Abstract:
Coyotes are relatively recent arrivals to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In an
effort to understand and obtain baseline data about existing attitudes, a survey was
conducted in 2006. Most respondents had neutral attitudes towards coyotes, which might
be in part due to low levels of awareness about their presence in the area. Of particular
interest, pet owners seemed to have more extreme attitudes, either positively or
negatively, towards coyotes, and women tended to have more negative attitudes towards
coyotes. Wildlife managers and others interested in preventing and reducing human-coyote
conflict should capitalize on the current situation and develop outreach programs
that will teach people how to live near coyotes as well as engender positive attitudes
towards them. The survey also looked at the effect that small pieces of information in
various categories (coyote behavior and ecology, human-coyote interactions, and images
of coyotes) had on attitudes. Statements about coyote behavior, especially those that
emphasized the social aspects of their lives, proved to be the most effective in increasing
positive attitudes. Amongst other findings, statements about attempts to eradicate coyotes
were viewed negatively and some traditional images associated with coyotes (especially a
coyote howling) were also viewed negatively. This information will be useful to wildlife
managers and others interested in designing outreach materials.
