Mountain Scholar :: Browsing by Author "Teel, Tara, committee member"

Browsing by Author "Teel, Tara, committee member"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 21

Open Access
A transportation corridor runs through it: people, wildlife, and transportation systems in national parks and beyond
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Hardy, Amanda Ruth, author; Crooks, Kevin, advisor; Angeloni, Lisa, committee member; Newman, Peter, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member; Theobald, Dave, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Bats, elephants, and their food: a conservation perspective on trophic interactions in the Namib Desert
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Laverty, Theresa Marie, author; Berger, Joel, advisor; Crooks, Kevin, committee member; Wittemyer, George, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Comparing the social psychological drivers of personal sphere, social diffusion, and civic action behaviors for native plant gardening
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Tamlyn, Kaiya, author; Niemiec, Rebecca, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Abrams, Katie, committee member
Protecting biodiversity and conserving water, especially in urban environments, are crucial facets of conservation efforts that can be supported by gardening with native plant species. However, native plant gardening at the individual or personal sphere level is not enough. There is also a need for citizens to participate in behaviors outside of the personal sphere, such as social diffusion and civic action, to influence the networks and social systems in which they are embedded to achieve more rapid, large-scale environmental change. Little is known, however, about whether the social-psychological drivers of behaviors outside of the personal sphere are distinct from the drivers of personal sphere action. To address this, we examined the factors influencing personal sphere, social diffusion, and civic action behaviors in the context of native plant gardening in the United States. Through a nationwide survey conducted in February 2023 (n = 1,201), we found that, while there was some overlap, each behavior type was motivated by distinct, often behavior-specific, variables. Personal sphere-specific self-efficacy and age predicted personal sphere behavior; social diffusion-specific dynamic norms (perceptions that the behavior of others is changing) and moral exporting (an individual's inclination to encourage others to embrace their moral position) predicted social diffusion behavior; introversion predicted civic action behavior; and behavior-specific personal norms predicted all three behavior types. We also examined the prevalence of each type of behavior and found that personal sphere behaviors are the most commonly practiced, followed by social diffusion behaviors and then civic action behaviors. Our findings suggest that to motivate social diffusion and civic action behaviors, practitioners may have to design outreach interventions that target the unique social-psychological drivers of these behaviors.
Open Access
Connecting children and families to nature: targeting wildlife agency education initiatives
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Cohen, Christine E., author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Benson, Delwin, committee member
The following thesis presents two manuscripts that explore how information on barriers to participation in nature-based programs and wildlife value orientations (WVOs) could be used to enhance the reach and effectiveness of wildlife agencies in connecting children to nature. Strengthened by proven physical, social and cognitive benefits as well as potential impacts upon the development of life-long environmental values and attitudes, wildlife agencies have an interest in addressing the human-nature disconnect in order to maintain and/or increase support for future conservation initiatives and secure future funding sources. The primary purpose of the first manuscript was to explore how information about WVOs, barriers to participation in nature-based programs and program topic preferences might be integrated to improve targeting of wildlife agency education initiatives for specific audiences. Data were collected via a mail survey administered to residents of Helena, Montana. Results indicated that there are significant differences in both barriers to participation and program topic preferences across WVOs. Although significantly different, limited barriers to participation were found for the relatively homogenous population surveyed indicating a need for further research to determine if findings can be applied to other populations and geographic locations. The second manuscript identified the specific program preferences and barriers for a group of teachers in Rapid City and Spearfish, South Dakota. A case study approach examined the barriers to both integrating EE into classrooms and incorporating programs taught by informal EE providers into curriculum. Focus group discussions provided valuable insight into how a local wildlife agency could most effectively target education efforts in order to overcome barriers and adapt programming for both students and teachers at a new education center in Rapid City, South Dakota. Results of focus group discussion provide recommendations for the design and marketing of school-based EE programs for Rapid City area teachers.
Open Access
Connecting children to nature: integrating technology into nature programs and incorporating environmental education into an urban after-school program
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2011) Wesson, Mark, author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Broadfoot, Kirsten, committee member
This thesis consists of two documents that describe different aspects of a broader project with the ultimate goal of connecting children and their families to nature. The first paper addresses the integration of technology and knowledge about people's wildlife value orientations (WVO's) to influence participation in nature programs. While a domination orientation defines wildlife primarily as a resource to be used and managed for human benefit, a mutualism orientation perceives wildlife as capable of relationships of trust with humans and as life forms deserving of rights and caring. These different orientations have different implications for response to wildlife issues and for participation in wildlife-related recreation. The mixed-methods study included survey data acquired from a sample of residents (n = 282) from Wake County, North Carolina and a subset of that sample that subsequently participated in focus groups and a pilot program about box turtle tracking using radio telemetry. Results indicated that interest in nature and nature programs incorporating technology was positive among all WVO segments - though the motivation for that interest was different for the distanced WVO group - and that the use of technology in nature programs can facilitate positive, nature-focused experiences for families. This research represents a step in developing methods for integrating technology into optimal programs directed towards segments of society with specific WVO's. The second paper examines the incorporation of Environmental Education (EE) into an after-school program in the Bronx, New York City. In this qualitative case study, focus group interviews were conducted to first determine parent and educator interest in and barriers to participation in nature programs and incorporation of EE into the curriculum. Interest level was high and a series of trainings in EE were conducted and evaluated. Findings reveal that some of the barriers to incorporating EE were only perceived barriers and successful integration is possible as long as interest and motivation is present. Staff showed significant confidence and ability to teach EE in there program after minimal training and were motivated to continue with the curriculum due to strong support from the students and parents. Methods from this study for effective incorporation of EE into an existing curriculum could be modeled in both the formal and non-formal classroom.
Open Access
Conserving tigers beyond protected area boundaries: the spatial ecology of tigers and their prey in farmlands in north India
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2019) Warrier, Rekha, author; Noon, Barry, advisor; Bailey, Larissa, committee member; Crooks, Kevin, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Engaging underserved audiences in informal science education through community-based partnerships
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Bouzo, Suzanne, author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Jennings, Louise, committee member
This thesis explores the impact of the Science Education and Engagement of Denver (SEED) Partnership on three of its participant families. The partnership, consisting of large informal science organizations, as well as small community-based organizations, created its programming based on prior research identifying barriers to minority participation in informal science education programs. SEED aims to engage youth and families of emerging populations in science and nature. Three families were examined as a case study to have an in depth investigation about their involvement in the programs sponsored by the partnership. Findings suggest a positive impact on participant feelings and engagement in science and nature. Future recommendations are made for furthering programming as well as conducting a larger scale, more comprehensive program evaluation. This research addresses prior studies that have identified several barriers toward participation of underserved audiences in informal science education programs and how the SEED partnership has addressed specific identified barriers.
Open Access
EnvironMentors: a mixed methods study of underrepresented youth pursuing environmentally focused STEM career paths
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2012) Nedland, Brock, author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Banning, James, committee member
This thesis presents two manuscripts and addresses ways in which the EnvironMentors national organization can improve in its mission to increase the numbers of underrepresented youth entering environmentally-focused science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This mixed methods study focused on specific aspects of the program including finding predictors to aid in recruiting efforts and discovering key aspects of participant's experiences that can assist in reaching the desired outcome of increasing the success of EnvironMentors' programming. Both manuscripts were guided by past research and theoretical framework. In the first paper, a regression analysis was conducted predicting/to predict student participants' interest in studying about the environment in college using three criteria: (1) enjoy nature (2) awareness of environmental issues, and (3) interest in studying science, technology, and engineering (STE) in college. Results from this research indicated that enjoy nature and interest in STE orientations can predict students' interest in studying about the environment in college. The second manuscript is a case study and comparison of two EnvironMentors chapters with similar programmatic activities and whose participants share similar demographics. Focus groups, and mid program evaluations were used and analyzed. A deductive analysis approach was utilized to look for the presence of pre-specified categories in the data. Results indicated that students from both chapters place emphasis on expectations, challenges and issues, interactions, and motivation that they experience in their mentor relationships.
Open Access
EnvironMentors: addressing the need for STEM education
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2014) Ceballos, John, author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Jennings, Louise, committee member
This study is an evaluation of the EnvironMentors program. A nationwide program, EnvironMentors seeks to boost participation in environmentally-related STEM fields through academic mentorship. Chapter one provides an overview of the issue and need for this research. In chapter two, survey data is analyzed in order to determine the importance of student demographics. In chapter three, an interpretive review of the mentor experience is explored. The final chapter provides synthesis and recommendations for EnvironMentors administrators.
Open Access
Exploring Latino and Latina anglers' motivations, constraints, and negotiation strategies for recreational fishing in Colorado to improve participation and experience
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Basto Eyzaguirre, Arianna, author; Lavoie, Anna, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Quartuch, Mike, committee member; Bombaci, Sara, committee member
This study aimed to inform efforts to improve diversity of and access to recreational fishing with a focus on Latino communities in Colorado. To fill the gap in the literature, this study to explore the motivations, constraints, and negotiation strategies of Latino(a) anglers, and how the interaction of these factors, and ethnicity and gender identity shaped their fishing participation and experience. The analysis was informed by the Outdoor Recreation Framework, and from which we adapted two leisure constraint models. Sixteen men and twelve women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Major motivations to fish were being outdoors, for relaxation, socialization, and to be role models for Latinos and women. Spending time with others was reported by participants as a motivation, constraint, and negotiation strategy, and family is prioritized when negotiating fishing versus their needs. The main constraints reported were time management and financial resources, of which participants had strategies in place to successfully negotiate them or modify plans enabling them to go fishing. However, participants experienced harassment and dismissal and felt unwelcome at fishing sites which they attributed to their Latino ethnicity. They also reported constraints impacting the broader Latino community, including immigration status, licensing barriers, and racism. While these constraints did not prevent Latinos completely from fishing, they may permanently inhibit or diminish their participation and experience. There was very little difference in factors effecting participation among genders, but constraints expressed by women, such as being dismissed, being harassed at fishing sites, or not having women role-models or teachers, were attributed to the intersection of their ethnicity and gender. Our findings unique to Latinos can inform natural resource management agency recruitment, and education and outreach efforts, and future studies focused on minoritized groups to help identify and potentially remove barriers to angling and other outdoor activities.
Open Access
Exploring the role of social identity and social media in understanding hunters' perceptions of wild pigs and their management in the U.S.
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2020) Jaebker, Lauren, author; Bright, Alan, advisor; Champ, Joseph, committee member; Shwiff, Stephanie, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document.
Open Access
Factors predicting feral swine management preferences and willingness to pay
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2016) Harper, Erin E., author; Bright, Alan, advisor; Bernasek, Alexandra, committee member; Shwiff, Stephanie, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
The population increase and spread of feral swine across the United States is of increasing concern to agricultural producers, land managers, and government. Feral swine cause extensive damage to property, carry several diseases, and are generalist that will eat anything. This study explores how aspects of the cognitive hierarchy and demographics influence management preferences and willingness to pay for management. Extension offices at Land-Grant Universities participated in a survey of limited resource farmers. The overall response rate for the offices that were able to provide such information was 46%. Statistical analysis revealed that a domination wildlife value orientation, negative attitudes toward feral swine, and income had an effect on respondents' support for all five management actions (hunting, hunting with the assistance of dogs, aerial sharpshooting, trapping and removing, and the use of poison) inquired about (p < .05). A mutualism wildlife value orientation and gender had an effect for two of the management actions (p < .05) and age had no effect on any actions. The amount farmers were willing pay for feral swine management on their lands was analyzed for two groups of farmers; those who had feral swine on their land and did not want them and those who did not have feral swine and wanted to continue to have none. Those with feral swine on their land were more willing to pay to manage feral swine. The amount farmers were willing to pay for both groups was influenced by gender, a negative attitude toward feral swine, and a domination wildlife value orientation. A mutualism wildlife value orientation also had an influence; however, income and age did not. As landowners and government agencies continue efforts to manage feral swine and mitigate the damages they cause the preferences of the landowners should be taken into account. The management actions chosen should reflect the actions supported by farmers in conjunction with cost considerations. If farmers are unwilling or unable to pay for management, then less costly yet also supported management strategies will need to be formulated.
Open Access
Group-level social influences for carnivore restoration and management
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Gonzalez, Mireille N., author; Niemiec, Rebecca, advisor; Crooks, Kevin, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member; Quartuch, Mike, committee member; Jacobson, Cynthia, committee member
In this dissertation, I conducted research on how perceptions of the group level of the social system influence individuals' perspectives and behaviors related to carnivore restoration and management (CRM) in the U.S. American West. Using the case study of gray wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction in Colorado, I explored three aspects of the group level of the social system. After nearly 80 years since their extirpation, environmental organizations advocating for wolf recovery introduced a ballot initiative (Proposition 114) that mandates Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the state wildlife agency, reintroduce wolves into Colorado by December 31st, 2023. In November 2020 Proposition 114 passed with about 51% of the votes (Colorado Election Results, 2020), marking the first ever U.S. reintroduction of an endangered species via a ballot initiative. In my first chapter, I used public survey data to explore how intragroup perceptions, or how perceptions of a group one identifies as belonging to, influenced individual and collective civic actions related to wolf reintroduction. I found that social norms influenced intended voting for Proposition 114 and plans for those individuals that opposed reintroduction to engage in collective action against reintroduction. In my second chapter, I used stakeholder interview data to examine perspectives of what would make a stakeholder engagement process, that brings together conflicting stakeholders to collaboratively build recommendations for wolf restoration and management, successful. Stakeholders expected that the process should be representative, transparent, and actively inclusive and that it should foster two-way dialogue. Additionally, to be considered successful, they believed it should achieve the social outcomes of conflict reduction, social learning, increased trust in agency, and increased support for the management plan. Lastly, in my third chapter, I used stakeholder interview data to examine how perspectives of the outgroup, or a group one does not identify as belonging to, influence social conflict about wolf reintroduction. I found that conflict was fueled by perceptions that the outgroup is unjust, misinformed, homogenous, and unmalleable. Overall, my dissertation expands our collective understanding of the multi-scalar influencers to human behavior that affect carnivore restoration and management. Based on these findings, I recommend how to develop interventions and stakeholder engagement that can help achieve desired social outcomes related to CRM objectives.
Open Access
How wildlife value orientations relate to broader cultural constructs
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) White, Wesley R., author; Manfredo, Michael, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Henry, Kim, committee member
Previous research suggests that studying human thought processes in relation to broad cultural constructs holds promise for strengthening the application of the social sciences to wildlife management and conservation, and through this paper we attempt to advance those efforts. Researchers in social and cross-cultural psychology have long studied cultural constructs, in particular tightness-looseness and individualism-collectivism, shown as powerful dividers in contrasting cultures. While it is known that cultural differences exist, the extent of the strength of variance and if these cultural elements can be systematized to make generalized predictions about effects on cognitions is not clear. The theory of wildlife value orientations (WVOs) suggests that WVOs are interlinked with cultural constructs, including broad cultural ideologies described as egalitarianism and domination, or mastery, and that they are embedded in a hierarchy of cognitions. However, explicit tests of these relationships are largely lacking. As proposed by a multilevel model applied in recent WVO research in the U.S., forces of modernization (e.g., increased wealth, education, urbanization) have changed culture via a shift in the social-ecological context, which in turn has prompted a shift from domination to mutualism WVOs. As modernization has changed discrete aspects of culture, the ideology of egalitarianism believed to underly mutualism has become more pervasive, and persons have increasingly begun to view animals relationally as non-human others and less as a resource to be mastered. It would then follow that collectivist cultures, strong in egalitarianism values, may exhibit a tendency towards holding a mutualist orientation. Similarly, as tight cultures show greater propensity to exert inward group pressure, they may also exhibit a tendency toward outward control of their environment as is seen in a domination WVO. Here, we used data collected in a pilot study during the spring of 2015, along with additional data from the 2018 America's Wildlife Values project, to investigate whether WVOs have significant correlations with collectivism and individualism and tightness and looseness. Results of this research show that, while tightness and looseness show a linkage, collectivism and individualism are not significantly related to WVOs. This discovery is notable as it informs not only how conservation and wildlife management messaging may need to be structured for greatest efficacy, but it reveals that the mode and messenger may be of equal importance. We discuss the implications of these findings for conservation, as well as additional research needs to further elucidate the connection between WVOs and broader cultural constructs.
Open Access
Integrating social and ecological predictors of human-wildlife interactions to guide conservation and management
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Lischka, Stacy A., author; Crooks, Kevin, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Johnson, Heather, committee member; Wittemyer, George, committee member
There is growing recognition that interdisciplinary approaches that account for both ecological and social processes are necessary to successfully address human-wildlife interactions. However, such approaches are hindered by challenges in aligning data types, communicating across disciplines, and applying social science information to conservation actions. My dissertation builds on emerging efforts to address these challenges by proposing a conceptual model for integration of social and ecological information to understand human-wildlife interactions, and reports empirical data which tests the impact of an experimental effort to reduce human-black bear (Ursus americanus) conflicts on tolerance for bears and residential bear-proofing behavior. The conceptual model I propose adopts a social-ecological systems approach and identifies multiple, nested levels of influence on human and animal behavior. I applied this model in an exploration of the drivers of human tolerance for black bears, an important determinant of their persistence. I measured tolerance for black bears in the vicinity of Durango, Colorado, USA and monitored changes resulting from a bear-proofing experiment designed to reduced garbage-related conflicts in the community. Residents who reported higher perceptions of benefits associated with bears and more positive impacts from interactions with them had increased tolerance. Residents who reported higher perceptions of risks, more negative impacts, higher trust in managers, domination wildlife value orientations, and older age were associated with decreased tolerance. Conflicts with bears were not an important predictor, supported by our finding that changes in conflicts resulting from our experiment did not affect tolerance. While conflicts may not affect tolerance for bears, many communities struggle to reduce conflicts in residential settings. The motivators for a key method to do so, bear-proofing of residential garbage, are poorly understood, yet information about them is key to designing successful efforts to increase this behavior. I observed use of bear-resistant containers at 383 households in 2014 and 2016 and used surveys to determine the drivers of this behavior. Most residents used bear-resistant containers irregularly (containers were locked on 44% of observations); 33% of households were never compliant across observations. I found residents increased their use of containers when rates of conflicts per residential block were higher. Further, when respondents were more trusting of the management agency and perceived more benefits from bears, they used containers less often. Approaches which integrate social and ecological information to understand and manage human-wildlife conflicts could assist conservation practitioners in reducing these conflicts and their negative outcomes for wildlife and people.
Open Access
Management strategies for multi-use recreational fisheries: coexistence of kokanee and trophy lake trout in western waters
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Pate, William M., author; Johnson, Brett, advisor; Kendall, William, committee member; Lepak, Jesse, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka are stocked in coldwater reservoirs throughout the western United States for sport fishing and they are a popular fish for both managers and anglers alike. Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush have also been introduced to many western reservoirs, partly because they can attain relatively large sizes (> 30 kg). These piscivores require a large, high quality forage base to sustain high growth rates, and kokanee can fulfill this requirement. However, where lake trout and kokanee co-occur, lake trout often grow in size and numbers and their consumptive demand increases beyond the capacity of the kokanee population to support. Consequently, kokanee abundance declines followed by precipitous declines in lake trout growth and body condition. My work focused on finding a management strategy that could produce sustainable fisheries for both in Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado, where lake trout appear to have diminished kokanee abundance. In 2009, managers began a lake trout removal program in an attempt to achieve the primary management goal of a sustainable, hatchery-dependent kokanee population and the secondary goal to provide a trophy lake trout fishery. I developed an age-structured kokanee population model using estimates of natural mortality, harvest, and predation from lake trout with a fixed annual stocking quota of kokanee fry. Age-specific estimates of natural and fishing mortality were estimated using an allometric model and creel survey, respectively. I then determined lake trout consumptive demand on the kokanee population with a bioenergetics model by estimating lake trout abundance, growth rates, diet, and energy densities of predator and prey species. Then alternative management scenarios to reduce lake trout consumptive demand were evaluated using the Fishery Analysis and Modeling Simulator parameterized for the Blue Mesa Reservoir lake trout population. After estimating the current level of lake trout removal (μ = 0.231 for age-4 through age-9), it was incrementally increased to determine the level that allowed for a stable kokanee population (μ = 0.381). The simulations suggested that removal of lake trout must be intensified if kokanee and fast-growing lake trout are to persist in Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado.
Open Access
Measuring an emotional connection to nature among children
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2013) Silvas, Daniel Villalobos, author; Bruyere, Brett, advisor; Vaske, Jerry, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member; Banning, James, committee member
There is a growing concern from scientists and others that children today are losing their connection with nature. The degree of connectedness to nature (CN) has been hypothesized to influence a person's willingness to protect it. Unfortunately, tools used to measure CN are in their infancy and have mostly been developed for adult populations instead of children where most environmental education efforts are targeted. The purpose of this dissertation was to create a reliable and valid measure of a child's emotional connection with nature and study its influence on pro-environmental behaviors. This dissertation includes three studies presented as journal articles (chapters 2-4) and begins with presentation of the theory and frameworks used as the basis for the rest of the manuscript (chapter 1). Chapter two presents the development of a reliable and valid measure of an emotional connection to nature for children. Chapter three validates the structure of the emotional connection to nature scale (ECNS) and demonstrates its predictive potential on attitudes to protect nature (ATPN) and willingness to protect nature (WTPN). Chapter four presents findings from analyses of focus groups among children describing their connection to nature. Chapter five connects these studies by discussing the significance of this work, how this work can be applied and concludes with recommendations for future research.
Open Access
Policy tools for carnivore reintroduction: lessons learned from past wolf reintroductions in the western United States
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2021) Manzolillo, Brielle Rose, author; Schultz, Courtney, advisor; Teel, Tara, committee member; Cheng, Tony, committee member
In November 2020, Colorado citizens passed a historic vote to reintroduce gray wolves to the state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the state wildlife agency, was tasked with creating management plans and policy. Wildlife managers and policy makers have the opportunity to consider different paths forward, drawing on the lessons of the past to lead to a successful wolf reintroduction program. Past reintroduction efforts in the western United States could provide valuable perspectives on the management and policy tools available to Colorado. In order to inform this process and use this opportunity to assess policy tools for addressing multi-jurisdictional conservation challenges like carnivore reintroduction, this thesis research had two primary objectives: analyze perspectives on policy tools utilized in past reintroductions, including the capacities needed for successful tool implementation; and synthesize specific suggestions and considerations for Colorado. In order to meet these objectives, I interviewed 42 individuals from state, federal and Tribal land and wildlife management agencies, and stakeholders from non-profit organizations and livestock associations. Interviewees were from past reintroduction areas of the Northern Rocky Mountains (i.e. Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) and the Southwest (i.e. New Mexico, Arizona), and Colorado. This thesis consists of four chapters: a brief introductory chapter, a second chapter that is a practitioner report of my findings, a third chapter that is an article intended for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, and a conclusion chapter. The practitioner report is a document aimed for practitioner and stakeholder audiences and provides a robust overview of findings on interviewee perspectives of a variety of management and policy strategies, along with specific recommendations for Colorado. The intent of this chapter is to provide Colorado wildlife managers and policy makers a detailed overview of our research and findings. My findings emphasize the need for collaborative processes and relationship building with stakeholders, and the flexibility to tailor strategies to local needs. The second stand-alone chapter, which will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, offers a policy design perspective on carnivore reintroduction. This chapter provides a narrower range of our findings in the context of policy design literature. Findings contribute to existing literature and emphasize the need for a mixed tool approach to management in order to address the diversity of targets and policy goals, address issues of scale, and leverage capacity. Overall, insight from this research could help to inform Colorado decision-makers on ways to move forward with planning for future wolf reintroduction. This research also contributes to the growing body of literature on using a policy design perspective to inform and analyze complex wildlife management and conservation issues. Further research is still needed to better evaluate overall effectiveness of policy tool choices and tailor specific reintroductions according to temporal and spatial scales. Future research should also be done to provide a robust stakeholder analysis for Colorado, as it is important to incorporate stakeholder perspectives into policy decisions.
Open Access
Risky photography in national parks: an examination of the role of online identity management in wildlife risk perceptions
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Evans, Caitlin, author; Abrams, Katie, advisor; Sivakumar, Gayathri, committee member; Long, Marilee, committee member; Williams, Elizabeth, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
Technology and an ever-growing online culture have created a new space to display, modify, and maintain personal identity. These spaces can often perpetuate risky behaviors offline by creating a need to share, comment, and like photographs and status updates. This need for online spaces is blurring our online and offline identities. Previous research has indicated a motivating factor for social interaction as the need for social capital. Social capital is defined by the resources we gain from our connections with others and online spaces might be creating a new space to foster and maintain these connections with others. Research has also indicated multiple types of social norms as a factors in the human decision-making process. This is true for both risk communication and environmental communication research. This research examined the relationship between online identity management and risk perceptions pertaining to approaching wildlife in national parks to take photos. It proposed a theoretical model of wildlife risk perceptions and identity that investigated relationships between online wildlife photography social norms, online social capital, online identity management, wildlife risk perceptions, wildlife risk social norms and the likelihood of taking risky wildlife photographs. Utilizing survey methodology, college students were asked a series of Likert-style question. Pearson's correlations were conducted to investigate the relationships among some of the independent variables. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the impact the independent variables (online wildlife photography social norms, wildlife risk social norms, wildlife risk perceptions, interest in online identity management, and social capital) have on the dependent variable (likelihood of taking risky wildlife photographs). Finally, a multiple linear regression with interaction effect was conducted in order to investigate a connection between wildlife risk perceptions and interest in online identity management. Participants were also asked open-ended questions in order to get a more in-depth analysis of motivating factors for risky wildlife photography. Findings indicate that social norms impact the likelihood to take risky wildlife photographs both directly and indirectly through their correlation with wildlife risk perceptions. Online social capital and social norms both influence online identity management. Wildlife risk perceptions, wildlife risk social norms, and park familiarity significantly predict the likelihood of taking risky wildlife photographs. The qualitative data indicated a difference in individual's beliefs about the risk level of certain wildlife. Risk perceptions and what influences those perceptions seem to be the factors most influential in the likelihood of taking risky wildlife photographs. Social norms, risk perceptions, and online identity play a small part in the decision to take risky wildlife photographs. Participants also seemed to think that education about wildlife or illustrating negative experiences might increase risk perceptions and cause people to think twice about getting too close to wildlife in a national park. The complicated nature of risk perceptions poses a problem when it comes to message design. Different people have different perceptions about certain types of wildlife. However, increasing awareness about the dangers of wildlife, pointing out how getting close to wildlife is dangerous for the wildlife themselves, creating social norms about behavior around wildlife all might be potential avenues that communication practitioners and park staff could use to help reduce human-wildlife interactions in parks.
Open Access
Testing a model of customer service and satisfaction of a luxury wingshooting lodge experience
(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Franks, Todd, author; Bright, Alan, advisor; Kang, Soo, committee member; O'Leary, Joseph, committee member; Teel, Tara, committee member
This paper explores the application of a customer service and satisfaction model from the outdoor recreation industry to a luxury wingshooting destination. Specifically, it investigates the possibility that domain-level satisfaction will mediate the specific relationship between customer service components and the guests' overall satisfaction with the luxury hunting lodge experience. Data were collected via quantitative self-administered surveys (n=525 completed surveys) that measured three levels of visitor satisfaction (26 individual service items, three service domains, and overall satisfaction), which were administered to guests at a luxury wingshooting destination over four South Dakota pheasant preserve hunting seasons (2017 - 2020) which run from September 1 until March 31 of the following year. This research tested the extent to which satisfaction across three domains (hunting, customer service, & facilities) mediated the influence of 26 individual service items in predicting overall satisfaction with the luxury hunting lodge experience. The 26 service items represented certain areas of satisfaction (domains), and the mediation analysis was limited to those specific domains. Results indicated that satisfaction with each of the three domains partially mediated the relationship between overall satisfaction with the luxury hunting lodge experience and the individual service items. Next, I combined all of the significant individual service items and their three satisfaction domains into one single regression model, with overall satisfaction with the luxury hunting lodge experience as the dependent variable. Of the ten significant service items and three service domains, only five variables proved to be significant, accounting for 76.8% of the explained variance in overall satisfaction with the luxury hunting lodge experience.