Source: MICHIGAN STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ALONG THE ADVANCING SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0194590
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jan 1, 2013
Project End Date
Dec 31, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
MICHIGAN STATE UNIV
(N/A)
EAST LANSING,MI 48824
Performing Department
Fisheries & Wildlife
Non Technical Summary
Wildlife resources contribute greatly to the bio-economy of Michigan, the US and the rest of the developed world. Yet, several significant and on-going demographic changes will dramatically affect the institution of wildlife management: the social landscape is becoming more diverse ethnically and racially, and suburban sprawl continues to grow into rural environments. Although wildlife in suburban-ex-urban settings has been a continual stewardship concern to wildlife professionals, only recently has the level of stakeholder interest in the issues and scrutiny of management become acute. Left unchecked in an increasingly suburbanized landscape, human-wildlife conflicts likely will become an insurmountable drain on agency personnel and financial resources. A potentially even more heinous effect, however, is that public perceptions of wildlife may transition from one of being a valued resource to one of pest . If this occurs, societal support will dwindle for wildlife conservation generally.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1360830308030%
7230810310010%
6080850308060%
Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity; 608 - Community Resource Planning and Development; 723 - Hazards to Human Health and Safety;

Subject Of Investigation
0810 - Finfish; 0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0830 - Wild animals;

Field Of Science
3080 - Sociology; 3100 - Management;
Goals / Objectives
The project goals are to increase the decision-making capacity of wildlife management agencies working in contentious issues, specifically in suburban-exurban settings, through development and diffusion of theory, models, and methods for integration of biological and human dimensions information. Study questions: Basic questions that guide the proposed research are: 1. Which physical landscape and socio-economic characteristics best predict which communities in Michigan will experience deer problems? 2. Is it biologically feasible and socially acceptable to conduct management at the scale of neighborhoods within communities? 3. Which factors affect perception of impacts created by wildlife; which factors are associated with thresholds of tolerance within communities and, which factors affect acceptability of management actions aimed at preventing or reducing urban-suburban wildlife problems? 4. What are ways wildlife agency personnel can bolster the effectiveness of local governance of wildlife in urban-suburban settings. Objective: To determine landscape and socio-economic factors affecting stakeholder attitudes and beliefs toward ex-urban-suburban wildlife. Objective 1a. to assess and model landscape features that distinguish urban-suburban communities with problems from those that do not perceive problems; Objective 1b. to identify thresholds of tolerance for human-wildlife interactions and factors most important in influencing those thresholds. Objective 1c. Identify ways to effectively use knowledge gained in objectives 1 a and b to enhance sustainability of decision-making and wildlife management at the scale of communities.
Project Methods
Suburban and ex-urban environments in southern Michigan will serve as a model management system for study; white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) will be the initial species of focus. I will employ a 2-pronged approach, initially investigating local governance perspectives. Collaboration with the Michigan Association of Township Supervisors has been secured, allowing access to mailing lists of township workers throughout southern Michigan. A mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative social science techniques will be employed. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with a sample of township supervisors throughout the Southern Lower Peninsula to determine the characteristics of those communities with and without wildlife issues. The qualitative research will be used to develop a questionnaire from which findings can be tested for inferences to the broader population of communities in southern Michigan. Questionnaires will be used to determine impacts perceived from deer by both local governance entities and stakeholders, estimates of potential for conflict (PCI), and assess acceptability of management options under an array of situations,. The first prong will be an inquiry of township personnel, one sent to township supervisors and the other to non-supervisor officials. Both will be focused on perceptions of: 1) wildlife species of greatest concern within community; 2) the nature of these concerns in terms of impacts; 3) wildlife issue activity; and 4) importance of wildlife issues compared to others facing local governance. Responses will be coded and joined to spatial data in a geographic information system using ArcGIS 10. Analyses will be performed using JMP software from SAS and Microsoft Excel. The PCI indicates a ratio of scores that fall on either side of a neutral point on a scale. The scale used for this analysis ranges from -2 ("costs greatly outweigh benefits") to +2 ("benefits greatly outweigh costs") and reflects attitude valence toward impacts associated with the species of greatest concern. Hotspots of conflict will be identified with GIS and these will point to possible areas of investigation at the community-level during the second phase of the project. The second prong will be questionnaires directed at community members along a gradient ranging from severe problems to no problems as identified by township officials. Non-response telephone surveys will be used to determine bias due to non-response among our sample population to the mail questionnaire. The expected outputs include descriptions, at the neighborhood scale, of residents' tolerance for deer and human-deer interactions. I also expect to be able to draw inferences about the landscape and socioeconomic characteristics of neighborhoods that affect attitudes and beliefs about deer. A key output will be insight into the scale at which management might be able to be affected. This proposed project has been granted preliminary approval by the MSU University Committee on Human Research Subjects under Internal Review Board # X11-1171e/ APP# i039994.

Progress 01/01/13 to 12/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division personnel; township supervisors in Michigan; other researchers of suburban wildlife management in the USA and elsewhere. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A session at the annual "wildlife school" conducted by the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division was conducted to reach practicing wildlife managers. Two presentations were given at regional DNR staff focused on suburban deer management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results thus far have been communicated through formal and informal presentations at a myriad of meetings, ranging from statewide to local units. Presentation documents have been shared, which depict key findings, through Internet media. . A complete report of the data was distributed by email to all DNR wildlife staff. A briefing was given to assorted members of the Michigan Township Association. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A change in knowledge and practice occurred in regards to management of white-tailed deer in suburban environments. Initial research results suggested localized approaches to conflict management would be more effective than broad-brushed approaches previous used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Maps, depicting isoclines of tolerance for deer were produced and reported to stakeholders. Insights into the characteristics of human communities with conflicts were described quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of landscape features, demographics, affluence, as well as the extent and quality of interactions with white-tailed deer. Knowledge transfer occurred through presentations to the MDNR Wildlife Division at their annual division meeting as well as two separate regional meetings and extensive consultation with local area managers. Progress reports were produced, and preparation of a 2016 final report was completed and submitted to sponsoring agency.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rudolph, B.A., and S.J. Riley. 2017. Gaining compliance and cooperation with regulated wildlife harvest. Pages 7796 in Gore, M.L., ed., Conservation Criminology. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ, USA.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ericsson, G., S. J. Riley, and C. Sandstr�m. Submitted. Rural-urban heterogeneity in stakeholder attitudes towards large carnivores in Sweden, 1976-2014. In Hovardas, T., Editor, Large carnivore conservation and management in Europe: Human dimensions and governance. Routledge Press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goguen, A. D., S. J. Riley, J. F. Organ, and B. A. Rudolph. 2017. Wild-harvested venison yields and sharing by Michigan deer hunters. Human Dimension of Wildlife: in press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Lauricella, T.K., Ford, J.K., Riley, S.J., Powers, C.L. and Lederle, P., 2017. Employee Perceptions Regarding an Organizational Change Initiative in a State Wildlife Agency. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 5:1-16.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2018 Citation: Riley, S. J., J. K. Ford, H. A. Triezenberg, and P. E. Lederle. Submitted. Stakeholder Trust in a State Wildlife Agency. Journal of Wildlife Management In review.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Goguen, A. D. and S. J. Riley. 2017. Insights into wild-harvested meat consumption and sharing. International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Ume�, Sweden.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: rgan, J. F., D. J. Decker, and S. J. Riley. 2017. Integrating Stakeholder Input and Science in Governance of the Public Trust in Wildlife. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society. Albuquerque, NM.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Riley, S. J. 2017. Wild-harvested meat as a coupler of human and natural systems. International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Ume�, Sweden.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division personnel; township supervisors in Michigan; other researchers in suburban wildlife management. Changes/Problems:The graduate research assistant assigned to the project incurred major medical issues that required an extended (complete) leave of absence during the previous reporting period. This absence continues caused a one-year delay in analyses and reporting of research findings. The absence has since turned into a permanent resignation from the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A session at the annual "wildlife school," conducted by the Michigan DNR Wildlife Division was presented to local area wildlife managers on suburban deer management. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results thus far have been communicated through formal and informal presentations at a myriad of meetings, ranging from state-wide to local units. Presentation documents have also been shared that depict key findings. A complete report of the data is being prepared for distribution by end of calendar year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Completion of reports. Additional presentations to local government units and the Michigan Township Association's Annual Conference. Research papers of findings will be prepared and submitted for peer-review.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A change in knowledge and practice occurred in regards to management of white-tailed deer in suburban environments. Initial research results suggested localized approaches to conflict management would be more effective than broad-brushed approaches previous used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Maps, depicting isoclines of tolerance for deer were produced and reported to stakeholders. Insights into the characteristics of human communities with conflicts were described quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of landscape features, demographics, affluence, as well as the extent and quality of interactions with white-tailed deer. Knowledge transfer occurred through presentations to the MDNR Wildlife Division at their annual division meeting as well as two separate regional meetings and extensive consultation with local area managers. Progress reports were produced, and preparation of a 2016 final report were initiated and nearing completion.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rudolph, B. A. and S. J. Riley. 2016. Compliance and Cooperation as Conservation Behavior. Chapter 12 in Gore, M. A., editor. Conservation Criminology: the Nexus of Crime, Risk, and Natural Resources. John Wiley & Sons. In Press.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Riley, S. J., and C. Sandstr�m. 2016. Human dimensions insights into reintroduction of wildlife populations. In Jachowski, D. S., J. J. Millspaugh, P. L. Angermeir, and R. Slotow, editors. Reintroduction of fish and wildlife populations. University of California Press, Davis, CA USA.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Inskip, C., N. H. Carter, S. J. Riley, Z. Fahad, T. M. Roberts, and D. C. Macmillan. 2016. Toward human-carnivore coexistence: understanding tolerance for tigers in Bangladesh PlosOne: 0.1371/journal.pone.0145913. Lederle, P. E., S. J. Riley, and M. M. Cross. 2016. (Invited Paper) Increasing Capacity for Conservation: Do the Wildlife Governance Principles Enhance or Hinder Partnerships? Transactions of 81st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. Triezenberg, H. A., S. J. Riley, and M. L. Gore. 2016. A test of communication in changing behaviors of deer hunters. Journal of Wildlife Management 80: DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21078
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Ljung, P., S. J. Riley, and G. Ericsson. 2015. Game meat consumption feeds urban support of traditional use of natural resources. Society & Natural Resources 28:657669.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Goguen, A. D., S. J. Riley, B. A. Rudolph, and J. F. Organ. 2016. Sharing and receiving wild harvested venison in Michigan: Implications for relevancy of hunters and hunting. 76th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, MI. Lederle, P. E., S. J. Riley, and M. M. Cross. 2016. Increasing Capacity for Conservation: Do the Wildlife Governance Principles Enhance or Hinder Partnerships? 81st North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference, Pittsburgh, PA. Riley, S. J. 2016. Is sustainable use of wildlife sustainable: changing values in America? Plenary Session, The Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Raleigh, NC. Riley, S. J. and A. D Goguen. 2016. Looks like meats back on the menu. An invited presentation at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management, Houghton, MI. Riley, S. J., A.D. Goguen, P. E. Ljung, and G. Ericsson. 2016. Hunter-harvested meat as a coupler of humans and sustainable uses of wildlife. Special Symposium on Sustainability of Sustainable Use. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Raleigh, NC. Riley, S. J., and C. Sandstr�m. 2016. Human dimensions insights for reintroduction of wildlife populations. Special Symposium on Reintroduction of Wildlife at the Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Raleigh, NC. Rudolph, B.A. and S.J. Riley. 2016. Trust me, you dont want to use bait: examining linkages between gaining hunter compliance and building trust in agencies. 76th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, MI.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division personnel; township supervisors in Michigan; other researchers in suburban wildlife management. Changes/Problems:The graduate research assistant assigned to the project incurred major medical issues that required an extended (complete) leave of absence during the reporting period. This absence continues to cause a one-year delay in analyses and reporting of research findings. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Results of research were presented to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Training School, discussion of implications were discussed with local managers with an eye toward principles used in other suburban deer situations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Collaborations with Michigan Department of Natural Resources' managers and biologists on the project aided dissemination of results to that agency. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Focus will continue to be on goals 1 and 3 of the project: Which landscape factors and socioeconomic characteristics best predict which communities in Michigan will experience deer problem; and, which factors affect perception of impacts created by wildlife associated with thresholds of tolerance within communities. Goals related to governance will be accomplished through collaborations with MDNR staff in using project results in preparation of a book chapter on local governance of wildlife. Research papers of findings will be prepared and submitted for peer-review. Reports and presentations will be delivered to key stakeholders and communities of interest.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A change in knowledge and practice occurred in regards to management of white-tailed deer in suburban environments. Initial research results suggested localized approaches to conflict management would be more effective than broad-brushed approaches previous used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Maps, depicting isoclines of tolerance for deer were produced and reported to stakeholders. Insights into the characteristics of human communities with conflicts were described quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of landscape features, demographics, affluence, as well as the extent and quality of interactions with white-tailed deer. Knowledge transfer occurred through presentations to the MDNR Wildlife Division at their annual division meeting and in consultation with local area managers. Presentations at the annual conference of the Michigan Township Supervisors Association provided preliminary results to local governance. Progress reports were produced, and preparation for 2016 final report were initiated.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Riley, S.J. and C. Sandstrom. 2015. Human dimensions of wildlife reintroduction. In Millspaugh, J. editor. Reintroduction of fish and wildlife populations. University of California Press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Decker, D. J., A. B. Forstchen, E. F. Pomeranz, C. A. Smith, S. J. Riley, C. A. Jacobson, J. F. Organ, and G. R. Batcheller. 2015. Stakeholder engagement in wildlife management: Does the public trust doctrine imply limits? Journal of Wildlife Management 79:174179.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Triezenberg, H. A., S. J. Riley, and M. L. Gore. A test of communication in changing harvest behaviors of deer hunters. Journal of Wildlife Management.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2016 Citation: Inskip, C., N. H. Carter, S. J. Riley, Z. Fahad, T. M. Roberts, and D. C. Macmillan. Tolerance for tigers in Bangladesh: lessons for carnivore conservation. PlosOne
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Submitted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rudolph, B. A. and S. J. Riley. Approaches to Understanding, and Gaining Compliance. Chapter 12 in Gore, M. A., Editor. Conservation Criminology: the Nexus of Crime, Risk, and Natural Resources. John Wiley & Sons


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division personnel; township supervisors in Michigan; other researchers in suburban wildlife management. Changes/Problems: The graduate student assigned to the project incurred major medical issues that required a leave of absence during the reporting period. This absence caused a one-year delay in analyses and reporting of research findings. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An overview of the project and some preliminary results were presented to the Michigan Township Supervisors Association Annual Conference (January 2014). Collaborations with Michigan Department of Natural Resources' managers and biologists on the project aided dissemination of results to that agency. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Analyses of survey data in Livingston County, Michigan will be completed; predictive models will be developed. Focus will be on goals 1 and 3 of the project: Which landscape factors and socioeconomic characteristics best predict which communities in Michigan will experience deer problem; and, which factors affect perception of impacts created by wildlife associated with thresholds of tolerance within communities. Goals related to governance will be accomplished through collaborations with MDNR staff in using project results in preparation of a book chapter on local governance of wildlife. Research papers of findings will be prepared and submitted for peer-review. Reports and presentations will be delivered to communities of interest.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A change in knowledge and practice occurred in regards to management of white-tailed deer in suburban environments. Initial research results suggested localized approaches to conflict management would be more effective than broad-brushed approaches previous used by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). Insights into the characteristics of human communities with conflicts were described quantitatively and qualitatively in terms of landscape features, demographics, affluence, as well as the extent and quality of interactions with white-tailed deer. Knowledge transfer occurred through presentations to the MDNR Wildlife Division at their annual division meeting and in consultation with area managers. Presentations at the annual conference of the Michigan Township Supervisors Association provided preliminary results to local governance. Specific research conclusions and management recommendations are pending final analyses in fiscal year 2015.

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Other Year Published: 2015 Citation: Riley, S.J. and C. Sandstrom. 2015. Human dimensions of wildlife reintroduction. In Millspaugh, J. editor. Reintroduction of fish and wildlife populations. University of California Press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Carter, N. H., S. J. Riley, A. M. Shortridge, B. Shrestha, and J. Liu. 2014. Understanding the spatial distribution of human tolerance toward wildlife. AMBIO (DOI) 10.1007/s13280-013-0421-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Decker, D. J., A. B. Forstchen, J. F. Organ, C. A. Smith, S. J. Riley, C. A. Jacobson, G. R. Batcheller, and W. F. Siemer. 2014. Impact Management: An Approach to Fulfilling Public Trust Responsibilities of Wildlife Agencies. The Wildlife Society Bulletin 38:28.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hanisch, S. L., J. P. Burroughs, and S. J. Riley. 2014. What are they thinking? Exploring layperson conceptualizations of wildlife health and disease. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 19:253266.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Ljung, P., S. J. Riley, and G. Ericsson. 2014. Game meat consumption feeds urban support of traditional use of natural resources. Society & Natural Resources 27: DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2014.933929.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Rudolph, B. A., and S. J. Riley. Factors affecting hunters trust and cooperation. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 19:469479.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Triezenberg, H. A., M. L. Gore, S. J. Riley and M. K. Lapinski. 2014. Perceived risk from disease and management policies: an expansion of zoonotic disease information seeking and processing model. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 19:123138.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Triezenberg, H. A., M. L. Gore, S. J. Riley and M. K. Lapinski. 2014. Persuasive communication aimed at achieving wildlife disease management goals. Wildlife Society Bulletin DOI: 10.1002/wsb.462.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan Township Supervisors Association Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A graduate student, supported by an external contract with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, served as a research assistant on the project. One undergraduate assistant was also employed and gain extensive experience in the field and with survey administration. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? An overview of the project and some preliminary results were presented to the Michigan Township Supervisors Association Annual Conference (January 2013). Collaborations with Michigan Department of Natural Resources' biologists on the project aided dissemination of results to that agency. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Analyses of survey data in Livingston County, Michigan will be completed; predictive models will be developed. Focus will be on goals 1 and 3 of the project: Which landscape factors and socioeconomic characteristics best predict which communities in Michigan will experience deer problem; and, which factors affect perception of impacts created by wildlife associated with thresholds of tolerance within communities. Research papers of findings will be prepared and submitted for peer-review. Reports and presentations will be delivered to communities of interest.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Because this was the first year of the project, no final results are available. Investigators conducted surveys of township supervisors throughout southern Michigan to identify concerns with wildlife held by local units of governance. A mail-back questionnaire was administered to nearly 3,800 residents of Livingston County, Michigan from which models will be developed to predict physical, geographical, and sociocultural attributes of communities with and without problems created by white-tailed deer. Data were entered and preliminary analyses conducted during the period.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Decker, D. J., A. B. Forschten, J. F. Organ., C. A. Smith, S. J. Riley, W. F. Siemer, C. A. Jacobson and G. R. Batcheller. 2013. Impact management: An approach to fulfilling public trust responsibilities of wildlife agencies.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Carter, N. H., S. J. Riley, A. M. Shortridge, B. Shrestha, and J. Liu. 2013. Understanding the spatial distribution of human tolerance toward wildlife. AMBIO (DOI) 10.1007/s13280-013-0421-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Hanisch, S. L., S. J. Riley, and M. L. Gore. 2013. Evaluation of wildlife disease-related risk perceptions. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 49:841-849.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hanisch, S. L., J. P. Burroughs, and S. J. Riley. 2013. What are they thinking? Exploring layperson conceptualizations of wildlife health and disease. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. In press.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Muter, B.A., M.L. Gore, and S. J. Riley. 2013. Social network contagion of risk perceptions in environmental management networks. Risk Analysis. DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01936.x.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Muter, B. A., M. L. Gore, S. J. Riley and M. K. Lapinski. 2013. Evaluating wildlife disease-related risk communication materials for severity, susceptibility and efficacy messages. Wildlife Society Bulletin 37:115121.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Siemer, W. F., T. B. Lauber, D. J. Decker, and S. J. Riley. 2013. Agency capacities to detect and respond to disease threats: Professional views on limiting factors and action priorities. HDRU Series 13-5, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 46 pp.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2013 Citation: Decker, D.J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer. 2013. Human dimensions of wildlife management. Pages xx-xx in P. R. Krausman and J. W. Cain, III, editors. Wildlife Management: Contemporary Principles and Practices. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.


Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included conducting three surveys: one was a stratified random survey of 1500 households each in the SE, NE, Midwest, and Western USA to determine stakeholder knowledge and attitudes toward wildlife health and health management; a web-based survey of all 50 state wildlife agencies regarding financial and human capacity for managing wildlife health; and a third was a mail survey to Michigan deer hunters that were part of a persuasive message experiment. Data analyses were completed on each of these surveys. Publications were prepared based on data collected earlier in the project on bovine tuberculosis in Michigan; those publications are expected to be submitted early in 2012. Events included: presentation of draft results from surveys to the health committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) at their annual conference; a special session on wildlife health management developed by the investigator was conducted at the 2012 North American Conference on Wildlife and Natural Resources. Services included regular consultation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources on decisions related to wildlife health, service on the Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Advisory Council, and consultation to AFWA on implementation of the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative. Products included guest lectures on wildlife health in classes at Michigan State University; professional presentations at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, The Pathways to Success Conference, and The Wildlife Society Annual Conference; professional papers submitted to four different peer-reviewed journals; participation on the Michigan Bovine TB listserve; and several presentations to Michigan community groups. A key product was publication and distribution of a bulletin titled "Applying Impact Management: A Leaders Guide" that was developed in conjunction with previous wildlife health research and decision-aiding workshops. PARTICIPANTS: Shauna Hanisch. Shauna was a graduate research assistant at Michigan State University for five years and earned her PhD degree while conducting research on the project. Her dissertation title is THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF WILDLIFE HEALTH: MENTAL MODELS, RISK PERCEPTIONS, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD WILDLIFE DISEASE MANAGEMENT. Bret Muter. Bret was a research assistant on the project and gained valuable experience conducting interviews and writing reports. Jordan Burroughs. Jordan was an outreach specialist at Michigan State University, who assisted with research and dissemination of findings. Jordan worked with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative, both influencing policy and gaining experience in a national policy setting. Heather Triezenberg. Heather was a post doc at Michigan State University, who worked specifically on bovine tuberculosis research in Michigan, conducting persuasive communication experiments. Meredith Gore. Meredith was an assistant professor at Michigan State University, who was a collaborator in the bovine TB research. Cornell University was a collaborator on aspects of the study related to agency capacity. Specifically, William Siemer, Bruce Lauber, and Dan Decker, who were all researchers on that aspect of the study. Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel who work on disease related issues were valuable partners, who helped facilitate field work and provided additional financial support. TARGET AUDIENCES: Policy makers, specifically the Health Subcommittee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Michigan TB Eradication Committee, and wildlife disease professionals at large. Researchers on wildlife health issues, with whom methods, insights, and new knowledge were shared in various venues. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Knowledge gained from this study has been conveyed to policy maker through conferences, conference calls, individual consultations and reports. This project was leveraged against an ongoing study for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and supports AFWAs National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative, which is an umbrella policy direction for all 50 states in terms of wildlife health. In addition, information on factors affecting capacity of agencies to management wildlife health has supported changes in some state investment in infrastructure as well as communication and education. Researchers in other geographic regions of the US are using survey instruments developed by this research to understand regional disease-related risk perceptions.

Publications

  • Hanisch, S. L., and S. J. Riley. 2012. Stakeholder Perceptions of Wildlife Disease Management: Findings and Policy Implications. Invited paper. Transactions of the 77th North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference. In press.
  • Muter, B. A., M. L. Gore, S. J. Riley and M. K. Lapinski. 2013. Evaluating wildlife disease-related risk communication materials for severity, susceptibility and efficacy messages. Wildlife Society Bulletin In press.
  • Decker, D.J., S. J. Riley, and W.F. Siemer, eds. 2012. Human dimensions of wildlife management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD.
  • Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, J. F. Organ, W. F. Siemer and L. H. Carpenter. 2011. Applying Impact Management: A Practitioners Guide. Human Dimensions Research Unit and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 119 pp.
  • Decker, D.J., D.T.N. Evensen, W.F. Siemer, K.M. Leong, S. J. Riley, M.A. Wild, K. T. Castle, and C. L. Higgins. 2010. Understanding risk perceptions to enhance communication about human-wildlife interactions and the impacts of zoonotic disease. Institute for Animal Laboratory Research Journal 51:255-261.
  • Hanisch, S.L., S. J. Riley, and M. P. Nelson. 2012. Promoting wildlife health or fighting wildlife disease Insights from history, philosophy, and wildlife health experts. Wildlife Society Bulletin 36:477-482.


Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities included conducting two surveys: one was a stratified random survey of 1500 households each in the SE, NE, Midwest, and Western USA to determine stakeholder knowledge and attitudes toward wildlife health and health management; and, a web-based survey of all 50 state wildlife agencies regarding financial and human capacity for managing wildlife health. Data analyses are still be completed on each of these surveys. Publications were prepared based on data collected earlier in the project on bovine tuberculosis in Michigan; those publications are expected to be submitted early in 2012. Events included presentation of draft results from surveys to the health committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) at their annual conference. A special session on wildlife health management was developed and speakers recruited in 2011 for the 2012 (March) North American Conference on Wildlife and Natural Resources in Atlanta. Services included regular consultation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources on decisions related to wildlife health, service on the Michigan Bovine Tuberculosis Advisory Council, and consultation to AFWA on implementation of the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative. Products included guest lectures on wildlife health in classes at Michigan State University; participation on the Michigan Bovine TB listserve; and several presentations to Michigan community groups. A key product was publication and distribution of a bulletin titled "Applying Impact Management: A Leaders Guide" that was developed in conjunction with previous wildlife health research and decision-aiding workshops in Colorado, Florida, and Michigan. PARTICIPANTS: Shauna Hanisch, a research assistant, was added to the project in 2008, and is completing her doctoral dissertation on wildlife health in 2012. Partner organizations included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (contacts: Patrick Lederle, Brent Rudolph), who sponsored research and were recipients of the results; Cornell University (contact: Daniel Decker), who collaborated on an overall research and outreach theme related to wildlife health management; and, Cornell University (contact: Bruce Lauber), who are collaborators on a contract starting during the reporting period titled, "Assessing agency capacity to manage fish and wildlife health." Members of the health committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies have been consultants to and from the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included wildlife management agencies throughout the US and Canada, especially the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and active members of AFWA; stakeholders at large, including sportsmen and women, and rural landowners; the MIchigan Bovine TB Advisory Committee; and, students in wildlife management classes at Michigan State University. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (MDNR), a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is engaged in wildlife health management throughout their state, but especially in relation to bovine tuberculosis in wild populations of white-tailed deer. Knowledge gained through questionnaire research is influencing deer management objectives, formulation of alternatives to achieve objectives, and ways in which progress will be monitored. Information gathered in the course of this research also informed policy decisions by the Michigan Natural Resources Commission about baiting and feeding of wildlife. Our research is partially funded by and supports implementation of the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative, a management program effecting fish and wildlife agencies in all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. Initial results are helping shape that information and education programing related to the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative.

Publications

  • Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer. 2012. Wildlife management as a process, not an event. Chapter 7. In Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer, Eds. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. (in press)
  • Hanisch, S. L., S. J. Riley, and M. P. Nelson. (2012). Promoting wildlife health or fighting wildlife disease Insights from history, philosophy, and wildlife health experts. Wildlife Society Bulletin
  • Ljung, P., S.J. Riley, G. Ericsson, and T.A. Heberlein. (2012). Perceptions of hunting in Sweden. Wildlife Society Bulletin. (pending)
  • Muter, B.A., M.A. Gore, and S.J. Riley. 2011. Toward exploring stakeholder and professional information sources about cormorant management in the Great Lakes. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 16:63-66.
  • Campa, H. III, S.J. Riley, S.R. Winterstein, T.L. Hiller, S.A. Lischka, and J.P. Burroughs(2011). A changing landscape for white-tailed deer management in the 21st century: parcelization of land ownership and uses. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:168-176.
  • Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, J. F. Organ, W. F. Siemer and L. H. Carpenter. (2011) Applying Impact Management: A Leaders Guide. Human Dimensions Research Unit and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 119 pp.
  • Decker, D.J., S.J. Riley, and W.F. Siemer. (2012) Human dimensions of wildlife management. Chapter 4 in Krausman, P.R., ed. Wildlife Management: Contemporary Principles and Practices. Johns Hopkins University Press (in press).
  • Organ, J.F., D.J. Decker, S.J. Riley, J.E. McDonald, and S.P. Mahoney. (2012) Adaptive management in conservation. in Silvy, N., ed. Wildlife Techniques Manual, 7th Edition. Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Riley, S. J., and R. Gregory. 2012. Decision-making in wildlife management. Chapter 8. In Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer, Eds. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. (in press)
  • Riley, S. J., D. J. Decker, and W. F. Siemer. 2012. The future of human dimensions of wildlife management. Chapter 19. In Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer, Eds. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. (in press)
  • Rudolph, B. A., M. G. Schechter, and S. J. Riley. 2012. Governance and the human dimensions of wildlife management. Chapter 2. In Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer, Eds. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. (in press)


Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research progress included project planning, building collaborations with the University of Minnesota to study bovine tuberculosis, and preparation of additional grants to USDA. A questionnaire was developed and implemented on public awareness and concerns related to bovine tuberculosis in Michigan. Results of work on wildlife health have been disseminated to resource agencies through technical reports, meetings, and presentations including: formal presentations to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission; Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division in-service training workshops; multiple cooperative meetings with wildlife division personnel, participation in the Fish and Wildlife Health Subcommittee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; and internationally through presentations at the International Conference on Wildlife Diseases in Argentina, The Pathways to Success Conference in Colorado, and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society National Conference in New Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: During the reporting period the United States Geological Survey at the University of Minnesota was added as a collaborator in research (contact: David Fulton). Partner organizations included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (contacts: Patrick Lederle, Brent Rudolph), who sponsored research and were recipients of the results; The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (contact: Rebecca Humphries), who sponsor research and are recipients of results; and Cornell University (contact: Daniel Decker), who collaborated on an overall research and outreach theme related to adaptive impact management. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included: wildlife management agencies throughout the US who are cooperators with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agenices, especially the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; local governmental organizations involved in wildlife health management; stakeholders at large, including wildlife users and rural landowners; and, students in wildlife management classes at Michigan State University and the Agricultural University of Sweden. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: New research collaborations have developed between the PI and Cornell University on research titled "Assessing agency capacity to manage fish and wildlife health," which is supported through a grant from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (MDNR), a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is engaged in wildlife health management throughout their state but especially in relation to bovine tuberculosis in wild populations of white-tailed deer. Knowledge gained through questionnaire research is influencing the deer management objectives, formulation of alternatives to achieve objectives, and ways in which progress will be monitored. Wildlife health is a central objective of the plan as well as a metric for evaluation. Our research is partially funded by and supports implementation of the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative, a management program effecting fish and wildlife agencies in all 50 states and the Canadian provinces. Initial results are helping shape that organization's information and education program.

Publications

  • Campa, H. III, S.J. Riley, S.R. Winterstein, T.L. Hiller, S.A. Lischka, and J.P. Burroughs(2011). A changing landscape for white-tailed deer management in the 21st century: parcelization of land ownership and uses. Wildlife Society Bulletin (pending).
  • Decker, D.J., D.T.N. Evensen, W.F. Siemer, K.M. Leong, S.J. Riley, M.A. Wild, K. T. Castle, and C. L. Higgins. 2010. Understanding risk perceptions to enhance communication about human-wildlife interactions and the impacts of zoonotic disease. Institute for Animal Laboratory Research Journal 51:255-261.
  • Decker, D.J., S.J. Riley, and W.F. Siemer. (2011) Human dimensions of wildlife management. in Krausman, P.R., ed. Wildlife Management: Contemporary Principles and Practices. (Textbook) Johns Hopkins University Press (pending).
  • Hanisch, S. L., S. J. Riley, and M. P. Nelson. (2011). Wildlife Health: meanings behind the term. Journal of Wildlife Management: (pending).


Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research progress included project planning, building collaborations with the University of Minnesota to study bovine tuberculosis, and preparation of additional grants to USDA. A questionnaire was developed and implemented on Factors affecting stakeholder tolerance for white-tailed deer in Michigan. Investigation into stakeholder perceptions of wildlife diseases in deer was a component of that questionnaire. Results of work on wildlife health have been disseminated to resource agencies through technical reports, meetings, and presentations including: formal presentations to the Michigan Natural Resources Commission; Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division in-service training workshops; multiple cooperative meetings with wildlife division personnel, participation in the Fish and Wildlife Health Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; and internationally through presentations to Agricultural University of Sweden and the Swedish Hunters Association. PARTICIPANTS: During the reporting period the United States Geological Survey at the University of Minnesota was added as a collaborator in research (contact: David Fulton). Partner organizations included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (contacts: Patrick Lederle, Brent Rudolph), who sponsored research and were recipients of the results; The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (contact: Rebecca Humphries), who sponsor research and are recipients of results; and Cornell University (contact: Daniel Decker), who collaborated on an overall research and outreach theme related to adaptive impact management. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included wildlife management agencies throughout the US who are cooperators with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agenices, especially the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; local governmental organizations involved in wildlife health management; stakeholders at large, including sportsmen and women, and rural landowners; and, students in wildlife management classes at Michigan State University. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: New research collaborations have developed between the PI and the USDA on research titled Human Dimensions of Bovine Tuberculosis Management in Minnesota and Michigan, which is facilitated through the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (MDNR), a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is engaged in long-term plans for white-tailed deer in their state. Knowledge gained through questionnaire research and testimony to the Natural Resource Commission is influencing the deer plan's objectives, formulation of alternatives to achieve objectives, and ways in which progress will be monitored. Wildlife health is a central objective of the plan as well as a metric for evaluation. Our research is partially funded by and supports implementation of the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative, a management program effecting fish and wildlife agencies in all 50 states and the Canadian provinces.

Publications

  • Marcoux, A., and S. J. Riley. (2010). Driver knowledge and attitudes about deer-vehicle collisions in southern Michigan. Human-Wildlife Interactions : (in press).
  • Decker, D. J., D. T. N. Evensen, W. F. Siemer, K. M. Leong, S. J. Riley, M. A. Wild, and K. T. Castle. (2010). Human-Wildlife Interactions and the Impacts of Infectious Disease. Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Journal 51:(in press.
  • Hanisch, S. L., S. J. Riley, and M. P. Nelson. (2010). Considerations in the Pursuit of Wildlife Health. Journal of Wildlife Management: (pending).
  • McMullin, S.L., D. Svedarsky, S.J. Riley, J.F. Organ, and D. Schad. (2010). The coursework of conservation: are university curricula on target Proceedings North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. (in press).
  • Muter, B.A., M.L. Gore, and S. J. Riley. (2009). From Victim to Perpetrator: Evolution of Risk Frames About Double-Crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes Basin. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 14:366-379.
  • Sudharsan, K., S.J. Riley, and H. Campa III. (2009). Relative risks of deer-vehicle collisions along roads in southern Michigan. Human Dimensions of Wildlife: 14:341-352.


Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research progress included study planning and proposal writing; development and delivery of outreach workshops; presentations at professional conferences; and preparation of research articles for publication. Additional complimentary research, supported by USDA through the Michigan Agricultural Research Station, was initiated on human dimensions of bovine tuberculosis (TB) management in Michigan and Minnesota. This research is expected to inform policy related to TB management in Minnesota and Michigan and to provide important stakeholder input into decisions about management of TB in those states. PARTICIPANTS: Shauna Hanisch, a doctoral research assistant, was added to the project in 2008. Partner organizations included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (contacts: Patrick Lederle, Brent Rudolph), who sponsored research and were recipients of the results, and Cornell University (contact: Daniel Decker), who collaborated on an overall research and outreach theme related to wildlife health management. AFWA is funding a related three-year research project, which was initiated in 2008. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included wildlife management agencies throughout the US and Canada, especially the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and active members of AFWA; stakeholders at large, including sportsmen and women, and rural landowners; and, students in wildlife management classes at Michigan State University. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No changes to the project were made this year. Revisions were made previous in 2007 to transition toward a concentration on wildlife health.

Impacts
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), which represents wildlife management agencies in all 50 states as well as the Canadian provinces, is supporting research under this project to implement a National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative. Research conducted under this CRIS project will affect how states and provinces build their capacity to manage for wildlife health. Additional impacts of this research includes workshops in the Florida and British Columbia aimed at building capacity for making more effective decisions in wildlife management. In Florida, these consultations and workshops have lead to new approaches in decision making that include group systems model building. These techniques, developed under the PI's previous project are affecting management of black bears, manatee, mottled ducks, and public land access in Florida. In British Columbia, workshops and consultations have led to an revision of management plans across the province to include human dimensions considerations.

Publications

  • Decker, D.J., W.F. Siemer, S.J. Riley, B.A. Rudolph, K.L. Leong and L.H. Carpenter. 2008. What is wildlife management in Manfredo, M.J., J.J. Vaske, P.J. Brown & D.J. Decker (eds). Society and wildlife in the 21st century. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  • Lischka, S.A., S.J. Riley, and B.A. Rudolph. 2008. Effects of impact perception on acceptance capacity for white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife Management 72: 502-509.


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research progress included analyses of data; development and delivery of workshops; presentations at professional conferences; and preparation and submission of research articles for publication. Data were analyzed from 3,520 rural residents surveyed to determine impacts they seek from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the rural southern Michigan landscape, and to explore the connections between perceived impacts and stakeholder preferences for deer populations. Results have been conveyed to resource agencies through technical reports, meetings, and presentations. Workshops development based in part on findings from this study were delivered to the Florida Wildlife Commission's management team. The adaptive impact management project was revised in 2007 to focus on the human dimensions of wildlife health management. Wildlife diseases, which are a chief contributor to health of wildlife populations, is also anticipated to be perceived by stakeholders as a key impact of wildlife management. PARTICIPANTS: No new individuals were added to the project in the reporting period. Partner organizations included the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (contacts: Patrick Lederle, Brent Rudolph), who sponsored research and were recipients of the results, and Cornell University (contact: Daniel Decker), who collaborated on an overall research and outreach theme related to adaptive impact management. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included wildlife management agencies throughout the US, especially the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; local governmental organizations involved in wildlife management, such as the City of Grand Haven, Michigan; stakeholders at large, including sportsmen and women, and rural landowners; and, students in wildlife management classes at Michigan State University. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The adaptive impact management project was revised in 2007 to focus on the human dimensions of wildlife health management. Wildlife diseases, which are a chief contributor to health of wildlife populations, are also anticipated to be perceived by stakeholders as a key impact of wildlife management. New research collaborations have developed between the PI and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) to support AFWA's National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (MDNR), a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is supporting evaluation of adaptive impact management (AIM) for white-tailed deer. An AIM approach also has been adopted by that agency's research section to identify research needs, and prioritize allocation of funds for research. Recent principles for wolf management, developed by MDNR collaboratively with stakeholders, reflect impact language and intent, which represents a shift from conventional focus of objectives on population. The Florida Wildlife Commission is changing their approach to management of certain wildlife species, such as Florida panthers, mottled ducks, and manatees based on a workshop and subsequent consultations stemming from this project. Additional impacts of this research include: (1) publication of a book, which is being widely adopted in post-graduate leadership training, and (2) development and implementation of a research theme sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission titled human dimensions of management.

Publications

  • Peterson, N.M., S.J. Riley, L.M. Busch, and J. Liu. 2007. Reconciling wildlife management's conflicted purpose with a land community worldview. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71: 2499-2506.


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Research under this project seeks to increase management capacity among agencies in fish and wildlife management through development, evaluation, and refinement of new management frameworks and techniques for engagement of stakeholders. Fish and wildlife resources contribute greatly to the quality of life in Michigan and throughout the United States. Yet, conventional approaches to fish and wildlife management for many species and entire ecosystems are failing. I hypothesize impacts as the fundamental objective of fish and wildlife, in contrast to numbers of animals or condition of habitat, would improve effectiveness of fish and wildlife management. Impacts are significant positive and negative effects, defined in terms of human values, which result from events or interactions involving: (1) fish/wildlife individuals, populations, habitats, and communities, (2) fish/wildlife management interventions, and (3) stakeholder interactions with respect to fish/wildlife. Events or interactions pertinent to fish and wildlife management can be of several general types: fish/wildlife interactions with other fish/wildlife, fish/wildlife interactions with their environment, interactions between fish/wildlife and humans, interactions between humans and fish/wildlife habitat, and interactions among humans where fish/wildlife is a reason for the interaction. Activities for the reporting period involved research on two model systems of management: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management in south-central Michigan. Objectives were to: (1) develop and evaluate methods, which determine stakeholder-defined impacts, (2) compare and evaluate feasibility of an AIM process for deer in south-central Michigan, and (2) determine impediments to development and adoption of AIM for wildlife. In south-central Michigan, 3,520 rural residents were surveyed to determine impacts they seek from deer on the landscape. This survey instrument, developed collaboratively with researchers at Cornell University, explored linkages between interactions with deer and effects perceived by stakeholders. Hunters were more likely to identify deer herd-level impacts and those associated with quality deer hunts than non-hunters, similar to concerns expressed by hunters elsewhere. Farmers were more likely than non-farmers to identify economic and psychological impacts associated with crop damage. Non-farming, non-hunting rural residents express concern about negative effects of hunting on human safety and deer populations. Taken together, this information is expected to provide a basis for changing the focus of deer management to one of managing impacts. Several ancillary projects were completed on the environmental and human factors involved in deer-vehicle collisions (an event that causes key impacts), and are providing additional insights about how to further strengthen AIM for deer and adoption of AIM more broadly by the wildlife management profession.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division (MDNR), a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is supporting evaluation of adaptive impact management (AIM) for white-tailed deer. An AIM approach also has been adopted by that agency's research section to identify research needs, and prioritize allocation of funds for research. Recent principles for wolf management, developed by MDNR collaboratively with stakeholders, reflect impact language and intent, which represents a shift from conventional focus of objectives on population. Additional impacts of this research include: (1) publication of a book, which is being widely adopted in post-graduate leadership training, and (2) development and implementation of a research theme sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission titled human dimensions of management.

Publications

  • Burroughs, J.P., S.J. Riley, G. Hickling, and W. Taylor. 2006. Agency capacity to manage the risk of chronic wasting disease. Findings Abstract. Human Dimensions of Wildlife 11:227-228.
  • Decker, D.J., M. Wild, S.J. Riley, W.F. Siemer, M. Miller, K. Leong, J. Powers, and J. Rhyan. 2006. Wildlife disease management: A manager's model. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 11:151-158.
  • Enck, J.W., D.J. Decker, S.J. Riley, L.H. Carpenter, J.F. Organ, and W.F. Siemer. 2006. Integrating ecological and human dimensions in adaptive management of wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 698-705.
  • Organ, J.F., D.J. Decker, L.H. Carpenter, W. F. Siemer, and S.J. Riley. 2006. Thinking like a manager: reflections on wildlife management. Wildlife Management Institute, Washington, DC. 120pp.
  • Rudolph, B.A., S.J. Riley, M. Garner, S. Winterstein, and B. Frawley. 2006. Prohibition of hunter bait for white-tailed deer in Michigan: biological and social considerations. The Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:314-321.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Research under this project seeks to increase management capacity among agencies in fish and wildlife management through development, evaluation, and refinement of new management frameworks and techniques for engagement of stakeholders. Fish and wildlife resources contribute greatly to the quality of life in Michigan and throughout the United States. Yet, conventional approaches to fish and wildlife management for many species and entire ecosystems are failing. I hypothesize impacts as the fundamental objective of fish and wildlife, in contrast to numbers of animals or condition of habitat, would improve effectiveness of fish and wildlife management. Impacts are significant positive and negative effects, defined in terms of human values, which result from events or interactions involving: (a) fish/wildlife individuals, populations, habitats, and communities, (b) fish/wildlife management interventions, and (c) stakeholder interactions with respect to fish/wildlife. Events or interactions pertinent to fish and wildlife management can be of several general types: fish/wildlife interactions with other fish/wildlife, fish/wildlife interactions with their environment, interactions between fish/wildlife and humans, interactions between humans and fish/wildlife habitat, and interactions among humans where fish/wildlife is a reason for the interaction. Activities for the reporting period involved research on two model systems of management: white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) management in south-central Michigan, and wolves (Canis lupus) in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. The objectives were: (1) to compare and evaluate feasibility of an AIM process for deer in south-central Michigan and for wolves in the UP of Michigan, and (2) to determine impediments to development and adoption of AIM for wildlife. In south-central Michigan, 3,520 rural residents were surveyed to determine impacts they seek from deer on the landscape. This survey instrument, developed collaboratively with researchers at Cornell University, explored linkages between interactions with deer and effects perceived by stakeholders. In addition, the survey collected information about satisfaction of respondents with deer management in the study area and demographic information. Taken together, this information is expected to provide a basis for changing the focus of deer management to one of managing impacts. Workshops will be held, starting in spring 2006, to diffuse the methodology for determining impacts and for establishing Several ancillary projects were completed on the environmental and human factors involved in deer-vehicle collisions (an event that causes key impacts), and are providing additional insights about how to further strengthen AIM for deer. The wolf component of the research was dropped because jurisdictional changes in the status of the gray wolf in Michigan, which changed the direction of state resources and level of financial support for the study.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is supporting evaluation of adaptive impact management (AIM) for white-tailed deer. An AIM approach also has been adopted by that agency's research section to identify research needs, and prioritize allocation of funds for research. An adidtional impact of this research was development and implementation of a human dimensions of management research theme sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Publications

  • Dobson, T. S.J. Riley, and M. Gaden. 2005. Human dimensions of Great Lakes fishery management: a new research thrust of Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Society & Natural Resources 18:87-491.


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Research under this project seeks to increase management capacity among agencies in fish and wildlife management through development, evaluation, and refinement of new management frameworks and techniques for engagement of stakeholders. Fish and wildlife resources contribute greatly to the quality of life in Michigan and throughout the United States. Yet, conventional approaches to fish and wildlife management for many species and entire ecosystems are failing. I hypothesize impacts as the fundamental objective of fish and wildlife, in contrast to numbers of animals, would greatly improve effectiveness of fish and wildlife management. Impacts are significant positive and negative effects, defined in terms of human values, which result from events or interactions involving: (a) fish/wildlife individuals, populations, habitats, and communities, (b) fish/wildlife management interventions, and (c) stakeholder interactions with respect to fish/wildlife. Events or interactions pertinent to fish and wildlife management can be of several general types: fish/wildlife interactions with other fish/wildlife, fish/wildlife interactions with their environment, interactions between fish/wildlife and humans, interactions between humans and fish/wildlife habitat, and interactions among humans where fish/wildlife is a reason for the interaction. Activities for the reporting period involved project planning and initial research on two model systems of management: white-tailed deer management in south-central Michigan, and wolves in the Upper Peninsula (UP)of Michigan. The objectives are: (1) to compare and evaluate feasibility of an AIM process for deer in south-central Michigan and for wolves in the UP of Michigan, and (2) to determine impediments to development and adoption of AIM for wildlife. Thirty interviews of landowners in Jackson and Washtenaw counties to determine the range of impacts associated with white-tailed deer, and to prepare for a quantitative survey of 3,000 landowners in 2005. A workshop was conducted in the UP with MDNR personnel as part of a group modeling project to define predator-prey systems among deer and wolves in northern Michigan. Landowners were interviewed, and the researcher participated as part of the state Wolf Working Group, preparing a management plan for wolves after delisting. This participation is expected to lead to further workshops in 2005 on identification of impacts and AIM. Research on how to improve decision-making of fisheries managers in the Great Lakes was continued in 2004. Four case studies of fishery management were selected to understand types of social science information needed to increase effectiveness of decision-making. A human dimension of fishery management research theme was developed by the researcher and approved by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. A workshop was held in 2004 to attract researchers from around North America to study how to better improve the effectiveness and sustainability of resource decisions related to impacts. These ancillary projects are expected to provide additional insights about how to further improve the AIM process.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is supporting evaluation of adaptive impact management (AIM) for white-tailed deer and wolves. An AIM approach also has been adopted by that agency's research section to identify research needs, and prioritize allocation of funds for research. An adidtional impact of this research was development and implementation of a human dimensions of management research theme sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Publications

  • Dobson, T. S.J. Riley, and M. Gaden. Accepted. Human dimensions of Great lakes fishery management: a new research theme of Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Society & Natural Resources 17: Expected publication April 2005.


Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Fish and wildlife resources contribute greatly to the quality of life in Michigan and throughout the United States. Yet, conventional approaches to fish and wildlife management for many species and entire ecosystems are failing. If society's interests are to be served well through public resource management, an urgent need exists to accelerate the capacity and rate at which agencies and communities learn and adapt together in response to continually changing sociological and ecological environments. . Research under this project seeks to increase management capacity among agencies in fish and wildlife management through development, evaluation, and refinement of new management frameworks and techniques for engagement of stakeholders. I hypothesized impacts as the fundamental objective of fish and wildlife, in contrast to numbers of animals, would greatly improve effectiveness of fish and wildlife management. Impacts are significant positive and negative effects, defined in terms of human values, that result from events or interactions involving: (a) fish/wildlife individuals, populations, habitats, and communities, (b) fish/wildlife management interventions, and (c) stakeholder interactions with respect to fish/wildlife. Events or interactions pertinent to fish and wildlife management can be of several general types: fish/wildlife interactions with other fish/wildlife, fish/wildlife interactions with their environment, interactions between fish/wildlife and humans, interactions between humans and fish/wildlife habitat, and interactions among humans where fish/wildlife is a reason for the interaction. Activities for the reporting period principally involved project planning and recruitment of graduate research assistants for tests of AIM on two model systems of management: white-tailed deer management in south-central Michigan, and wolves in Michigan's upper peninsula. The objectives are: (1) to compare and evaluate, from the perspective of agencies and stakeholders, feasibility of an AIM process for deer in south-central Michigan and for wolves in the upper peninsula of Michigan, and (2) to determine impediments to development and adoption of AIM for wildlife. Another prong of my research focuses on decision-making capacity of fisheries managers in the Great Lakes. A doctoral research assistant was recruited and began studies in 2003. Four case studies of fishery management will be selected to understand the types of social science information that is needed to increase decision-making capacity of fisheries managers, and may contribute to improving the AIM process. A human dimension of fishery management research theme was proposed to and approved by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. The purpose of the theme is to attract researchers from around North America to study how to better improve the effectiveness and sustainability of resource decisions. These projects are expected to provide additional insights about how to further improve the AIM process.

Impacts
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, a key wildlife management agency in the Midwest, is supporting evaluation of adaptive impact management (AIM) for white-tailed deer and wolves. An AIM approach also has been adopted by that agency's research section to identify research needs, and prioritize allocation of funds for research. An adidtional impact of this research was development and implementation of a human dimensions of management research theme sponsored by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

Publications

  • Riley, S.J., G.M. Nesslage, and B.A. Mauer. 2004. Dynamics of early wolf and cougar eradication efforts in Montana: implications for conservation. Biological Conservation 115: in press.
  • Riley, S.J. 2003. Smart choices: a practical guide to making better decisions. Book review. The Wildlife Society Bulletin 31: 321-323.
  • Riley, S.J., D.J. Decker, J.W. Enck, and P.D. Curtis. 2003. Deer populations up, hunter populations down: Implications of interdependence of deer and hunter population dynamics. Ecoscience 10(4): 356-362.
  • Riley, S.J., W.F. Siemer, D.J. Decker, L.H. Carpenter, J.F. Organ, and L Berchielli. 2003. Adaptive impact management: an integrative approach to wildlife management. Human Dimension of Wildlife 8: 81-95.