Predictors of Extreme Negative Feelings Toward Coyote in Newfoundland |
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Authors: | Beatrice Frank Jenny Anne Glikman Maggie Sutherland Alistair J. Bath |
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Affiliation: | 1. Regional Parks, Capital Regional District of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada;2. Division of Conservation Education, Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA;3. Women in Science and Engineering Student Summer Employment Program, WISE NL, St. John’s, NL, Canada;4. Department of Geography, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada |
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Abstract: | Human–coyote interactions have occurred since the arrival of the species to the island of Newfoundland in 1985. A mail survey (N = 786) of Newfoundland residents was conducted in 2008. The survey explored negative feelings toward coyotes. A four stage hierarchical multiple regression model examined how the dependent variable, “feelings,” was influenced by four independent blocks of variables: “existence beliefs,” “impact beliefs,” “fear,” and “experience and demographic characteristics.” Together the predictors explained 50% of the variability, with existence beliefs accounting for most of the variation (ΔR2 = . 45), followed by impact beliefs (ΔR2 = .024) and fear (ΔR2 = .018). The experience-demographic block of variables accounted for minimal influence (ΔR2 = .003) and was not statistically significant. The remaining variability might be explained by emotions. When exploring human–wildlife interactions it is important to understand the role of affect in the formation of attitudes as feelings influence the tolerance and ultimately the willingness to coexist with wildlife. |
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Keywords: | Canada cognitive hierarchy coyote extreme negative feelings |
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