Newsome. 2020. "Wicked “wild dogs”: Australian public awareness of and attitudes towards dingoes and dingo management." Australian Zoologist , no. : 1.
Millennia of human conflict with wildlife have built a culture of intolerance toward wildlife among some stakeholders. We explored 2 key obstacles to improved human–wildlife coexistence: coexistence inequality (how the costs and benefits of coexisting with wildlife are unequally shared) and intolerance. The costs of coexisting with wildlife are often disproportionately borne by the so‐called global south and rural communities, and the benefits often flow to the global north and urban dwellers. Attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife (tolerance versus intolerance) vary with social and cultural norms. We suggest more empathetic advocacy is needed that, for example, promotes conservation while appropriately considering those who bear the costs of conflict with wildlife. To achieve more equitable cost‐sharing, we suggest limiting the costs incurred by those most affected or by sharing those costs more widely. For example, we advocate for the development of improved wildlife compensation schemes, increasing the scale of rewilding efforts, and preventing wildlife‐derived revenue leaching out of the local communities bearing the costs of coexistence.
Neil R. Jordan; Bradley P. Smith; Robert G. Appleby; Lily M. Van Eeden; Hugh S. Webster. Addressing inequality and intolerance in human–wildlife coexistence. Conservation Biology 2020, 34, 803 -810.
AMA StyleNeil R. Jordan, Bradley P. Smith, Robert G. Appleby, Lily M. Van Eeden, Hugh S. Webster. Addressing inequality and intolerance in human–wildlife coexistence. Conservation Biology. 2020; 34 (4):803-810.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNeil R. Jordan; Bradley P. Smith; Robert G. Appleby; Lily M. Van Eeden; Hugh S. Webster. 2020. "Addressing inequality and intolerance in human–wildlife coexistence." Conservation Biology 34, no. 4: 803-810.
Systematic review of grey wolf (Canis lupus) dietary preferences. Selection of wild prey over livestock by wolves. Adoption of attack prevention measures to reduce depredation on livestock. Increase of wild prey abundance to reduce depredation on livestock. Conflict between humans and large carnivores hinders carnivore conservation worldwide. Livestock depredations by large carnivores is the main cause of conflict, triggering poaching and retaliatory killings by humans. Resolving this conflict requires an understanding of the factors that cause large carnivores to select livestock over wild prey. Individual studies to date report contradictory results about whether wild prey density affects livestock depredation by large carnivores. We carried out a systematic review of grey wolf (Canis lupus) dietary preferences. We reviewed and analysed 119 grey wolf dietary studies from 27 countries to determine whether wild prey or livestock density affects grey wolf dietary selection. We also assessed whether there are traits that predispose species to be preyed upon (body size, group size, defence mechanisms, speed), and whether livestock management is a factor that affects selection of livestock by grey wolves. Overall, wild prey (65% of the total frequency of occurrence in all reviewed grey wolf diet studies) was selected for even when livestock was abundant. The average proportion of biomass percentage in grey wolf diets was 13% for livestock and 19% for wild species. Wild prey species in possession of defence mechanisms (horns, antlers, spikes, and fangs), with high body weight and present in high density were more likely to be depredated by grey wolves. Even when prey abundance significantly affected selection of wild prey, livestock predation was much lower considering their substantially higher density. Areas where livestock were left to graze freely in small numbers (<20 individuals/km2) were more vulnerable to grey wolf attacks. Our results suggest that the adoption of attack prevention measures on pastures and the increase of wild prey abundance could reduce depredation on livestock by grey wolves, and in turn, provide better opportunities for coexistence between humans, grey wolves and livestock. Download : Download high-res image (211KB)Download : Download full-size image
Andrea Janeiro-Otero; Thomas M. Newsome; Lily M. Van Eeden; William J. Ripple; Carsten F. Dormann. Grey wolf (Canis lupus) predation on livestock in relation to prey availability. Biological Conservation 2020, 243, 108433 .
AMA StyleAndrea Janeiro-Otero, Thomas M. Newsome, Lily M. Van Eeden, William J. Ripple, Carsten F. Dormann. Grey wolf (Canis lupus) predation on livestock in relation to prey availability. Biological Conservation. 2020; 243 ():108433.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrea Janeiro-Otero; Thomas M. Newsome; Lily M. Van Eeden; William J. Ripple; Carsten F. Dormann. 2020. "Grey wolf (Canis lupus) predation on livestock in relation to prey availability." Biological Conservation 243, no. : 108433.
Human behaviors can determine the success of efforts to restore predators to ecosystems. While behaviors such as lethal predator control may impede predator restoration, other land management practices can facilitate coexistence between predators and humans. Socio‐psychological theories provide useful tools for understanding and improving these human behaviors. We explore three frameworks to understand what shapes Australian livestock graziers’ behaviors with regards to management of the threat that dingoes pose to livestock. These frameworks are the Theory of Reasoned Action (incorporating values and beliefs about dingoes), the social identity approach, and perception of risk. We distributed a survey to Australian graziers by mail and online (N = 138) which allowed recording of information on these three frameworks and their engagement in lethal dingo control. Among the respondents, we found that all three frameworks were linked with lethal dingo control when assessed individually, but when combined in a hierarchical regression, only social identity (specifically, identifying as an ‘environmentalist’ or ‘pest controller’) was significant in predicting behavior. This result reveals the strength of social norms and normative beliefs over perceived risk in shaping behavior. As such, social identity is a useful metric for predicting and understanding environmental management behavior. Determining what these social identities mean in a given context is important for identifying how to implement behavior change to promote evidence‐based management that facilitates restoration of wildlife such as predators to landscapes where conflict with humans occurs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Kristina Slagle; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Thomas M. Newsome. Linking social identity, risk perception, and behavioral psychology to understand predator management by livestock producers. Restoration Ecology 2020, 28, 902 -910.
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Kristina Slagle, Mathew Crowther, Christopher R. Dickman, Thomas M. Newsome. Linking social identity, risk perception, and behavioral psychology to understand predator management by livestock producers. Restoration Ecology. 2020; 28 (4):902-910.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Kristina Slagle; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Thomas M. Newsome. 2020. "Linking social identity, risk perception, and behavioral psychology to understand predator management by livestock producers." Restoration Ecology 28, no. 4: 902-910.
Understanding human attitudes toward wildlife management is critical to implementing effective conservation action and policy. Our understanding of the factors that shape public attitudes toward different wildlife management actions is limited, however, which can result in unpredictable public responses to interventions. Here we draw on comparisons between residents of two countries in separate continents to explore differences in attitudes toward wildlife management and identify factors that are important in shaping these attitudes. Our analysis is based on responses to surveys conducted in Australia (N = 881 respondents) and the USA (N = 1287). We applied a social identity approach combined with demography to understand the factors that explain variance between responses about wildlife management. We compared responses between countries overall and within subgroups of respondents who strongly identified as environmentalists, animal rights activists, wildlife conservation advocates, and/or farmers. We then created aggregate scores for the management‐related response items per respondent and used regression analysis to identify the relative importance of country, identity, age, and gender in explaining variance between responses. These factors accounted for 15.3% of variance among responses. Australians overall were generally more accepting of lethal wildlife management actions than participants from the USA. Differences in national attitudes reflect differences between USA and Australian conservation management and policy, highlighting the importance of understanding social attitudes in shaping conservation policy. Identifying as a farmer, followed by identifying as an animal rights activist, were the two most important factors shaping attitudes towards wildlife management, more so than nationality, age, and gender. Identity‐related conflicts could be initiated or exacerbated by conservation interventions that fail to consider identity‐related processes. Article impact statement: National attitudes toward wildlife control reflect policy and practice, but identity group predicts attitudes more strongly than nationality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Lily M. Van Eeden; Kristina Slagle; Thomas M. Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Jeremy T. Bruskotter. Exploring nationality and social identity to explain attitudes toward conservation actions in the United States and Australia. Conservation Biology 2020, 34, 1165 -1175.
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Kristina Slagle, Thomas M. Newsome, Mathew Crowther, Christopher R. Dickman, Jeremy T. Bruskotter. Exploring nationality and social identity to explain attitudes toward conservation actions in the United States and Australia. Conservation Biology. 2020; 34 (5):1165-1175.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Kristina Slagle; Thomas M. Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Jeremy T. Bruskotter. 2020. "Exploring nationality and social identity to explain attitudes toward conservation actions in the United States and Australia." Conservation Biology 34, no. 5: 1165-1175.
Justification for lethal control in conservation is often presumed to be shaped by human attitudes toward different species and whether these species are regarded as native or introduced to a particular system. Conservation researchers and practitioners attitudes often differ in this regard, so different conservation frameworks have evolved such as traditional compositionalist conservation, ‘new’ functionalist conservation, and compassionate conservation. Yet, there is limited research on how the public perceives and values native versus introduced species and thus how public perceptions align with these different and somewhat conflicting definitions of conservation. We conducted an online public survey (N = 811) in Australia to explore how perceptions of species are related to each other and to the approval of lethal control. We focused on native kangaroos, the long-established dingo, and more recently introduced red foxes and wild horses. Perceptions of species' ‘nativeness’ varied and did not always align with policy definitions or reality, with 18.4% and 17.9% considering horses and foxes, respectively, to be native to Australia. The perception that a species was not native and was a pest were linked, and correlated positively with approval for lethal control. The results reveal the conflicting perceptions of conservation among conservationists, the public, and policy definitions. This highlights the difficulty of developing a set of agreed upon conservation goals which would help promote conservation practices supported by stakeholder values.
Lily M. van Eeden; Thomas Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Jeremy Bruskotter. Diverse public perceptions of species' status and management align with conflicting conservation frameworks. Biological Conservation 2020, 242, 108416 .
AMA StyleLily M. van Eeden, Thomas Newsome, Mathew Crowther, Christopher R. Dickman, Jeremy Bruskotter. Diverse public perceptions of species' status and management align with conflicting conservation frameworks. Biological Conservation. 2020; 242 ():108416.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. van Eeden; Thomas Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher R. Dickman; Jeremy Bruskotter. 2020. "Diverse public perceptions of species' status and management align with conflicting conservation frameworks." Biological Conservation 242, no. : 108416.
Public attitudes are important in shaping wildlife management decisions. However, publics are not homogeneous, and conflicting perceptions and attitudes often create barriers to achieving conservation outcomes. Here we use a social identity approach to analyze public acceptance of different options for managing four animals in Australia (kangaroos, wild horses, dingoes, and red foxes). We conducted an online survey (N = 793) of adult residents of Australia. Analyses indicate 11.4% of respondents strongly identified as animal rights activists, 19.0% as wildlife conservationists, and 19.2% as farmers. Using the Potential for Conflict Index and permutational multivariate analysis of variance, we found that on average, all identity groups supported nonlethal management for all species and reintroduction or maintenance of dingoes to suppress kangaroos and red foxes. All identity groups except farmers were generally unsupportive of lethal control, but there was less consensus among responses within groups compared with support for nonlethal methods. Results suggest that policies which prioritize nonlethal management over lethal control (where effective) will be less controversial than those that use lethal management. Likewise, incorporating predator conservation into ecosystem restoration seems well supported across constituencies typically interested in wildlife conservation.
Lily M. van Eeden; Thomas Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; Jeremy Bruskotter. Social identity shapes support for management of wildlife and pests. Biological Conservation 2019, 231, 167 -173.
AMA StyleLily M. van Eeden, Thomas Newsome, Mathew Crowther, Christopher Dickman, Jeremy Bruskotter. Social identity shapes support for management of wildlife and pests. Biological Conservation. 2019; 231 ():167-173.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. van Eeden; Thomas Newsome; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; Jeremy Bruskotter. 2019. "Social identity shapes support for management of wildlife and pests." Biological Conservation 231, no. : 167-173.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Christopher R. Dickman; Thomas Newsome; Mathew S. Crowther. What should we do with wild dogs? Taxonomic tangles and the management of dingo-dog hybridisation. Australian Zoologist 2019, 40, 92 -101.
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Christopher R. Dickman, Thomas Newsome, Mathew S. Crowther. What should we do with wild dogs? Taxonomic tangles and the management of dingo-dog hybridisation. Australian Zoologist. 2019; 40 (1):92-101.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Christopher R. Dickman; Thomas Newsome; Mathew S. Crowther. 2019. "What should we do with wild dogs? Taxonomic tangles and the management of dingo-dog hybridisation." Australian Zoologist 40, no. 1: 92-101.
Livestock producers and governments have managed predators to protect livestock for millennia. But in recent decades attitudes towards predators and their management have shifted from solely killing towards coexistence and even conservation. In Australia, a continent-wide survey of graziers conducted in the 1950s provides an opportunity to consider how attitudes and practices surrounding dingo management have changed over the last 60 years. We created a survey that repeated questions and themes from the 1950s study and sent this to 75 of the properties where the original survey had been completed. We received 23 complete or semicomplete responses. Ground-baiting and shooting continue to form a major focus of management on the focal properties, while fewer respondents used trapping and fencing in the current survey than in the 1950s. Ten properties had adopted either or both of two lethal methods (aerial baiting and hiring professional doggers) since the 1950s survey. Unlike the 1950s survey, three respondents used non-lethal methods only (animal husbandry or livestock guardian animals) and indicated that they support maintaining dingoes in the landscape. This change, albeit small, may suggest that attitudes towards dingoes by graziers have diversified from solely lethal control. We discuss these trends and consider the future of dingo management in Australia. In accordance with changing attitudes among some producers, we suggest that governments must now consider the diversity of approaches to managing livestock in the presence of dingoes and offer more training and support for those methods that are proven effective.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Chris R. Dickman; Mathew Crowther; Thomas Newsome. A snapshot of changes in graziers’ management and attitudes towards dingoes over 60 years. Pacific Conservation Biology 2019, 25, 413 .
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Chris R. Dickman, Mathew Crowther, Thomas Newsome. A snapshot of changes in graziers’ management and attitudes towards dingoes over 60 years. Pacific Conservation Biology. 2019; 25 (4):413.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Chris R. Dickman; Mathew Crowther; Thomas Newsome. 2019. "A snapshot of changes in graziers’ management and attitudes towards dingoes over 60 years." Pacific Conservation Biology 25, no. 4: 413.
Studies of environmental history provide an important lens through which to analyse our contemporary thinking and practices. Here we consider historic management of the conflict caused by dingo predation on livestock. We present unpublished findings of a comprehensive national survey of graziers’ attitudes, knowledge and interactions with dingoes that was conducted by Professor N.W.G. Macintosh in the 1950s. By analysing the 137 responses from this survey, we sought to determine the factors that shaped graziers’ attitudes and management decisions. The four most popular management methods employed to protect livestock from dingoes were trapping (80%), ground-baiting (68%), fencing (44%), and shooting (34%). Whether a respondent had sheep or not was the strongest determinant of which management methods were used, with sheep graziers less likely to use ground-baiting and shooting and more likely to use trapping and fencing. While some patterns among responses were evident, the study reveals the complex nature of graziers’ experiences with dingoes and suggests that, given the lack of scientific evidence available to them at the time of Macintosh’s survey, their decisions, observations, and attitudes were influenced by contextual factors. We use this analysis to consider how history has shaped contemporary dingo management. While the economic, social and environmental context has changed since Macintosh’s survey over 60 years ago, some historical attitudes and practices surrounding dingoes have endured and attacks on livestock by dingoes continue to be regarded as a major threat to graziers.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Bradley P. Smith; Mathew S. Crowther; Chris R. Dickman; Thomas Newsome. ‘The dingo menace’: an historic survey on graziers’ management of an Australian carnivore. Pacific Conservation Biology 2019, 25, 245 .
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Bradley P. Smith, Mathew S. Crowther, Chris R. Dickman, Thomas Newsome. ‘The dingo menace’: an historic survey on graziers’ management of an Australian carnivore. Pacific Conservation Biology. 2019; 25 (3):245.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Bradley P. Smith; Mathew S. Crowther; Chris R. Dickman; Thomas Newsome. 2019. "‘The dingo menace’: an historic survey on graziers’ management of an Australian carnivore." Pacific Conservation Biology 25, no. 3: 245.
Euan G. Ritchie; Bradley P. Smith; Lily M. van Eeden; Dale G. Nimmo. Species definitions shape policy. Science 2018, 361, 1324 -1324.
AMA StyleEuan G. Ritchie, Bradley P. Smith, Lily M. van Eeden, Dale G. Nimmo. Species definitions shape policy. Science. 2018; 361 (6409):1324-1324.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEuan G. Ritchie; Bradley P. Smith; Lily M. van Eeden; Dale G. Nimmo. 2018. "Species definitions shape policy." Science 361, no. 6409: 1324-1324.
Carnivore predation on livestock often leads people to retaliate. Persecution by humans has contributed strongly to global endangerment of carnivores. Preventing livestock losses would help to achieve three goals common to many human societies: preserve nature, protect animal welfare, and safeguard human livelihoods. Between 2016 and 2018, four independent reviews evaluated >40 years of research on lethal and nonlethal interventions for reducing predation on livestock. From 114 studies, we find a striking conclusion: scarce quantitative comparisons of interventions and scarce comparisons against experimental controls preclude strong inference about the effectiveness of methods. For wise investment of public resources in protecting livestock and carnivores, evidence of effectiveness should be a prerequisite to policy making or large-scale funding of any method or, at a minimum, should be measured during implementation. An appropriate evidence base is needed, and we recommend a coalition of scientists and managers be formed to establish and encourage use of consistent standards in future experimental evaluations.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Ann Eklund; Jennifer R. B. Miller; José Vicente López-Bao; Guillaume Chapron; Mikael R. Cejtin; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; Jens Frank; Miha Krofel; David W. Macdonald; Jeannine McManus; Tara K. Meyer; Arthur D. Middleton; Thomas Newsome; William J. Ripple; Euan Ritchie; Oswald J. Schmitz; Kelly J. Stoner; Mahdieh Tourani; Adrian Treves. Carnivore conservation needs evidence-based livestock protection. PLOS Biology 2018, 16, e2005577 .
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Ann Eklund, Jennifer R. B. Miller, José Vicente López-Bao, Guillaume Chapron, Mikael R. Cejtin, Mathew Crowther, Christopher Dickman, Jens Frank, Miha Krofel, David W. Macdonald, Jeannine McManus, Tara K. Meyer, Arthur D. Middleton, Thomas Newsome, William J. Ripple, Euan Ritchie, Oswald J. Schmitz, Kelly J. Stoner, Mahdieh Tourani, Adrian Treves. Carnivore conservation needs evidence-based livestock protection. PLOS Biology. 2018; 16 (9):e2005577.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Ann Eklund; Jennifer R. B. Miller; José Vicente López-Bao; Guillaume Chapron; Mikael R. Cejtin; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; Jens Frank; Miha Krofel; David W. Macdonald; Jeannine McManus; Tara K. Meyer; Arthur D. Middleton; Thomas Newsome; William J. Ripple; Euan Ritchie; Oswald J. Schmitz; Kelly J. Stoner; Mahdieh Tourani; Adrian Treves. 2018. "Carnivore conservation needs evidence-based livestock protection." PLOS Biology 16, no. 9: e2005577.
A reduction in the loss and waste of human food is a global issue for addressing poverty and hunger in poorer nations, and for reducing the environmental footprint of the agriculture sector. An emerging issue, however, is that food wasted by humans is often accessible to wildlife, affecting wildlife ecology and behaviour, as well as ecological processes and community dynamics. Here we highlight the extent of such impacts, drawing on examples from mammalian predators and other taxonomic groups. We then develop two conceptual models. The first shows how wildlife access to food waste can exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts. The second highlights that when food waste is removed, the effects on wildlife and ecosystem processes should be monitored. The conceptual models are important when considering that large quantities of food waste are intentionally and unintentionally provided to wildlife around the world. We conclude there is an urgent need to change the way people currently manage the food we produce.
Thomas M. Newsome; Lily M. Van Eeden. The Effects of Food Waste on Wildlife and Humans. Sustainability 2017, 9, 1269 .
AMA StyleThomas M. Newsome, Lily M. Van Eeden. The Effects of Food Waste on Wildlife and Humans. Sustainability. 2017; 9 (7):1269.
Chicago/Turabian StyleThomas M. Newsome; Lily M. Van Eeden. 2017. "The Effects of Food Waste on Wildlife and Humans." Sustainability 9, no. 7: 1269.
Large carnivores are persecuted globally because they threaten human industries and livelihoods. How this conflict is managed has consequences for the conservation of large carnivores and biodiversity more broadly. Mitigating human–predator conflict should be evidence-based and accommodate people's values while protecting carnivores. Despite much research into human and large-carnivore coexistence strategies, there have been few attempts to document the success of conflict-mitigation strategies on a global scale. We conducted a meta-analysis of global research on conflict mitigation related to large carnivores and humans. We focused on conflicts that arise from the threat large carnivores pose to livestock. We first used structured and unstructured searching to identify replicated studies that used before–after or control–impact design to measure change in livestock loss as a result of implementing a management intervention. We then extracted relevant data from these studies to calculate an overall effect size for each intervention type. Research effort and focus varied among continents and aligned with the histories and cultures that shaped livestock production and attitudes toward carnivores. Livestock guardian animals most effectively reduced livestock losses. Lethal control was the second most effective control, although its success varied the most, and guardian animals and lethal control did not differ significantly. Financial incentives have promoted tolerance of large carnivores in some settings and reduced retaliatory killings. We suggest coexistence strategies be location-specific, incorporate cultural values and environmental conditions, and be designed such that return on financial investment can be evaluated. Improved monitoring of mitigation measures is urgently required to promote effective evidence-based policy. El Manejo del Conflicto entre Carnívoros Grandes y el Ganado Los carnívoros grandes son perseguidos en todo el mundo porque amenazan el sustento y las industrias humanas. En general, la forma en que se maneja este conflicto tiene consecuencias para la conservación de los grandes carnívoros y la biodiversidad. La mitigación del conflicto humano – fauna debería tener bases en las evidencias y debería acomodarse a los valores de las personas mientras protege a los carnívoros. A pesar de la amplia investigación sobre las estrategias de coexistencia entre humanos y carnívoros grandes, ha habido pocos intentos por documentar el éxito de las estrategias mitigantes del conflicto en una escala global. Realizamos un meta-análisis de la investigación global sobre la mitigación de conflictos relacionados con los carnívoros grandes y los humanos. Nos enfocamos en los conflictos que surgen de la amenaza que los carnívoros grandes presentan para el ganado. Primero utilizamos búsquedas estructuradas y no-estructuradas para identificar los estudios replicados que utilizaron el diseño antes – después o control – impacto para medir el cambio en la pérdida del ganado como resultado de la implementación de una intervención de manejo. Después extrajimos los datos relevantes de estos estudios para calcular un tamaño general de efecto para cada tipo de intervención. El esfuerzo y el enfoque de la investigación variaron entre los continentes y se alinearon con las historias y culturas que dieron forma a la producción ganadera y a las actitudes hacia los carnívoros. Los animales guardianes del ganado fueron los que redujeron con mayor eficiencia las pérdidas del ganado. El control letal fue el segundo control más efectivo, aunque su éxito fue el que más varió, y los animales guardianes y el control letal no difirieron significativamente. Los incentivos económicos han promovido la tolerancia de los carnívoros grandes en algunas localidades y han reducido las muertes por represalia. Sugerimos que las estrategias de coexistencia sean específicas de la localidad, incorporen los valores culturales y las condiciones ambientales, y estén diseñadas de tal forma que el retorno de una inversión financiera pueda ser evaluado. El monitoreo mejorado de las medidas de mitigación es requerido urgentemente para promover la política efectiva basada en evidencias.
Lily M. Van Eeden; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; David W. Macdonald; William J. Ripple; Euan Ritchie; Thomas M. Newsome. Managing conflict between large carnivores and livestock. Conservation Biology 2017, 32, 26 -34.
AMA StyleLily M. Van Eeden, Mathew Crowther, Christopher Dickman, David W. Macdonald, William J. Ripple, Euan Ritchie, Thomas M. Newsome. Managing conflict between large carnivores and livestock. Conservation Biology. 2017; 32 (1):26-34.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLily M. Van Eeden; Mathew Crowther; Christopher Dickman; David W. Macdonald; William J. Ripple; Euan Ritchie; Thomas M. Newsome. 2017. "Managing conflict between large carnivores and livestock." Conservation Biology 32, no. 1: 26-34.