Research note: human behavior and effective chronic wasting disease management

ABSTRACT

Managing wildlife diseases is a constant challenge in wildlife management and may require increasing attention as climate change increases the range, spread, and transmission cycles of some of these diseases in North America. The present study quantified hunters’ compliance with chronic wasting disease (CWD) risk-reduction practices across 26 deer management units (DMUs) in Ohio. We assessed self-reported, typical deer processing behaviors among hunters who reported hunting in and near the Disease Surveillance Area (DSA). Results indicate that noncompliance with deer processing recommendations was considerably higher in the DMU encompassing the DSA. Addressing noncompliance will likely require locally focused communication and outreach centered on the risk of CWD in the area. Communication that highlights the wider prevailing norms of the following recommendations (60–70% of Ohio hunters either take their deer to a processor or put unused parts in the trash or landfill) may influence behavior change, especially in combination with more tailored, culturally driven outreach.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic wasting disease
• risk communication
• noncompliance
• norms
• wildlife disease management
• risk behavior

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program (W-134-P, Wildlife Management in Ohio), jointly administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife.