A recently released summary report of Minnesotan’s attitudes about wolves conducted by the Minnesota of Natural Resources’ Division of Fish and Wildlife and the University of Minnesota yielded fairly predictable results, on average livestock owners and deer hunters aren’t terribly fond of wolves while, on average, residents are in favor of wolves.
Using primarily three study groups, cattle and sheep producers, firearm deer hunters age 18 and up, and Minnesota residents, aged 18 and up, the information gathered will be used to update the Minnesota Wolf Management Plan.
The sampling of Minnesota households was taken within counties corresponding to Minnesota DNR administrative regions. The collection procedures captured Hennepin and Ramsey counties for ease of collection and “to ensure minority demographics (e.g., rural).
According to the report, “A critical element of this plan update is gathering information about stakeholders’ values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors concerning wolves and wolf management to make informed decisions. This is particularly important in a context like wolf management, where diverse publics hold divergent preferences and values. This study was undertaken with these concerns in mind, and to provide data to technical and stakeholder advisory committees convened to support the wolf plan update.”
When polled, on average, 62 percent of livestock producers expressed a negative attitude about wolves. Six percent represented a neutral position, and 32 percent said they had a positive attitude. However, when asked if, “it’s important to maintain a wolf population in Minnesota,” where responses were graded on a seven-point scale with one equaling strongly disagree, seven livestock producers strongly agree, 42.5 percent, on average, disagreed with the statement and 47.2 percent agreed to maintain a wolf population in Minnesota was important. Ten percent neither agreed nor disagreed that maintaining a wolf population in Minnesota was important.
Around 66 percent indicated they would like to see wolves occupy “no,” “much less,” or “less” territory in Minnesota.
Respondents were asked to rate the importance of several potential management actions the MN DNR can pursue concerning wolves. For livestock producers, the three most necessary management actions were:
* Compensate livestock producers for animals lost to wolves.
* Kill wolves that show aggressive or threatening behavior toward people.
* Kill wolves in areas where they are attacking domestic livestock.
Support for regulated wolf hunting and trapping seasons were assessed among respondents.
A clear majority of livestock producers indicated that they either “slightly support,” “moderately support,” or “strongly support,” establishing both a regulated wolf hunting (88 percent) or trapping (84 percent) sea-son. Minorities of livestock producers were opposed to creating a wolf hunting (7 percent) or trapping (11 percent) season.
Deer hunters
When asked about their general attitudes and opinions about wolves, on average, 52 percent expressed a negative view towards wolves, with 39 percent a positive attitude and 10 percent a neutral position.
However, when asked if it was important to maintain a wolf population in Minnesota, 67 percent of the hunters agreed. In comparison, 26 percent disagreed and seven percent offered neither agreement nor disagreement that maintaining a wolf population was important.
Deer hunters were asked to rate the importance of several potential management actions that the Minnesota DNR can pursue concerning wolves.
Deer hunters said the three most important management actions were:
Kill wolves that show aggressive or threatening behavior toward people, 2) Kill wolves in areas where they are attacking domestic livestock, and 3) Educate livestock producers about best man-agreement practices to prevent conflict.
Deer hunters reported their agreement with statements about why people value having wolves in Minnesota. For deer hunters, the three highest-rated values included because they have a right to exist, because they are an important part of the ecosystem, and for the opportunity to hunt or trap them.
Support for regulated wolf hunting and trapping seasons were assessed among respondents. A clear majority of deer hunters indicated that they either “slightly support,” “moderately support,” or “strongly support,” establishing both a regulated wolf hunting (88 percent) or trapping (80 percent) season. Minorities of deer hunters were opposed to establishing a wolf hunting (7 percent) or trapping (15 percent) season.
Residents
Results show that residents’ evaluation of wolves is more positive than negative. On average, 68% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward wolves. This is compared to 20 percent, which expressed a negative attitude, and 12 percent expressed a neutral attitude.
Similarly, residents were asked to report their agreement with the statement: “It is important to maintain a wolf population in Minnesota.” Responses were recorded on a 7 point agreement scale, where 1 = strongly disagree, four = neither, and 7 = strongly agree. Around 87 percent of respondents reported agreement with the statement, while only 6.4 percent disagreed that maintaining a wolf population in Minnesota was important. A similar minority of respondents (7 percent) neither agreed nor disagreed that maintaining a wolf population in Minnesota was important.
On average, respondents expressed a preference for either an increase (42 percent) or similar wolf numbers (44 percent), compared to today (Fall 2019). A similar pattern held for residents’ preference for wolf range. Around 33 percent indicated that they would like to see wolves occupy “more” or “much more” territory in Minnesota. At the same time, 55 percent would like wolves to occupy “about the same amount of ” region.
Respondents were asked to rate the importance of several potential management actions the MN DNR can pursue concerning wolves (Fig. 19). For residents, the three most important management actions were; 1) educate livestock producers about best management practices to prevent conflict, 2) educate people about wolves, and 3) study wolf populations.
Residents’ support or opposition to potential wolf hunting and trapping seasons include the following responses to the question, “ Some Minnesotans’ want the opportunity to hunt and trap wolves, while others feel the hunting and trapping of wolves is wrong. If wolves were removed from the endangered species list and management authority moves to Minnesota, how much do you support or oppose the following? A. Establishing a regulated wolf hunting season. B. Establishing a regulated wolf trapping season.
Residents’ values for wolves. Responses followed the question: “People value having wolves in Minnesota for several reasons, how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements? I value having wolves in Minnesota…” 1=strongly disagree, 4=neutral, and 7 = strongly agree.
Residents reported their agreement with statements about why people value having wolves in Minnesota (Fig. 20). For residents, the three highest-rated values included because they are an important part of the ecosystem, because they have a right to exist, and so that future generations can enjoy them.
Support for regulated wolf hunting (Fig. 21a) and trapping (Fig. 22b) seasons were assessed among residents. Respondents were relatively split between support (41 percent) and opposition (49 percent) to establishing a wolf hunt. However, a larger proportion (58 percent) indicated that they either “slightly opposed,” “moderately op-posed,” or “strongly opposed,” establishing a regulated wolf trapping season.
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