Public opinion toward a misunderstood predator: what do people really know about wolverine and can educational programs promote its conservation?

Among the least known of Canada's large predators, the wolverine's status as threatened, or endangered throughout its eastern range, makes it a candidate for conservation programs. A lack of public support, however, can dramatically reduce the chances of such programs being successful. To assess the current state of support for wolverine conservation, knowledge and perceptions toward this species among the public, adults visiting the St. Felicien zoo were surveyed. Knowledge among participants was generally low and misconceptions were abundant, even among repeat visitors to the zoo. Attitudes, however, were mostly positive. To assess how exposure can influence perceptions, children were surveyed who had or had not attended a 5-day camp at the zoo. Both groups demonstrated similar levels of knowledge about wolverine. However, children who had attended the camp demonstrated a greater aesthetic appreciation and fewer negative associations with wolverines. These results suggest that while the wolverine is not a well-known species, people's perceptions toward this species are not necessarily negative. Additionally, information provided by zoos, in a variety of forms, may not always be acquired by visitors, but may still have a positive influence on how the public perceives cryptic misunderstood species such as the wolverine.