Explaining Cattle Rancher Participation in Wildlife Conservation Technical Assistance Programs in the Southeastern United States |
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| Institution: | 1. Research Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA;2. Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;1. Research Ecologist (Postdoctoral), USDA–Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, Burns, OR 97720, USA;2. Professor, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;3. Associate Professor, Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;4. Associate Professor, Geography Department, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA;5. Professor, Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;1. Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;2. Associate Professor, Departments of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology and Mathematics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;4. Graduate Student, City and Regional Planning, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;3. Program Coordinator, Sustainable Forest Management in the Congo Basin, German Development Organization (GTZ), Yaoundé, Cameroon;1. PhD Student, Range Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104;2. Professor, Range Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104;3. Research Rangeland Management Specialist, Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Mandan, ND 58554;4. Professor, Range Science, South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD 57702;5. Assistant Professor, Wildlife and Range Research, NDSU Hettinger Research and Extension Center, Hettinger, ND 58639;6. Associate Professor, Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007;7. Professor/Extension Specialist-Range Management, South Dakota State University, Rapid City, SD 57702;8. Assistant Professor, Range Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104;1. Research Scientist, Vaquerias Experimental Station, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), Jalisco, Mexico;2. Professor Emeritus, Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;5. Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA;3. Research Scientists, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA;4. Associate Professor, Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA;6. Professor, Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA |
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| Abstract: | US natural resources and wildlife agencies have been increasing their efforts to involve cattle ranchers in wildlife conservation through technical assistance programs that provide for wildlife conservation activities. Understanding why ranchers choose to be involved in these programs is fundamental to increasing participation and ensuring their success. Using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical model, we surveyed 1 093 ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi to explain and predict intention to participate in technical assistance programs, specifically, wildlife workshops and field days. All three theory components—attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control—were important to intent to participate and explained 41% of the variance, with perceived behavioral control and subjective norm having the greatest standardized effects (β = 0.329 and β = 0.316, respectively). Investigation of the construct components yielded insight into how agencies could increase participation. Ranchers generally held positive attitudes toward wildlife workshops, perceiving them to be a good way to learn about wildlife management and perceiving that most ranches were suitable for wildlife, an instance of perceived behavioral control. However, ranchers did not perceive that workshops and field days were widely advertised or promoted, limiting the amount of perceived control they had over their participation. Additionally, ranchers identified normative groups whose opinions were important to them, namely their families, friends and neighbors, fellow ranchers, and agency staff. However, these same groups were not seen to actively encourage ranchers to participate in technical field days and workshops. Using key members of these normative groups to advertise and promote workshops and field days among their peers should increase rancher behavioral control and attitudes associated with technical workshops and field days. Employing strategies from this research to increase attendance at technical workshops and field days should improve wildlife conservation technical assistance program effects. |
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