Predicting Support for Recolonization of Mountain Lions (Puma concolor) in the Adirondack Park

Carnivore range expansion creates opportunities for human-wildlife conflicts. Wildlife attitudes and values, factual knowledge, and risk perception have all been proposed as variables to measure or predict social acceptability of wildlife management. We examined the social acceptability of natural recolonization of mountain lions (Puma concolor; an extirpated carnivore) in the Adirondack Park, New York, USA. We administered questionnaires in person to 315 Adirondack residents and visitors during summer 2013. We also posed questions to 800 New York State residents in a telephone survey during winter 2014. We tested five hypotheses: 1) wildlife attitude and values scale scores predict stated support for restoration of mountain lions in the Adirondack Park; 2) people more knowledgeable about mountain lions perceive less risk and indicate greater support for mountain lion restoration; 3) women report greater perceived risk than do men from mountain lions; 4) residents will report greater perceived risk than nonresidents; and 5) respondents who participate in activities such as hiking and hunting in the Park will perceive less risk than those who do not. A majority of respondents supported natural recolonization of mountain lions to the Adirondack Park. Results of our regression model indicated that perceived risk and factual knowledge influence support for mountain lion restoration, with more knowledgeable respondents perceiving lower risk and reporting greater support. To reduce the potential for human-wildlife conflict and moderate risk perceptions, we recommend wildlife agencies and others consider conveying educational messages about how stakeholders can coexist with large predators in areas in which they are recolonizing. (C) 2015 The Wildlife Society.