Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management

The Pienaar Lab

Welcome to the web page for the Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management research group, led by Dr. Elizabeth F. Pienaar, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia.  Our group is composed of researchers and students from the University of Georgia, University of Florida, and University of Pretoria (South Africa).

We study how conservation of wildlife, habitat, and ecosystem services may be attained on private and communal lands, mostly in the United States and southern Africa. We also study the positive and negative conservation outcomes of the live animal trade. Our research focuses on how to change people’s behavior to achieve conservation outcomes.  We integrate theories and methods from human dimensions of wildlife conservation and environmental economics to conduct research that assists government agencies and conservation organizations in the design of conservation policy, management actions, and outreach. 

2024 Publications

Pienaar E.F., & Sturgeon D.J.E. (2024) Exotic pet owners’ preferences for different ectothermic taxa are based on species traits and purchase prices in the United States. Neobiota 91: 1-27.

Abstract: The exotic pet trade has resulted in substantial invasion and disease risks, owing to the release of pets into new environments. Scientists have conjectured that pet owners acquire and release species with undesirable traits because they are imperfectly informed about the traits of these animals. However, few studies have used social science methods to elicit pet owners’ preferences for exotic pets. In 2019 we administered a best-worst choice survey to 1,055 exotic pet owners in the United States (who own pet reptiles, amphibians, fish, or invertebrates) to examine how human preferences and incomplete information may contribute to the risks of the exotic pet trade. Respondents preferred colorful and patterned species. On average, respondents preferred medium-sized amphibians and reptiles, small fish, and large invertebrates, although they demonstrated heterogeneity in preferences with respect to the adult size of pets. Respondents also preferred amphibians and reptiles with medium life expectancies and fish and invertebrates with long life expectancies, although they again demonstrated heterogeneity in preferences with respect to pets’ life span. Respondents preferred docile animals, and were more likely to purchase lower-cost pets. We found some evidence that respondents’ decision to purchase exotic pets depended on whether these animals were native, rare, had unusual morphological features, and breed easily. Respondents’ decision to purchase specific taxa as exotic pets also depended on their age, education, and whether they live in houses. Most respondents stated that they searched for information on pets’ diet, behavior, adult size, life span, costs of care such as equipment or veterinarian costs, and whether the animal was captive bred before purchasing these animals. Excepting pets’ diets, less than half of respondents had been offered information on pets’ traits by sellers. On average, respondents rated the information they had been offered as average. Respondents typically obtained additional information about pets from online searches. Our results suggest that certification systems that provide critical information on exotic pets’ behaviors, adult size, longevity, fecundity, and husbandry needs should be implemented to prevent pet owners acquiring animals that they may subsequently abandon.

Puri M., Johannsen K.L., Goode K.O., & Pienaar E.F. (2024) Addressing the challenge of wildlife conservation in urban landscapes by increasing human tolerance for wildlife. People and Nature, published online.

Abstract:

1. Urbanization is a key driver of global environmental change, and is adversely impacting wildlife populations. Human tolerance for wildlife is critical to wildlife conservation in urban areas. 

2. Using metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, United States, as a case study, we investigated human tolerance for a range of different wildlife species. Almost half of the human-wildlife interactions that are reported to the state wildlife agency originate from metropolitan Atlanta, which is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the United States. 

3. We surveyed a representative sample of 1,006 residents of metropolitan Atlanta in 2022. We found heterogeneity in respondents’ tolerance for various species, although most respondents were intolerant of bobcats, coyotes, opossums, and snakes. Respondents’ tolerance for different species largely depended on their attitudes and emotions towards species, and their basic beliefs pertaining to wildlife and the relationships between humans and wildlife. We found some evidence that tolerance also depended on people’s prior interactions with wildlife, their beliefs that they can mitigate conflicts with wildlife, and their demographic characteristics.

4. Our results suggest that communication that improves urban residents’ attitudes towards wildlife and/or reinforces positive emotions towards wildlife may increase wildlife tolerance in urban areas. 

Puri M., Goode K.O., Johannsen K.L., & Pienaar E.F. (2024) Engaging urban residents in the appropriate actions to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Conservation Science and Practice 6(2): e13074.

Abstract: Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts by altering human behaviors is critical to urban wildlife conservation. We investigated what actions urban residents are willing to take to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in metropolitan Atlanta, one of the fastest growing metropolises in the United States (~6.1 million people, 21,690 km2). In 2022, we administered online surveys to 1,006 residents of metropolitan Atlanta to determine which measures they had adopted to mitigate conflicts with urban wildlife, elicit their stated willingness to adopt additional conflict mitigation measures, and identify determinants of current or potential implementation of mitigation measures. Respondents most frequently reported watching urban wildlife (63.0% of respondents). The most frequently reported conflicts were wildlife raiding trash cans (14.8%) and damaging landscaping (20.8%). In total, 342 respondents (34.0%) had not taken any action to mitigate conflicts with wildlife. Respondents who had taken action to prevent conflicts most often secured their trash by keeping cans indoors or locking the lid of the can (28.7%), kept pets (20.5%) and pet food (20.3%) indoors, and took trash out on the morning of collection (19.6%). Respondents who had not adopted conflict mitigation measures stated that they were likely to secure their trash or keep pets and pet food indoors if they considered these measures to be necessary. Prior conflicts with wildlife influenced both respondents’ current efforts to mitigate conflicts with wildlife, and their stated willingness to adopt additional measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Risk sensitivity to zoonotic pathogen transmission increased both actual and intended adoption of conflict mitigation measures. Respondents’ self-efficacy, beliefs about wildlife, and age also influenced their willingness to adopt conflict mitigation measures. Our results suggest that education and outreach about the need for conflict mitigation measures should highlight the importance and effectiveness of these measures in conserving wildlife, while also securing the wellbeing of humans and pets.

Pratt E.N., Lockwood J.L., King E.G., & Pienaar E.F. (2024) Identifying inconsistencies in exotic pet regulations that perpetuate trade in risky species. Conservation Biology 38(2): e14189.

Abstract: Regulatory inconsistencies at different jurisdictional levels have contributed to the global expansion of the exotic pet trade, with resultant increases in the spread of invasive species and pathogens. Researchers have enumerated multiple limitations and environmental risks posed by international and national rules that govern the exotic pet trade, yet little attention has been focused on regulation of the exotic pet trade within national borders. We reviewed state-level regulations that apply to the trade of vertebrate animal taxa in the United States (US). Definitions and classifications for regulating different vertebrate taxa varied greatly across states, and the terms ‘pet’ and ‘companion animal’ were poorly defined and inconsistent across states. States implemented regulations that permit trade in exotic vertebrate pets that are banned from import into the US owing to public health and conservation concerns. Once species have been imported into the US, inconsistent internal regulations facilitate movement of animals that pose substantial invasion and disease risks. Violations of state laws were typically listed as misdemeanors, and the median fine for violating state wildlife trade laws was $1,000. Inconsistent and incomplete regulation of exotic vertebrate pets across state borders, in conjunction with limited penalties for violating regulations, has facilitated continued possession of exotic pets in states where these animals are banned. Based on our review of regulatory weaknesses, we conclude that transition to a federally enforced list of vertebrate species that may be traded as pets is needed, with all other vertebrate species banned from the exotic pet trade unless their potential invasion and disease risks have been assessed and demonstrated to be low or nonexistent.

Shapiro H.G., & Pienaar E.F. (2024) Falconer Perceptions of, and Support for, Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Biosecurity Actions. Human-Wildlife Interactions, accepted.

Abstract: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). In the United States (US), state wildlife agencies rely on stakeholders to report RHDV2-related mortalities and engage in voluntary biosecurity actions to prevent the spread of RHDV2. However, stakeholder perceptions of RHDV2 and relevant biosecurity actions have not been evaluated. We conducted the first study in the US on how falconers’ risk perceptions, knowledge, trust in state wildlife agencies to manage RHDV2, hunting behaviors, and demographic characteristics influenced their willingness to engage in voluntary biosecurity actions and support potential government-mandated biosecurity measures.  To complete our study, we surveyed 480 falconers in 45 states using an online questionnaire from April 2021 – March 2022. Most respondents were aware of RHDV2 but did not know about the multiple vectors for RHDV2 transmission or that infected lagomorphs are unlikely to show signs of disease. Most respondents were willing to engage in all voluntary biosecurity actions (52.9%-89.8%) and supported three of the four RHDV2 management strategies (56.0%-62.5%). Respondents’ willingness to engage in or support biosecurity measures depended on the importance they placed on biosecurity, their risk perceptions, and their trust in state wildlife agencies to manage RHDV2. Consistent, up to date outreach efforts should communicate the economic and hunting risks associated with RHDV2 and how falconer adoption of biosecurity behaviors may lower the risk of human-mediated RHDV2 spread. State wildlife agencies may build trust with falconry groups by actively engaging falconers in lagomorph and RHDV2 monitoring efforts and working with falconers to implement biosecurity measures that are safe for raptors while also lowering the risk of human-mediated RHDV2 spread.