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- Info
Attitudes of urban residents toward avian species and species' attributes
| Author: |
Penland, Stephen |
| Date: |
1987 |
| Periodical: |
In: Adams,L.W. ; Leedy,D.L., eds. Integrating Man and Nature in the Metropolitan Environment: Proceedings of the National Symposium on Urban Wildlife; 1986 November 4-7; Chevy Chase, MD. Columbia, MD: National Institute for Urban Wildlife |
| Abstract: |
Wildlife management agencies are, from the point of view of urban residents, dealing with animals in increasingly remote natural environments and basing their programs on principles of ecology that are not understood by this growing majority of the U. S. population. These changes are likely to result in a decline in the proportion of residents who identify with the programs of their state's wildlife agency and who feel that the agency represents their interests. This can have serious consequences if the wildlife agency must rely on the decisions these urban residents make regarding support for legislative or financial proposals that affect the agency. Urban wildlife programs provide the opportunity to win this support. One of the primary functions of these programs should be to lessen the gap between the public's interest and its knowledge regarding wildlife. Educational programs and activities, such as newspaper columns, classes and workshops, backyard sanctuary programs, species identification posters, winter feeding publications, birdhouse construction manuals, and other means to address the information needs of the public, should be central to urban wildlife programs. |
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