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MISSOULA – It’s easy to love a ³Ô¹ÏÍø Grizzly. But how do people feel about their four-legged, wild counterparts? Researchers from UM’s Human Dimensions Lab in the recently conducted a collaborative study with ³Ô¹ÏÍø Fish, Wildlife & Parks to better understand ³Ô¹ÏÍøns' perspectives about grizzly bears and their management.

Overall, the researchers found ³Ô¹ÏÍøns support having grizzly bears in the state – especially on remote public lands – and generally have positive attitudes toward the animals. However, ³Ô¹ÏÍøns were less likely to support grizzly presence closer to agricultural or residential areas.

To complete the survey, UM professors Alex and Libby Metcalf, doctoral student Holly Nesbitt and their FWP collaborators designed a questionnaire mailed to over 5,000 households randomly selected from across ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Between November 2019 and January 2020, 1,783 adults responded, generating a +3.5% margin of error.

Survey results show most ³Ô¹ÏÍøns view grizzlies positively, with important nuances such as wide support for some form of a hunting season.

For example, an overwhelming majority of ³Ô¹ÏÍøns (92%) agree or strongly agree that grizzly bears have a right to exist in the state, and nearly three out of five ³Ô¹ÏÍøns (57%) disagree or strongly disagree that grizzly bears limit their recreational opportunities. Still, just over one third of ³Ô¹ÏÍøns (35%) agree or strongly agree that grizzly bears do not belong where people live, and over three-quarters of ³Ô¹ÏÍøns (83%) would support at least some form of grizzly bear hunting.

FWP says the data will be used to help inform grizzly bear management in the state.

“As grizzly bear populations continue to expand across the state, ³Ô¹ÏÍøns will face choices about how to manage the overall population as well as individual animals,” Alex Metcalf said. “So, at this important point in time for both bears and people, we’re excited to help inform these choices with hard numbers on residents’ attitudes, beliefs and preferences toward grizzlies and their management.”

The Human Dimensions Lab specializes in using social science to explore connections between people and the environment.

“Many natural resource and wildlife management challenges boil down to how humans think, behave, navigate disagreements and make management decisions,” Alex Metcalf said. “In a variety of different contexts, the lab uses social science theories and methods to promote effective natural resource policies and practices.”

The lab has previously worked with FWP on other projects, such as brucellosis management around Yellowstone National Park, wolf management in ³Ô¹ÏÍø, recreational use on the Blackfoot and Bitterroot rivers, and the ³Ô¹ÏÍø State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).

“We have always viewed our collaborations with ³Ô¹ÏÍø Fish, Wildlife & Parks as an exceptional opportunity that keeps our science grounded in real-world application,” Libby Metcalf said. “Partnerships with the state allow us to connect our science to practice and to learn about the natural resource issues that impact ³Ô¹ÏÍøns.”

While the initial grizzly bear survey is complete, the lab will continue exploring the responses to provide more information for managers and the public. Nesbitt, who helped develop the survey, now is analyzing the data to understand how multiple factors intersect to drive ³Ô¹ÏÍøns’ beliefs about grizzly bear populations in the state. She’s looking at factors like risk perception, beliefs about the benefits of grizzly bears to the ecosystem, trust in FWP and attitudes toward hunting.

“This project has been really exciting to be a part of because, although there is a lot of research on grizzly bear biology in ³Ô¹ÏÍø, this survey was the first attempt to understand how people across the state perceive grizzly bears,” Nesbitt said. “This is important information for managers to have as grizzly bear populations continue to expand.”

A summary of the results and the full survey is available to read online at: .

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Contact: Alex Metcalf, assistant professor, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, 814-574-6128, alex.metcalf@umontana.edu.