Human Tolerance for Scary Animals: Key Variable for Limitations on Restoration of predators into historical range
One of the key issues that has arisen over wolves and now grizzlies concerning restoration of them into their historical range involves human tolerance for animals that can represent threats to humans or their interests. An LA Times article by Louis Sahagun details how black bear population has been booming in certain areas of California and that many townspeople have welcome them back, though they have caused some damage and that some of them have been killed with or without people securing “depredation permits.” Many people go “goo goo over the bears” according to the article. Some conservation groups point to the Yellowstone example suggest that grizzlies could be restored to some areas of California to “control elk populations and increasing diversity by digging up turf…” But others state that humans would not have tolerance for such a formidable animal. The article cites researcher Peter Alagona as stating that tolerance for such bears is a “cultural” rather than “biological” issue and others state that the bears would be “dead” once they wandered into a town. Since human populations are likely to grow in areas with habitat favorable to bears, the future for restoration to historical range will grow more and more unlikely. Indeed, as populations continue to grow in areas currently inhabited by grizzlies and wolves, the major challenge will be to keep existing range of “scary predators.” The article is available at: Sahagun, Louis. (2016). A black bear boom has a California town wondering how residents would get along with grizzlies. LA times, December 23. Accessed 12/25/16 from http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bears-20161219-story.html
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During my research for the book, I noticed that there was no blog available for sharing informaton on wildlife conservation and thus I set up this blog to accomplish this purpose. Please share any informaticoncerning issues related to wildife policy and politics. I welcome feedback from users concerning this blog and website.
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