By Samantha Ku, Capital News Service
LANSING–Public attitudes toward wolves are split in the Upper Peninsula, a new study finds, with more than 60% of residents surveyed favoring reducing wolf abundance, motivated mostly by worry about risks to livestock, white-tailed deer and human safety.
However, those who valued the ecological role of wolves were less likely to support cutting their numbers, according to the study, “Social and Ecological Influences on Human Coexistence with Gray Wolves,” in the journal Conservation Science and Practice.
“Perceived risks, particularly to deer, strongly influenced attitudes,” the study said.
The Wolf Conservation Center, based in New York, reported that there were at least 762 wolves in the UP in 2023.
The study recommended that the Department of Natural Resources balance public concerns with management of the state’s wolf population.
In the United States, heightened perception of risks negatively impacts people’s willingness to coexist with wolves.
“People living with wolves perceive real risks that need to be attended to,” said researcher Shawn Riley, an emeritus professor in the Michigan State University Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Riley, the lead author of the study, said those risks are to livestock, deer populations and human health and safety.
The DNR’s management plan was most recently updated in 2022, reflecting a better understanding of wolf biology.
The plan proposes multiple approaches to promote positive interactions between people and wolves. Those include public education and fostering the ecological, cultural, economic and personal benefits from maintaining sustainable wolf populations.
To address risks, the plan suggests removing direct threats to human safety and livestock.
Non-lethal options include removing things that attract wolves and using scare devices and deterrent techniques, as well as using fencing, lighting systems and livestock-guarding animals.
The plan also supports financial compensation for livestock losses caused by wolves.
Riley said balancing local concerns with the views of people in other regions can reduce political tensions.
When those surveyed understood and appreciated the role of wolves, they were less likely to support reducing their numbers, he said.
“If there are risks to deer populations relative to what is desired, a focus on habitat management for deer rather than restricting hunter opportunities is more likely to result in greater levels of acceptance for wolves,” Riley said.
Riley also said that public participation is important in areas where residents perceive the negative impact of wolves because it ensures affected communities have a voice in the decision-making process.
“They have greater say in their lives, as opposed to situations where they perceive decisions are made without consideration for the people living with wolves,” Riley said.
“I believe these findings are relevant and applicable globally in situations where wolves coexist on rural landscapes,” Riley said.
