Public Attitudes Toward Lethal Coyote Control

Abstract

Predator control policies for coyotes are expensive and often controversial. A key aspect of this controversy is the public acceptability of different methods of coyote control, because some of the most controversial control methods are also the most cost-effective. This article casts further light on public preferences regarding lethal coyote control by analyzing data from Prince Edward Island, Canada. A distinction is made between the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on acceptability of control versus the acceptability of different lethal measures, based on damage caused by coyotes and rationale for control policies. The analysis confirms that lethal coyote control is more acceptable when coyotes are causing damage and that wildlife managers can minimize public opposition to control policies by carefully choosing among alternative methods of lethal control. I am grateful to Jerry Vaske and two anonymous referees for very useful comments on earlier drafts of the article. The project was funded by UCR grant No. 1308 St. Francis Xavier University.