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My dog, my beach! Attitudes towards dog management on Victorian beaches
Abstract
Controversy surrounds domestic dog Canis familiaris access to beaches in much of the developed world, where achieving a balance between dog walking and nature conservation, and establishing reasonable compliance with regulations, appear to be highly challenging. We surveyed 434 people who take dogs onto beaches (in coastal central Victoria, Australia), to characterise their use of beaches and attitudes to regulatory controls. Four factors characterised attitudinal dimensions: (1) compliance and support for rules and regulations, (2) perceived dog behaviour and control, (3) rights of dogs and (4) value of dogs compared with wildlife. We hypothesised that residents and non-residents may differ in their attitudes toward dog walking on beaches, and this may also be influenced by their age and sex. Attitudes were broadly similar although slight differences were apparent: residents aged 35–49 years were less supportive of rules and regulations, those aged 18–24 years agreed more strongly that leashing effectively controlled dogs. Males, regardless of their age or residency status, expressed stronger beliefs that dogs were more important than wildlife. This study reveals complex demographic correlates with attitudes to dog walking on beaches, which reveals key stakeholder groups for awareness and education activities.
... The pilot improved aversion skills by 14.7%, but this decreased to 9.7% above pre-programme levels when scaled up across the city, highlighting the need to target priorities identified by audiences at the corresponding scale (Harris et al., 2021). Regulatory approaches include compliance signs where dogs are prohibited ( Figure 2a; Guinness et al., 2020;Schneider et al., 2020), or must always be on the lead (Figure 2b; Dayer et al., 2022;Forrest & St Clair, 2006;Jorgensen & Brown, 2014;Williams et al., 2009), or during specific seasons or times (e.g. breeding season for threatened beach birds; Figure 2c; Guinness et al., 2020). ...
... Regulatory approaches include compliance signs where dogs are prohibited ( Figure 2a; Guinness et al., 2020;Schneider et al., 2020), or must always be on the lead (Figure 2b; Dayer et al., 2022;Forrest & St Clair, 2006;Jorgensen & Brown, 2014;Williams et al., 2009), or during specific seasons or times (e.g. breeding season for threatened beach birds; Figure 2c; Guinness et al., 2020). The limited effectiveness of these indirect educational and regulatory approaches in reducing off-leash dog walking may be because larger areas and timeframes are resource-intensive to enforce or influence, and the complex motivations among dog walkers in nature reserves are impossible to target through broad messaging Marfell, 2023). ...
... Both dogs and people benefit deeply from being together in natural areas, and these complex value-driven motivations influence the likelihood of a dog being off the lead. The diverse motivations among dog walkers are generally understood, as are, to a lesser extent, the motivations of people who walk their dog off lead near wildlife despite regulations requiring them to be on lead Guinness et al., 2020;Williams et al., 2009). How to manage these diverse motivations, and the needs of dogs and wildlife, is less clear and needs to be incorporated into designs for more effective dog control through beneficial win-win-win solutions for wildlife, dogs and dog walkers in nature reserves. ...
Domestic dogs can have devastating impacts on threatened wildlife, but limiting their damage is challenging because it relies on changing the behaviour of people who bring dogs into natural areas and allow them to romp unrestrained.
Our study addressed the need to understand people and their behaviour when walking a dog on versus off‐leash in nature reserves protecting wildlife species such as endangered marti (bandicoot; Isoodon obesulus) in an Australian biodiversity hotspot. This research was Step 1 (Selecting behaviours) of community‐based social marketing to activate dog control behaviours that benefit dogs, people and wildlife in nature reserves. We investigated the specific target audience and behaviours through semi‐structured interviews of dog walkers within a nature reserve where dogs are legally required to be on lead, qualitative content analyses of the interview transcripts, and review of motivations and underlying values identified from this and past studies.
Our results indicate that personal motivations, the natural atmosphere and/or proximity to home, were the strongest drivers for dog walkers in visiting the reserve. Most people keep their dog on the lead at least some of the time, mainly for their dog's safety and to align with social norms.
Our findings provide insight into people's behaviours that are strongly motivated by social norms, rather than wildlife protection, in respecting dog control regulations within nature reserves.
Synthesis and applications. Land managers can use our framework to identify motivations and values among local dog walkers who keep their dog on lead. Policymakers can use our findings to better understand how community‐based social marketing can help understand dog walkers and explore the links between norms and behaviour as a powerful policy lever for people who want to walk their dog and protect wildlife in nature reserves.
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... Observed compliance with dog restrictions is low across studies (Schneider et al. Although this study was conducted during the period when signage requested owners keep dogs on a lead, 85% of owners did not comply (and 94.5% did not comply on occasion), a higher estimate than previous studies in Australia which have also found a lack of compliance with guidance for dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead (Schneider et al. 2019;Guinness et al. 2020). ...
... This is especially the case for habitat specialist species such as the European nightjar and Dartford warbler. Given that pressure exists to build more housing in countries such as the UK, and compelling evidence that compliance with dog walking regulations is at best weak (this study, Schneider et al. 2019;Guinness et al. 2020), it is vital to address these issues to find a balance between nature recreation and conservation. ...
... To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/4.0/. 2019, Guinness et al. 2020;Dowling and Weston 1999), but even low compliance with restrictions on areas of use and enforcement of leads is associated with increased chick survival (Dowling and Weston 1999). Our findings show that potential disturbance caused by dogs could be reduced with dogs being kept on a lead, and so could be an important management action in areas of significant value to nature. ...
Human population growth is associated with increased disturbance to wildlife. This effect is particularly acute in urban and periurban areas, where the area of effective disturbance extends beyond that of human presence by the roaming behaviour of pet dogs. Dogs are globally the dominant companion animal, with a population of ~ 12 million in the UK. As urban areas extend, dogs are exercised in green space close to housing. In southeast and southern England these areas include lowland heath, a habitat of high conservation value. To quantify disturbance caused by dog walkers and their dogs, we used GPS units to track the movement of people and their dogs across four lowland heath sites, used a questionnaire to ask about dog walking habits, and mapped potential areas of disturbance caused by dog walkers. Questionnaires were completed by 798 dog walkers and the walks of 162 owners and their 185 dogs were recorded. Mean (± SE) walk time was 56 ± 23 min, walk distance 3.75 ± 1.68 km and dogs were a median distance of 20 m from the owner during walks. Dogs were walked once (44%) or twice (56%) a day. Most (always: 85%; always or occasionally: 95%) dogs were walked off the lead even when signs were present requesting that dogs were kept on a lead. This resulted in up to a 21% increase in reserve area disturbed. In one reserve (Snelsmore Common), > 90% of the area was disturbed by dogs, greatly eroding its conservation value. This work highlights the importance of considering how dog ownership can exacerbate levels of disturbance in sensitive periurban habitats when housing developments are planned.
... Asimismo, el surgimiento de las denominadas "familias multiespecie" ha dado lugar al reciente desarrollo de investigaciones científicas que analizan el papel de las mascotas en el turismo y en la hostelería (Buhalis & Chan, 2023;Marmolejo-Martín et al., 2023;Meng et al., 2024), o su controvertido acceso a espacios públicos de ocio como las playas (Guinness et al., 2020). En este sentido, entre las propuestas planteadas por los usuarios de las ZEC de Granada para la creación de una ciudad más amigable con los perros, destaca la demanda de una mayor accesibilidad al transporte público, a restaurantes y a centros comerciales. ...
... En la misma línea, Booth (2017) se refiere a los parques para perros como "paisajes controvertidos" debido a la polémica y la diversidad de reacciones que generan, subrayando la importancia de realizar consultas públicas para mitigar los conflictos sociales. La literatura científica revela como otro tipo de espacios públicos dedicados a los canes, como es el caso de las playas para perros, se han convertido también en una cuestión controvertida (Guinness et al., 2020). De acuerdo con los hallazgos de estas investigaciones, para conocer la complejidad real de las percepciones asociadas a los parques caninos, será esencial llevar a cabo estudios más amplios que tengan en cuenta al conjunto de la población y no solo a los usuarios de estos espacios. ...
Dogs are the most widespread and socially accepted pet in cities all over the world. So much so that, over the last half century, more and more public spaces have been built in cities for this animal companion: this is the case of dog parks. Despite the progress that these spaces represent in the making of multi-species cities, Spanish geography has not paid attention to this growing urban phenomenon. Within this context, based on a geographical approach, this research seeks to conduct a first analysis of the social perception of the users of the dog parks in the city of Granada (Spain), which currently has 30 public spaces reserved for dogs. Through a survey, the evaluation, satisfaction and aspirations of the users of these areas will be determined in order to optimise their management and planning and to make progress in the construction of a more dog-friendly city.
The results have highlighted the high frequency of use of these spaces in the city of Granada, along with a widespread desire among users for their improvement and expansion. Despite the intense use of these public areas, participants in this study expressed a very negative evaluation of them, underscoring the urgent need for action by local authorities.
Similarly, our study shows that dog parks are perceived as meeting points and spaces for social interaction among neighbors. Therefore, it is crucial that Canine Recreation Zones (ZECs) are not conceived and planned solely as areas for dog exercise, but as key elements of urban infrastructure that contribute to social cohesion, sustainability, and the integration of animals into urban life.
The findings of this research aim to provide a more social and democratic perspective on the design, planning, and management of these spaces, as well as to support their effective inclusion in General Urban Development Plans (PGOU).
... Despite this, perhaps the most significant element of the debate that destinations may confront is determining whether dogs, either from tourists or from the local community itself, can or cannot enter beaches during the summer period and/or swimming hours. In this sense, [30] four factors that delimit the dimensions of this debate can be pointed out: first, compliance with the rules and regulations concerning this activity; second, the perception about the behavior of the dog and the control that the owner has over it; third, the rights that the rules grant to dogs; and fourth, the relationship between the rights of dogs and the necessary conservation of wild species that inhabit coastal areas. ...
... Firstly, the offer of veterinary services by the accommodation included in the rate, or having access to veterinary services close to the accommodation [25]. Secondly, the location in which these pet-friendly accommodations are located is also important, as it is necessary that there are places for pets to relax, or the possibility of entering nearby beaches, an aspect currently being debated [30]. All of these services generate trust in consumers towards the destination, which promotes this type of tourist activity. ...
Pets, generally, and dogs have become an essential part of families. This situation implies that people consider their dogs when planning family holidays, excluding moving to a second home. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of dog owners according to the demand for tourist establishments where they can stay with their pets. A total of 1391 dog owners’ surveys were collected and analyzed, and various covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) was developed to determine the suitability of the measurement model, the second-order factors, and the relationships between the different constructs. The main results of this research show that the motivations for traveling with the dog, the limitations this encounters, and, above all, the attachment that the family has with its pet significantly influence the choice of accommodation. The findings of this research will help hotel managers with the design of policies that meet the needs of families travelling with their dogs. The analysis of dog owners’ motivations for choosing tourist accommodation due to their attachment and the limitations for travelling allows us to obtain more accurate information.
... The magpie-lark response differed between on-leash and effective control prescriptions in our study. In many places, compliance with dog regulations is low, which affects avian escape responses [38,41,42]. In contrast to many dogs, our study dog was likely under a more effective control. ...
... A growing body of literature considers dogs' impact on urban wildlife populations (e.g., [41,47,52]), yet compliance to leashing laws remains low [26,38]. If dog owners understand how leash restrictions benefit wildlife, they are more likely to support them [36,42,53]. Coexistence between magpie-larks and people in parks would be enhanced by leashing dogs. ...
Controversy exists around owned dogs’ impacts in public open spaces, with concerns about dogs’ impact on wildlife, including birds. Leashing dogs in public open spaces offers a tractable way of reducing dogs’ deleterious impacts on birds. Although dogs in public spaces are often unleashed, some dogs roam freely, whilst other unleashed dogs remain close to their owners. It is currently unknown whether birds can perceive and incorporate subtle differences in the leash status of approaching, but non-roaming, dogs into their escape decisions. We compare escape responses of a common urban bird, the magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca, in parks in Melbourne, Australia, to standardized approaches by a walker and a dog, which was either leashed or not leashed (but with the dog at the same distance from the walker). Flight-initiation distances, the distance between the lark and dog when escape commenced, did not vary between treatments. However, the unleashed dog evoked more intense responses (mostly flying away) than the leashed dog (mostly walking away). Thus, this species appears to perceive unleashed dogs as especially threatening, independent of their roaming behavior. Our findings suggest that leashing may be an effective way to reduce dog disturbance to wildlife, even for non-roaming dogs.
... 25 An Australian study suggests beaches could offer a safer dog walking experience than suburban parks due to the open space and also that combining personal exercise with the needs of the dogs was a motivating factor for beach use. 26 Both of these studies called for access to more dog friendly beaches. In other Australian states such as Victoria 26 and South Australia 27 dog walking before 9 AM and after 7 PM (**exclud- The features of blue spaces also impacted on families' choice to drive or to actively commute (walk or cycle) to the beach. ...
... 26 Both of these studies called for access to more dog friendly beaches. In other Australian states such as Victoria 26 and South Australia 27 dog walking before 9 AM and after 7 PM (**exclud- The features of blue spaces also impacted on families' choice to drive or to actively commute (walk or cycle) to the beach. Active transport has many health, wellbeing, and social benefits. ...
Issue addressed:
This study examined how families with young children access and use different types of blue spaces and the health and development benefits, and potential negative effects.
Methods:
Parents(n = 25) of young children across four coastal communities in Western Australia were recruited via purposive sampling to participate in interviews. A generic qualitative study design grounded in the pragmatism paradigm was utilised.
Results:
Beaches were the most frequently used blue space for families all year around, however families did not necessarily attend their closest beach. This appears due to certain beach features making them more or less attractive for use regardless of the distance from home. Parents perceived blue spaces as health promoting due to the increased physical activity children did in and around these spaces. They also reported blue spaces could be positive for child development, contributing to the development of identity. Blue spaces were also perceived to promote children's environmental awareness and environmentally friendly behaviours. However, blue spaces could also be potentially risky environments for families with young children. CONC LUSIONS: The findings highlight blue spaces are an important setting for supporting children's health, development and environmental consciousness. SO WHAT?: It is important to protect natural outdoor environments such as blue spaces for future generations. The findings can be used by governments and policy makers to improve the quality (features and amenities) of blue spaces and positively impact how often families (including those with dogs) use blue spaces and the benefits they experience. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
... Behavioral beliefs in this context are associated with concerns that leashing does not provide dogs with sufficient exercise or is frustrating for owners who want to walk without being pulled or dragged by their dog, that one's own dog does not pose a risk, and concerns about their dog's comfort or safety in over-crowded off-leash areas (Bowes et al., 2017;Jungbluth & Curtis, 2018;Williams et al., 2009). Dog owners perceive natural areas as being attractive locations because they are spaces that dogs can run freely and may be safer than more urban areas (e.g., there are no cars and fewer dogs; Comber & Dayer, 2022;Guinness et al., 2020). Although owners may perceive that dogs can negatively impact wildlife, this perception may not be linked with leashing behaviors. ...
... Managers should also consider demographic variables associated with noncompliance for the purposes of tailored messaging for segmented audiences. Other studies have identified demographic predictors, including that men are less likely to comply with dog regulations (Guinness et al., 2020;Wells, 2006). We found that this was the case at other natural areas (e.g., bushland) only, not at waterbody type or urban areas. ...
Encouraging compliance with dog leashing regulations in natural areas is a priority for land managers seeking to protect wildlife. We surveyed residents of Victoria, Australia, to document self-reported leashing behavior by dog owners in different habitat types, exploring demographic, attitudinal, and belief variables as predictors of compliance. We found support for leashing regulations among dog owners (n = 313) and those without dogs (n = 711), but generally low reported compliance by owners. Social norms about leashing predicted leashing at all areas, and habits (i.e., leashing where leashing was not regulated) predicted compliance with regulations. Older age and beliefs about wildlife protection predicted compliance in water-based areas (e.g., beaches, wetlands) and beliefs that off-leash roaming is beneficial to dogs predicted compliance in other natural areas (e.g., hiking trails). Exploring these context-based differences allows managers to identify and understand target groups to design tailored messaging and other behavior change interventions.
... Using WERS data to mitigate threats to wildlife will be more successful in combination with surveys aimed at understanding the public's values, believes and attitudes towards wildlife and wildlife management. This kind of surveys have allowed the identification of public support for management (e.g., pet containment or leashing) and need for education around the impact of human activities on wildlife in Australia and elsewhere [17,[60][61][62][63][64]. ...
Our transformation of global environments into human-dominated landscapes has important consequences for wildlife. Globally, wildlife is interacting with humans or impacted by human activities, which often results in negative outcomes such as population declines, disruption of social bonds, biodiversity loss, imperilment of threatened species, and harm to individual animals. Human and non-human threats to wildlife can be challenging to quantify and tend to be poorly understood especially over large spatial scales and in urban environments. The extent to which such damage is mitigated by reactive approaches (e.g., wildlife rescue) is also not well understood. We used data from the main state-based Wildlife Emergency Response Services (WERS) in Victoria, Australia to address these issues. The data, which describe tens of thousands of cases of threats to wildlife annually over a ten-year period, allowed a detailed characterisation of the type and extent of threats in the state. We identified the main common and threatened species impacted by various threats and showed that the vast majority of them were anthropogenic (e.g., vehicle collisions, cat attacks, and entanglements). The extent to which different taxonomic groups and species were impacted by various threats differed and threats were dependent on locations. The Greater Melbourne area was identified as a hotspot for threats to wildlife. The WERS was able to source service providers for thousands of animals annually, facilitating their assessment, release into the wild and rehabilitation. However, every year, thousands of animals died or were euthanased and thousands more were left unattended. WERS case reports are increasing and there is a growing service–demand gap. Whilst studies reporting on the demand and response of WERS are rare, situations in other parts of Australia and the world might be similar. This highlights the urgent need to understand and mitigate human and non-human threats to wildlife, particularly in urban environments, where the rate of biodiversity loss is high. We discuss opportunities and barriers to doing so.
... However, there was a divide in the perception of the behaviour of dog owners, with non-owners less likely to believe that dog owners were considerate. This aligns with research that dog owners tend to prioritise their dog's safety and wellbeing over other groups [53,55,145]. As people tend to believe that the law aligns with what they think it should be [146], and research suggests knowledge of dog law is low [99], different populations could be behaving in ways they incorrectly think is following the law, and thus potentially creating conflict [22]. ...
Dogs and humans have shared a complex relationship throughout history, with law serving as an important tool to manage dogs’ integration into human societies. As dogs increasingly become regarded as family members in Western countries, and as similar trends emerge globally, it is vital to understand how legislation balances the interests of stakeholders. Existing studies often focus on localised disputes and fragmented legal areas, limiting understanding of how dog-related laws interact and potentially conflict. We developed a conceptual framework to systematically analyse dog-related legislation, using the United Kingdom as a case study. Identified through a systematic search, laws were evaluated using content analysis based on the benefits provided to stakeholders, the regulated aspects of dog ownership, and whether benefits afforded to stakeholders occur in public or private spaces. We found that the greatest legislative focus was on dog welfare, dangerous dogs, and dog control, with little emphasis on areas like the breeding and sale of dogs. Eighty-two percent of laws that manage dogs in public space predominantly benefit the general public, often disadvantaging dogs and their owners, while 81% of laws that govern dogs within the home favour dogs. Owners consistently face legal obligations, but gain few benefits. These findings highlight misalignments between the law and dogs’ evolving societal roles, potentially contributing to public space conflicts and low compliance. The framework offers a tool for cross-country comparisons and assessing legislation for other species with similarly shifting roles.
... Sin embargo, quizá el mayor elemento de debate con el que se encuentran los destinos es determinar si las mascotas, bien sean de los turistas bien sean de la propia comunidad local, pueden o no entrar en las playas durante el periodo estival y/o las horas de baño. En este sentido, Guinness et al. (2020) señalan cuatros factores que definen las dimensiones de este debate: primero, el cumplimiento de las normas y de los reglamentos que regulan esta actividad; segundo, la percepción del comportamiento y del control que se tenga sobre el perro; tercero, los derechos de los perros; y cuarto, la relación entre los derechos de los perros y la necesaria conservación de las especies salvajes que habitan en las zonas costeras. ...
Pets in general, and dogs in particular, have become an important part of families and their holiday planning. This research presents the results of a survey of dog owners in Spain to find out their perceptions of the possibility of travelling with their pets. The main practical application of this research lies in presenting a series of results that can be useful for destinations that aim to attract this type of tourist to define their places as "dog friendly".
Las mascotas en general, y los perros en particular, se han convertido en una parte importante de las familias y de su planificación de las vacaciones. En esta investigación se presentan los resultados de una investigación realizada a propietarios de perros en España para conocer sus percepciones en relación con la posibilidad de viajar con sus mascotas. La principal aplicación práctica de esta investigación radica en presentar una serie de resultados que pueden ser útiles para que los destinos que pretendan atraer a esta tipología de turistas puedan definir sus lugares como “dog friendly”.
... Whereas to date no studies have applied a CBSM approach to explore how to effectively promote leashing on beaches, some studies (e.g., Bowes et al., 2017;Guinness et al., 2020;Westgarth et al., 2010;Williams et al., 2009) have examined benefits and constraints to leashing dogs on beaches (without necessarily using those terms). This research has typically been conducted through qualitative interviews (e.g., Westgarth et al., 2017), focus groups (e.g., Cutt et al., 2008), or observational research (e.g., Rezac et al., 2011). ...
Dog walking can disturb shorebirds. To inform disturbance reduction campaigns, we conducted a survey of dog walkers in Maine, New York, and South Carolina to understand beach recreationists’ attitudes about the benefits and constraints of voluntarily leashing dogs on beaches and their social and personal norms related to leashing. Common perceived constraints to leashing included perceptions about reducing socialization for dogs, reducing exercise for dogs, and dogs listening to owners’ commands. Common perceived benefits to leashing included perceptions about preventing dogs from running into areas for beach-nesting birds, increased safety for dogs, increased control by dog walkers, and keeping dogs away from other people. Benefits, location (i.e., state), and norms were strong predictors of the leashing frequency near beach-nesting birds. We discuss behavior change strategies to leverage social norms, decrease the constraints, and increase the benefits of voluntarily leashing dogs near shorebirds.
... Whereas to date no studies have applied a CBSM approach to explore how to effectively promote leashing on beaches, some studies (e.g., Bowes et al., 2017;Guinness et al., 2020;Westgarth et al., 2010;Williams et al., 2009) have examined benefits and constraints to leashing dogs on beaches (without necessarily using those terms). This research has typically been conducted through qualitative interviews (e.g., Westgarth et al., 2017), focus groups (e.g., Cutt et al., 2008), or observational research (e.g., Rezac et al., 2011). ...
... goals affect the interests of smaller groups with different interests: dog owners and other city dwellers who are not related to the owners(Guinness et al., 2020). At the same time, goals can be both utilitarian and healthful(Brown & Jensen, 2020;O'Neal et al., 2020), psychological (McConnell et al., 2019Wenden et al., 2021), educational(Eli & Changmin, 2014), the communicative(Douglas et al., 1991) aspect of social interactions. ...
... Although the potential negative impacts of dogs on wildlife are both great and clear, there are also studies indicating that these impacts may sometimes be minor or insignificant relative to other factors that underpin conservation concern. Furthermore, there are strong belief systems regarding how dogs should behave and be managed, with associated low compliance levels with regulations designed to hinder the impacts of dogs (Villatoro et al. 2019;Guinness et al. 2020;Schneider et al. 2020). As a result, dog management must be locally tailored to account for the true risk dogs represent and the extent to which local inhabitants are willing to manage dogs. ...
Synopsis
The interactions of dogs and wildlife are receiving increasing attention across the globe. Evidence suggests that dogs can negatively affect wildlife in a variety of ways, including through the risk of predation, by hybridizing with other Canis species, by acting as a reservoir or vector of pathogens, and by competing with wildlife for resources. A multitude of observations and case studies for each of these interactions has led to calls to prioritize increased management of dogs, for instance, through population reduction, vaccination, movement restrictions, and enhanced care of the dogs themselves. Here, I argue that while the risks that dogs present to wildlife are real, they vary in their importance across the globe. Furthermore, often the approaches used to address these risks are championed without a full understanding of the likelihood of success given the necessary spatial scale of management, the availability of alternative management approaches, and the role dogs play in societies. For instance, culling, vaccination, and animal husbandry approaches in reducing the impacts of dogs on wildlife sometimes fail to recognize that local human populations actively recruit replacement dogs, that vaccination often fails to reach levels necessary for herd immunity, and that enhanced dog husbandry may have indirect impacts on wildlife by requiring environmentally impactful activities. I suggest there is a need for attention not only to identify the impacts of dogs but also to determine where and when such interactions with wildlife are problematic and the likelihood of success for any proposed management approach. The impacts of dogs should be mediated in a context-specific manner that accounts for factors such as the local density of dogs, the susceptibility of local wildlife populations to the risks that dog populations may represent, and the local societal norms that underpin how dogs might be managed.
... When few or no people were present, we rarely detected dogs, and the number of dogs and people was positively associated. This association suggests that an important proportion of dogs may be owned by the visitors and taken to the beach as part of recreational activities [21]. Supporting this assumption, more than half of the dogs detected were supervised or partially supervised, while only 13% corresponded to animals on a leash, similar to previous reports in an urban area of central Chile (16.8%, [41]). ...
Simple Summary
The presence of dogs on sandy beaches is a concern when it comes to protecting the breeding and migratory stop-over sites of shorebirds. To manage this threat, it is necessary to understand the factors that explain the presence of dogs at sandy beaches. To address this, we conducted a study in southern Chile where we surveyed dogs and their tracks at 14 beaches. Dogs were present on all of them, and we found that their abundance was higher when more people were on the beach and at beaches surrounded by more houses. Furthermore, we detected that, given the opportunity, dogs frequently harassed whimbrels, a long-distance migratory shorebird. Dogs at beaches were often not supervised, and only 13% were on a leash. Although our study shows the association between dogs and people, it identifies that this relationship is not simply one of dogs and their owners; instead, it is free-ranging dogs that are associated with beach-goers and human settlements. Therefore, we suggest that to reduce dog harassment of shorebirds, it is fundamental to reduce the number of unsupervised and unleashed dogs at beaches.
Abstract
Dogs on sandy beaches are a threat to shorebirds. Managing this problem requires understanding the factors that influence the abundance of dogs in these ecosystems. We aimed to determine the proportion of beaches used by dogs and the effects of human presence on dog abundance on sandy beaches of southern Chile. We conducted dog counts and recorded the presence of tracks on 14 beaches. We used zero-inflated generalized linear mixed models to determine if the number of people, number of households, and other covariates were associated with dog abundance. We detected dog tracks on all the beaches, and dog sightings on most of them. Dogs were frequently not supervised (45%) and only 13% of them were leashed. The number of people on the beach and the number of houses near the beach were positively associated with the number of dogs on beaches. Finally, when dogs co-occurred with whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), the probability of dog harassment was high (59%). Our work reveals that human presence determines the abundance of dogs on sandy beaches. Therefore, our study suggests that any strategy aiming at reducing dog harassment of shorebirds requires changes in those human behaviors that favor the presence of free-ranging dogs at beaches.
Off-leash dog parks may enhance human health, but may also lead to health risk through infection or canine aggression. Published evidence was reviewed to examine positive and negative public health impacts of off-leash dog parks, as well as strategies for enhancing benefits and mitigating risks. Evidence suggests that off-leash dog parks can benefit physical and social health, as well as community connectedness. While studies have documented shedding of zoonotic agents in dog parks, the risk of transmission to humans is relatively unknown. Evidence on the risk of dog bites in off-leash dog parks is also limited. Case-examples from North American off-leash dog parks highlight the importance of park location/design, public adherence to safe and hygienic practices, and effective regulatory strategies for mitigating potential risks and maximizing the benefits of off-leash dog parks.
Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) shape attitudes and behavior toward wildlife. Although demographic correlates of WVOs are well established, these relationships are largely unknown among children and within family units. The only previous study addressing these topics used fathers’ perceptions as proxies for family member WVOs. We surveyed North Carolina households (n = 136) to test hypotheses regarding whether individuals can assess household WVOs and what variables shape WVOs within households. Fathers and mothers accurately assessed WVOs of their children. Membership in a household was the most important predictor of an individual’s WVOs (accounting for 37% [ρ = .37] of the variance predicted by the model). Younger age, being female, and lack of participation in hunting were associated with more protectionist WVOs. These results provide the first household level support for divergence between generations from utilitarian toward protectionist WVOs. Our results suggest that household unit may be a critical element to consider in WVO research.
The relationships between people and wild canids are a widespread concern for the conservation of species and habitats. The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus is a Near Threatened species inhabiting South America. Strategies to conserve this keystone species may benefit the also-declining Cerrado biome. The attitudes of teenagers toward wild carnivores are also of worldwide interest as these youth are the future decision makers. We investigated selected attitudes, beliefs and knowledge in relation to the maned wolf of two age groups (12-13 and 16-17), using questionnaires delivered in three urban areas of the São Paulo state, a region highly populated and rich in biodiversity and endemism. Responses were analysed according to age groups, gender, location and experiences concerning the maned wolf. Results suggest that positive attitudes declined with age; gender has very little effect on attitudes; seeing the maned wolf in nature and zoos may increase support for the conservation and may facilitate learning about the species, while identification with some maned wolf attributes amongst older teens in the most urbanised areas may foster sympathy toward the species. Conservation strategies and environmental education can help to provide early positive experiences of contact with the maned wolf and the Cerrado, especially if they are tailored to address the variation we found in attitudes between different age groups.
Hurricane Sandy resulted in massive destruction of many coastal ecological and human communities in the Northeastern United States in 2012. Beach-nesting and migrating birds are vulnerable to loss of essential habitat as a result of storms. In this paper we report the perceptions of beach users about avian use of the beaches, conservation measures to protect birds, and recent restoration efforts at Stone Harbor Point (New Jersey) to provide beach habitat for birds. Nearly all the visitors to the beach were Caucasian (N = 555), and reported their activity as walking (93 %), birding (19 %), biking (7 %), and lounging, boating, fishing or photographing (5 % or less for each). Visitors mainly came to this beach because of aesthetics, exercise, and vacation or to visit friends. Subjects rated protecting endangered species and the environment, restoring the beach, and designating off-limit areas to protect birds the highest. They rated conservation measures for birds the highest, and allowing dogs on the beach and providing more opportunities for jogging the lowest. The results suggest that protecting endangered species and habitat for nesting birds is a slightly higher goal than restoring dunes and marshes for flood control, which provides evidence for public support of restoration projects that protect both ecological and human communities. Providing more space for their own recreational activities was rated much lower, again supporting community good over personal uses. This information supports the restoration efforts following Sandy, and the importance of restoration projects that integrate ecological and human health goals in urban environments.
This study examines the phenomenon of surf localism among local Costa Rican and foreign resident surfers in Pavones, Costa Rica, a well-known surf break considered the second longest left-breaking wave in the world. A multidisciplinary territoriality framework is used to explore the ways in which surfers expressed ownership, defined boundaries and regulated behavior in the surf break. Using an ethnographic approach, the first author engaged in participant observation in the surf and the community. She also conducted interviews with Costa Rican residents, resident foreigners and tourists. The findings indicate a number of differences between Costa Rican surfers and resident foreigners with regard to ownership, boundary definition and regulating behavior. Costa Rican surfers felt a greater sense of ownership for the surf break, but were less likely to start verbal or physical conflicts with other surfers than resident foreigners. Resident foreigners indicated feeling a right to the surf break, more so than ownership, and were more likely to verbally confront tourists who were not following surf etiquette. There was also evidence of a cyclical pattern of localism. Many participants blamed conflicts between surfers on increased crowding. The results also highlight the importance of constant destination monitoring in order to ensure a positive surfing experience for Costa Ricans, foreigners and tourists in a community highly reliant on surf tourism income.
This article examined value orientations toward wildlife among the adult general Danish public in relation to age, sex, past and present residence, education, and income, using a U.S. survey instrument on Wildlife Value Orientations (WVO). The study used an Internet-based questionnaire sent to a representative sample of the Danish public in 2012 (n = 1,001). As predicted, there was a predominance of mutualists and a large segment of distanced individuals. Sex was the only variable shown to have a pronounced effect on WVO, with females being more mutualist-oriented than males. Information about the general public’s WVO can be used to check against the orientation of other specific groups such as landowners and hunters. It can also prove useful for developing specific hunting and wildlife policies such as certification of wildlife managers.
Sandy beaches represent typical venues for recreation
and tourism worldwide, as well as part of the lifestyle and
identity of coastal communities. Their overexploitation,
however, threatens their survival. Especially in urban
areas, beach management requires balancing needs by different
users and obligations to protect beach functions,
including conservation. In light of this, research about
the human dimension of beach ecosystems has been advanced
as a way to assist planning and decision making in
beach management. This study assessed beachgoers' perceptions
of sandy beach conditions in South Africa, by
means of a questionnaire survey. The effects of demographic
profile, travelling habits, motivations to visit, and
recreational preferences on beachgoers' perceptions of
beach conditions were tested. Beachgoers shared a general
concern for the wellbeing of sandy beaches, with particular
reference to the state of biodiversity and conservation.
They also gave great importance to the values underlying
beach ecosystems. Three motivations to visit groups and
four recreational preferences types were identified. Demography,
travelling habits, motivations to visit, and recreational
preferences all influenced perceptions of beach conditions.
We surveyed 579 recreationists regarding management of the threatened, beach-dwelling Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis. We postulated that: (1) lower awareness of the species and higher ‘inconvenience’ of management would engender less favourable perceptions of conservation and management; and (2) that frequency of beach use and dog ownership may mediate perceptions and levels of awareness and inconvenience. Overall, inconvenience was low while awareness and support for plover conservation were high. Education and awareness strategies were considered less effective than regulations; exclusion and regulations were considered less desirable than on-ground protective measures. Awareness, frequency of beach use and dog walking did not influence the perceived effectiveness of different managements. More frequent beach users had greater awareness of the species and their plight but reported greater inconvenience associated with management. Respondents with high awareness rated the severity of human-related threats higher; low awareness was associated with more inconvenience associated with on-ground protection, and exclusion and regulations. Dog walkers reported more inconvenience associated with exclusions and regulations than non-dog walkers. Dog walkers who used the beach infrequently rated threats significantly higher than frequent beach users. Conservation and education strategies could usefully be tailored to beach users’ level of use and pet ownership.
Aiming to help municipalities develop effective education and outreach campaigns to reduce stormwater pollutants, such as pet waste, this study applied the Health Belief Model (HBM) to identify perceptions of dog waste and corresponding collection behaviors from dog owners living in a small U.S. city. Results of 455 online survey responses strongly support the HBM, a well-established health communication theory, and provide evidence for helping municipalities develop dog waste reduction campaigns. These findings guide dog waste behavior change campaign strategies discussed at the end of the article, and point to HBM's potential application to other environmental issues.
This paper presents the characteristics of tourism development at Lake Balaton, Hungary, with special emphasis on the physical environment, and discusses how the residents' and the tourists' perceptions of the physical impacts of tourism development affect the sustainability of tourism in the region. The methodology used to gather information on tourism's physical impacts included structured interviews with residents and tourists, unstructured interviews with the representatives of the tourist industry, a Delphi survey and a Tourism Impact Matrix. The research shows that due to the characteristics of tourism development in the region, only a certain form of mass tourism can be sustained, though in a better managed way. Both residents and tourists perceived both positive and negative impacts of tourism development – economic benefits being considered as the most significant impacts of tourism by residents. Even though local people could also identify unfavourable impacts of tourism, the support for the expansion of the tourism industry was strong. Thus regional organisations have to deal with managing the impacts of tourism and changing the local population's short-term approach at the same time.
Domesticated dogs threaten the conservation of beach-nesting birds in Australia through disturbance, and destruction of eggs and chicks. Leashing of dogs can improve conservation outcomes, but few dogs are leashed on beaches. We surveyed dog owners to explore their sense of obligation to leash dogs on beaches. Dog owners were more likely to feel obliged to leash their dog when they believed other people expected dogs to be leashed, and when they believed their dog was a threat to wildlife or people. Dog owners were less likely to feel obliged to leash their dog if they considered unleashed dog recreation to be important. Improved compliance may be achieved through community-based approaches to foster social norms for dog control, tailoring information products to emphasize the risk that all unleashed dogs may pose to beach-nesting birds and raising awareness of designated off-leash exercise dog recreation areas.
Summary Mornington Peninsula National Park, Victoria, Australia, is heavily used by recreationists. It also holds a breeding population of the Hooded Plover Thinornis rubricollis, a rare endemic shorebird. We monitored the population of plovers over seven breeding seasons, 1991–1998. Mortality of nests (about 60%), and of chicks (over 70%) was high, but preliminary data suggests mortality was low in juveniles. The major cause of mortality of nests was trampling by people. The causes of mortality in chicks is unknown, but mortality was age dependent, and was highest in the youngest chicks. A combination of management techniques that have been phased into operation over the seven years of the study appear to be increasing the reproductive success of the population.
This paper presents the findings from one aspect of a study which was prompted by a limited understanding of people's values and knowledge ofwildlife in Victoria, Australia. This paper specifically focuses on the values and knowledge of wildlife held by males and females, and compares these with how Victorian wildlife managers perceive these groups. The different values and knowledge held by males and females were also explored in different types of Victorian communities, including urban, rural and urban‐rural fringe locations. In‐depth interviews (n=15) were used to explore wildlife managers’ perceptions of the differences between male and female values of wildlife, while postal questionnaires (n = 639) were used to explore the actual differences between male and female values and knowledge of wildlife in seven different geographic locations. Most wildlife managers believed that males and females would value wildlife differently, however, several did not believe that there would be any notable differences. Questionnaire data showed that males and females in Victoria do hold different values of wildlife and have different levels of factual knowledge of wildlife. Differences were shown to be more pronounced in certain types of communities, highlighting the complexity of this demographic influence.
Promoting recreation and preserving wildlife are often dual missions for land managers, yet recreation may impact wildlife.
Because individual disturbances are seemingly inconsequential, it is difficult to convince the public that there is a conservation
value to restricting recreation to reduce disturbance. We studied threatened western snowy plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) at a public beach (Sands Beach, Coal Oil Point Reserve) in Santa Barbara, California (USA) before and during a period when
a barrier directed foot traffic away from a section of upper beach where snowy plovers roost. The barrier reduced disturbance
rates by more than half. Snowy plovers increased in abundance (throughout the season) and their distribution contracted to
within the protected area. Snowy plovers that were outside the protected area in the morning moved inside as people began
using the beach. Experiments with quail eggs indicated an 8% daily risk of nest trampling outside the protected area. Before
protection, plovers did not breed at Coal Oil Point. During protection, snowy plovers bred in increasing numbers each year
and had high success at fledging young. These results demonstrate how recreational disturbance can degrade habitat for shorebirds
and that protecting quality habitat may have large benefits for wildlife and small impacts to recreation.
It is now well established that men and women often differ significantly in their attitudes and responses to workplace situations, challenges and policies. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of gender on perceptions and priorities held by Australasian wildlife managers. Data were collected via a questionnaire distributed during December 2002 – February 2003 to members of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) and registrants of the 2002 AWMS annual conference. The results show that there are now significantly more female AWMS members than there were in the early 1990s, a possible indication of a change in the wider wildlife management profession in Australasia. Consistent with previous research, male respondents held different views from female respondents about wildlife and wildlife management. In particular, male respondents were significantly more likely to express the ‘management/consumptive use of wildlife’ perspective than female respondents. Interestingly, this gap was observed only in the 18–30-year age category. The paper examines what these differences might mean for the future of wildlife management in Australasia.
Sandy beaches are the prime sites for human recreation and underpin many coastal economies and developments. In many coastal areas worldwide, beach recreation relies on the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) driven on the shore. Yet, the use of ORVs is not universally embraced due to social conflicts with other beach user groups and putative environmental consequences of vehicle traffic on sandy shores. Such ecological impacts of ORVs are, however, poorly understood for endobenthic invertebrates of the intertidal zone seawards of the dunes. Consequently, this study quantified the degree to which assemblages of intertidal beach invertebrates are affected by traffic. The study design comprised a series of temporally replicated spatial contrasts between two reference sites (no ORVs) and two beaches with heavy ORV traffic (in excess of 250,000 vehicles per year) located in SouthEast Queensland, Australia. Macrobenthic assemblages on ORV-impacted beaches had significantly fewer species at substantially reduced densities, resulting in marked shifts in community composition and structure. These shifts were particularly strong on the middle and upper shore where vehicle traffic was concentrated. Strong effects of ORVs were detectable in all seasons, but increased towards the summer months as a result of heavier traffic volumes. This study provides clear evidence that ORVs can have substantial impacts on sandy beach invertebrates that are manifested throughout the whole community. Demonstrating such an ecological impact caused by a single type of human use poses a formidable challenge to management, which needs to develop multi-faceted approaches to balance environmental, social, cultural, and economic arguments in the use of sandy shores, including management of "beach traffic."
The management of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in natural areas is controversial and more effective policy and management is required. We examine the occurrence and space use by dogs on southern Australian sandy beaches in different dog-leashing zones. We observed the people and dogs, and compliance with regulations. GPS loggers determined the space use by dogs (n = 161). Existing dog-leashing zones had no influence on the space use by dogs, and this related to poor compliance with dog-leashing rules (69.7% of 188 dogs observed at “on-leash” beaches were “off-leash”). Dogs moved up to 33 km, at maximum speeds of up to 19 km h⁻¹, during beach visits. Larger dogs occupied slightly more space. Overall, off-leash dogs were frequent regardless of prevailing dog-leashing regulations and these did not constrain the space use by dogs. Current regulations appear ineffective, and alternatives such as “no-dog” zones to replace “leash-only” zones warrant investigation.
In many countries domesticated dogs occur abundantly on coasts, where they may co-occur with and pose a threat to coastal wildlife such as threatened shorebirds. Dogs on beaches fit the ecological definition of invasive species. The management of dogs on coasts is controversial, with polarised debate surrounding dog access to public open spaces, and questions around the effectiveness of prevailing dog management regulations. We examined the levels of compliance with dog regulations (3516 checks, 69 ocean beaches) under six prevailing management regimes in Victoria, Australia. Compliance was low to moderate across all dog management ‘types’, but varied significantly. The highest compliance rates were associated with ‘no dog’ areas. Despite poor overall compliance, dog regulations appeared to be associated with different rates of occurrence and relative abundances of dogs, suggesting either they effectively displaced dog walkers or that dog area designations reflect usage patterns, or both.
Off-road vehicles (ORVs) on sandy beaches are highly controversial; they cause ecological harm, but at the same time are popular recreational tools. This juxtaposition constitutes a wicked problem in coastal management. Advancing solutions to this problem will require information on what motivates beach driving and what form it takes. To this end, we tracked off-road vehicles and explored the range of motives and purposes of drivers in the southeastern part of South Australia. Four user groups were evident based on self-reported beach activities: General Recreation (REC), Fishing (FISH), Water-based Recreation (WATER) and Off-road Driving (ORD). Overall, drivers emphasized motivations related to experiencing quiet and remote coastal landscapes, with less emphasis on experiencing wildlife or the capacity to carry equipment or pets. Levels of 'escapism and ex-ploration' were higher for ORD, moderate and similar for REC and FISH, and lowest for WATER. Levels of 'experience and opportunity' differed between all user groups, being highest for ORD, FISH, REC then WATER. ORD were more likely to make one-way beach trips. There was no difference in track length (km) amongst user groups (means, 3.45-5.21 km). However, the speed of ORD (including stops) was almost double that of other recreational groups (highest speed recorded, 140 kph), and these drivers are estimated to cause wildlife disturbance on 70% of the area of the beaches on which they drove. Those visiting the beach with the express purpose of driving are therefore predicted to cause the most widespread ecological disturbance. The motivations that primarily relate to psychological well-being (i.e. escape) and adventure (i.e. exploration) compared with much less importance being placed on habitats and wildlife poses significant challenges to conservation of beach ecosystems subjected to vehicle traffic. Further research could identify sections of beaches less attractive to drivers and yet important for wildlife, thereby creating conservation areas that could be protected at lower socioeconomic costs whilst providing some refuge for beach-dwelling wildlife.
This article examines the perceptions of individuals toward protecting animals from hunting. Researchers surveyed 825 U.S. residents in an online survey about their views of whether 17 species of mammals should be protected from hunting. Over 85% of respondents believed elephant, white rhino, black rhino, hippo, leopard, lion, and polar bear species should be protected from hunting. Conversely, only 55% of respondents believed mountain lion and coyote should be protected. Cross tabulations and logit analysis were employed to explore relationships between believing an animal species should be protected from hunting and demographics. Older and female respondents more often agreed that species should be protected from hunting. Those who hunted or knew a hunter less frequently agreed that the species surveyed should be protected from hunting. Demographics and previous exposure to hunting appear to influence beliefs about what species should be protected from hunting.
Although the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is a ubiquitous exotic predator that can detrimentally affect natural environments, studies on their ecological impact are relatively scarce, particularly at a national scale. We exploited data derived from Polish Hunting Association reports to provide a national evaluation of rural free-ranging dogs in Poland. Our results demonstrate that free-ranging dogs are widespread and abundant, frequently killing wildlife and livestock in Poland and likely exerting intraguild competition with native carnivores such as grey wolves (Canis lupus). On average, hunting club records estimate that over 138,000 rural free-ranging dogs occurred annually in hunting grounds. In addition, nearly 3000 free-ranging greyhounds and their mixed breeds occurred annually on hunting grounds, although greyhound hunting has been banned in Poland and they are legally required to be restrained within fencing. On average, over 33,000 wild animals and 280 livestock were killed by free-ranging dogs on Polish hunting grounds annually. The number of both wild animals and livestock killed by dogs were strongly and positively correlated with the numbers of rural free-ranging dogs recorded on hunting grounds, reflective of their predation pressure. Also, the number of wild animals killed by dogs was positively correlated with estimates of population sizes and harvest levels of wildlife, reflective of prey availability. Dog preda-tion, in conjunction with harvest by humans, may cause unsustainable off-take rates of some game species. Grey wolves, documented within 39 of the 49 Hunting Districts, ate similar prey as dogs, including ungulates and livestock , and killed dogs on hunting grounds, suggesting both resource and interference competition between these sympatric canids. This comprehensive analysis provides important information about the ecological impact of free-ranging dogs and recommendations for alternative legislative and management measures to control their impacts.
Pet ownership affects engagement with animal-related activities and may be related to support of wildlife management. British participants (N = 220) completed an online survey providing information on pet ownership, attitudes toward pets, and support for wildlife management strategies. Within this sample, pet owners and individuals with positive attitudes toward pets were less supportive of strategies that put human needs before the needs of wildlife, more supportive of strategies attempting to avoid species extinctions, and opposed to strategies requiring compromises of individual species. Pet owners’ affectionate attitudes toward animals and opposition to their exploitation may be important in dictating attitudes toward wildlife. Conservation planners could apply these findings when seeking support for management strategies that constrain freedoms of pets and wildlife. Utilizing the sympathetic attitudes of pet owners toward animals by focusing on welfare and survival benefits for wildlife species may help foster support for management strategies.
This study examined Greater Melbourne residents’ perspectives toward orangutan conservation through a mixed mode survey method, using postal surveys (N = 108, response rate = 11.8%) and telephone interviews (N = 50, response rate = 51%). Differences were found between knowledge levels about orangutans, attitudes towards orangutans and behavioural intentions. It appears probable that when an individual is educated about how human beings impact orangutans and holds positive attitudes towards them, most would try to reduce their impact.
This chapter studies the role of dogs as agents of disturbance in the wildlife, which causes disruption of normal activities and states of other species. It acknowledges the need for information regarding the disturbance caused by unaccompanied dogs. It also considers the possible factors that influence the wildlife disturbance by dogs.
Most programs to foster sustainable behavior continue to be based upon models of behavior change that psychological research has found to be limited. Although psychology has much to contribute to the design of effective programs to foster sustainable behavior, little attention has been paid to ensuring that psychological knowledge is accessible to those who design environmental programs. This article presents a process. community-based social marketing, that attempts to make psychological knowledge relevant and accessible to these individuals. Further, it provides two case studies in which program planners have utilized this approach to deliver their initiatives. Finally, it reflects on the obstacles that exist to incorporating psychological expertise into programs to promote sustainable behavior.
Disturbance - the response of birds to a stimulus such as the presence of a person - is considered a conservation threat for some Australian birds. The distance at which a bird flees from perceived danger is defined as the flight-initiation distance (FID), and could be used to designate separation distances between birds and stimuli that might cause disturbance. We review the known FIDs for Australian birds, and report FIDs for 250 species. Most FIDs are from south-eastern Australia, and almost all refer to a single walker as the stimulus. Several prominent factors correlated with FID are discussed (e.g. body mass and the distance at which an approach begins). FIDs have not been used extensively in the management of disturbance, for a variety of reasons including lack and inaccessibility of available data. We call for standardised data collection and greater application of available data to the management of disturbance.
The presence of domestic dogs Canis familiaris in public open spaces is increasingly controversial. In our review of the literature, we located 133 publications of various types (papers, reports etc.) that examine some aspect of dogs in parks and open spaces (50 % focussed solely on dogs). There has been an exponential growth in the cumulative number of articles (R
2 = 0.96; 82 % published since 1997); almost all pertain to temperate latitudes (97 %) and most to the northern hemisphere (62 %). Most articles focus on impacts on wildlife (51 %), zoonotic diseases (17 %), and people’s perceptions regarding dogs (12 %). Articles mostly describe problems associated with dogs, while reports of low compliance with dog regulations are common. We outline six major findings regarding dogs in parks: (1) there is a paucity of information on dogs in parks, particularly in relation to their interactions with wildlife and regarding their management; (2) published studies are mainly restricted to a handful of locations in developed countries; (3) sectors of societies hold different views over the desirability of dogs in parks; (4) the benefits and risks of dogs to humans and park values are poorly documented and known; (5) dogs represent a notable disease risk in some but not all countries; and (6) coastal parks are over-represented in the literature in terms of potential negative impacts. Park managers globally require better information to achieve conservation outcomes from dog management in parks.
Purpose
– Research has shown that individuals of different ages hold different environmental attitudes and perform environmental behaviors of different kinds and to varying degrees. The strength and direction of age-effects observed across studies has been inconsistent, however. This study aims to examine the relationship between age and a variety of environmental sustainability-related psychological variables using meta-analytic techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
– Relationships between age and environmental concern, environmental values, attitudes toward environmental behaviors, environmental awareness, environmental knowledge, environmental motives, environmental intentions, and pro-environmental behaviors were examined. Data from relevant studies between 1970 and 2010 were meta-analyzed to determine the magnitudes of relationships between age and environmental variables, and to investigate whether effects generalize across studies.
Findings
– Most relationships were negligibly small. Small but generalizable relationships indicated that older individuals appear to be more likely to engage with nature, avoid environmental harm, and conserve raw materials and natural resources.
Originality/value
– Stereotypes about age-differences in environmental sustainability are commonly held in organizations. If work and organizational psychologists are to encourage and help individuals to be more environmentally responsible at work, understanding how age affects these efforts is imperative. By meta-analytically estimating age-differences in environmental sustainability variables, the present study helps to dispel erroneous stereotypes and guide organizations to implement effective environmental interventions.
This chapter discusses the human dimensions of dog-wildlife interactions. These human dimensions often constitute human-wildlife conflicts. The chapter presents an overview of the research in the field of the human dimensions of dog-wildlife interactions and the possible solutions for the issues raised by the research.
This study explored what factors influence owners' reactions to their dogs'fouling in a bid to identify the demographic profile of the “typical” dog fouler. The behavior of 400 dog walkers was observed in eight public parks in Northern Ireland. Information was collected on the walkers' gender, age, socioeconomic status, use of leash, and reaction to their dogs' fouling. A weak majority (53.5%) of owners cleaned up their dogs'feces. All of the independent variables, except age, influenced owners' reactions to their pets' fouling. Fewer males (35.3%), those with a lower income (18.2%), and owners who allowed their dogs off the leash (26.2%) cleaned up their dogs'feces than females (58.2%), those with higher earnings (68.7%), and those who kept their pets on a leash (72.6%). Findings have implications for the design of antifouling campaigns, highlighting what sectors of the population need to be targeted by educational programs.
Beaches are the most popular recreational destinations in Australia yet how they are visited and valued by Australians is poorly known. We surveyed 385 people (13.8% of 2800 coastal residents) from south-eastern Australia to examine their use of beaches and the features that are important in their choice and enjoyment of a beach destination. Most respondents (90.3%) nominated beaches as one of their top three most valued natural recreational environments. Thirty-four recreational activities occurred at the beach (8.6 ± 0.3 [mean ± SE] activities per respondent), mostly walking (91.4%) and swimming (78.9%). Factor analyses revealed respondents valued clean, uncrowded beaches with opportunities to view wildlife (n = 338) but also desired facilities (e.g. toilets, shade, life savers, food outlets; n = 331). Difficult access and intrusive recreation activities (e.g. vehicles on beaches) detracted from people′s enjoyment. We describe a distinct dichotomy in use of ‘local’ versus ‘non-local’ beaches, where local beaches are visited more frequently, throughout more of the year, outside working hours and by smaller groups of people, compared with ‘non-local’ beaches. Coastal planners and managers not only face the challenge of increasing visitation to beaches but also the need to manage for somewhat conflicting values among beach-goers.
Beach traffic can substantially modify the physical environment on sandy beaches. Vehicle impacts on beaches were quantified on North Stradbroke Island, a barrier island on the east coast of Australia where large volumes of recreational off-road vehicle (ORV) traffic are concentrated on two beaches (Flinders Beach and Main Beach). The distribution, density, and depth of vehicle ruts on these beaches were quantified during the peak holiday period around late December and early January 2005–06. The density of tyre tracks per meter of beach face ranged from 2.69 to 6.35 on Flinders Beach and from 2.38 to 8.06 on Main Beach, and substantial areas (54–61%) of each beach were covered withy tyre tracks up to a maximum of 90% in some areas. ORVs corrugated the sand as deep as 28 cm (mean depth: 5.86 ± 4.72 cm), with the deepest rutting occurring between the foredunes and the drift line. On a volume basis, vehicles disrupted 5.8% (Main Beach) and 9.4% (Flinders Beach) of the available faunal habitat matrix (top 30 cm of the sand) in a single day. Traffic density was higher on the lower shore, but ruts were significantly deeper in the soft sand of the upper shore. Thus, half of all sand displaced by vehicles on Flinders Beach originated from the upper shore, although this section represents only 36% of beach width. Similarly, the narrow (13% of beach width) upper shore on Main Beach contributed 55% of the total volume of sand dislodged by ORVs. Beach traffic overlapped to a large extent with the distribution of the invertebrate infauna, and vehicles routinely disturbed the drift line and the base of the foredunes. This study emphasizes the need to develop multifaceted management strategies for recreational ORV use on beaches that balance ecological requirements with sociocultural and economic demands.
We delivered standardized stimuli to incubating hooded plovers (Thinornis rubricollis) to examine the influence of human movement on disruption of incubation. The probability of plovers returning to nests within 60 min was higher in our treatment that mimicked mobile (e.g., walking) humans (85.7%) than in our treatment that mimicked static (e.g., sunbathing) humans (9.5%; n = 20 pairs). Thus, temporary beach closures that reduce or eliminate static but not mobile disturbances are likely to be effective at reducing disruption to incubation caused by human disturbance. © 2011 The Wildlife Society
As coastal destinations continue to grow, due to tourism and residential expansion, the demand for public beach access and related amenities will also increase. The issue confronting management agencies responsible for providing and maintaining public beach access and related amenities is the varying needs and preferences of both residents and tourists of coastal destinations. The purpose of this paper is to provide comprehensive information about coastal recreational needs of residents and tourists with regards to public beach access and associated amenities using the stated preference choice method. Overall, the results indicate tourists were more interested in additional public beach access points and commercial development, while residents supported beach rules and regulations but opposed high levels of crowding and noise. Implications of these results for management agencies include the utilization of parking fees to subsidize additional public beach access points, identifying appropriate types and levels of commercial development that moderate the use of coastal resources by tourists and day-trip users, and implementing beach rules and regulations that reduce the potential for conflict between user groups. Providing management agencies with comprehensive information of the preferences of different beach user groups can assist in the development of more effective policies and management programs.
The Donau-Auen National Park in Austria is situated partially within the area of the city of Vienna, and is exposed to high-use pressure including off-trail use and off-leash dog walking. Management measures are based on, among other things, the knowledge of the user groups’ perceptions of the impacts of their own behaviour on park wildlife, in particular, problematic behaviour. On-site visitors were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire during the winter of 2002 (N=271) in order to assess their awareness of the disturbance of wildlife due to different anthropogenic uses, including recreational ones. Only 40% of the respondents were aware that wildlife is disturbed, and merely 12% believed that they could have potentially disturbed wildlife on the day of the interview. In contrast, the wildlife experts interviewed assigned greater negative impacts on wildlife to some recreational uses. No differences were found between visitors with unproblematic behaviour and regular off-trail walkers and dog walkers – even those whose dogs were unleashed – in regard to their own potentially impacting behaviour. Some management implications are discussed, taking the specific situation of a small national park on the urban–rural fringe into consideration.
This Special Issue is the result of the inaugural summit hosted by the Gallup Leadership Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004 on Authentic Leadership Development (ALD). We describe in this introduction to the special issue current thinking in this emerging field of research as well as questions and concerns. We begin by considering some of the environmental and organizational forces that may have triggered interest in describing and studying authentic leadership and its development. We then provide an overview of its contents, including the diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives presented, followed by a discussion of alternative conceptual foundations and definitions for the constructs of authenticity, authentic leaders, authentic leadership, and authentic leadership development. A detailed description of the components of authentic leadership theory is provided next. The similarities and defining features of authentic leadership theory in comparison to transformational, charismatic, servant and spiritual leadership perspectives are subsequently examined. We conclude by discussing the status of authentic leadership theory with respect to its purpose, construct definitions, historical foundations, consideration of context, relational/processual focus, attention to levels of analysis and temporality, along with a discussion of promising directions for future research.
The goal of this study was to quantify the microbial load (enterococci) contributed by the different animals that frequent a beach site. The highest enterococci concentrations were observed in dog feces with average levels of 3.9 × 107 CFU/g; the next highest enterococci levels were observed in birds averaging 3.3 × 105 CFU/g. The lowest measured levels of enterococci were observed in material collected from shrimp fecal mounds (2.0 CFU/g). A comparison of the microbial loads showed that 1 dog fecal event was equivalent to 6940 bird fecal events or 3.2 × 108 shrimp fecal mounds. Comparing animal contributions to previously published numbers for human bather shedding indicates that one adult human swimmer contributes approximately the same microbial load as one bird fecal event. Given the abundance of animals observed on the beach, this study suggests that dogs are the largest contributing animal source of enterococci to the beach site.
Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management
- D J Decker
- S J Riley
- W F Siemer
Decker, D. J., S. J. Riley, and W. F. Siemer. 2012. Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management. 2nd
ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Influencing Walkers with Dogs: Three Years of Progress
- S Jenkinson
- J Hale
- P Harrop
Jenkinson, S., J. Hale, and P. Harrop. 2009. "Influencing Walkers with Dogs: Three Years of
Progress." Countryside Recreation 17: 18-22.
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