What are the public's attitudes toward wolves in Wisconsin?

In 1997, Matthew Wilson of the University of Wisconsin conducted a study of public attitudes about wolves. 5,021,075 people were surveyed in the state about their knowledge and behavioral relations with wolves. The study was sent to all registered license plate owners. 1,400 people were included in the sample, half were people with regular license plates and the other half had "endangered resources" plates. The sample was selected equally from northern and southern addresses. Here are some of the findings.

1. Overall, the majority of people who answered the survey expressed "pro-wildlife" and "pro environmental" attitudes.
 

Do you think that protecting rare plants and animals helps maintain the integrity of the natural environment?

Type of plate	Definitely no	Probably No	Unsure	Probably yes	Definitely yes
ENDANGERED	.6%	.3%	.6%	18.8%	79.7%
ALL WISCONSIN	.8%	5.4%	5.4%	34.6%	53.8%

2. When asked about the importance of protecting predators such as timber wolves, barn owls and lynx, over 75% of the population sampled said it was important.
 
 

For you, how important is the protection of rare predators like the wolf, the barn owl and the lynx in Wisconsin?

Type of plate	Not Important at All	Somewhat Unimportant	Mixed	Somewhat Important	Extremely Important
ENDANGERED	.0%	.6%	2.1%	18.1%	79.2%
ALL WISCONSIN	4.6%	4.0%	11.6%	40.4%	39.4%

3. When asked whether they supported the Wisconsin DNR's efforts to increase the number of wolves in Wisconsin, the sample showed broad public support for efforts to increase the number of wolves living in the state.
 
 

Overall, how much do you support efforts by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to increase the number of wolves living in Wisconsin?

 

Type of plate	Strongly Oppose	Moderately Oppose	Neither Support or Oppose	Moderately Support	Strongly Support
ENDANGERED	.9%	.3%	9.0%	29.0%	60.8%
ALL WISCONSIN	8.0%	6.8%	35.0%	30.6%	19.6%

Source: DNR Wolf Report, 1999

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