Cognitive and behavioral coping in response to wildlife disease: The case of hunters and chronic wasting disease

Human Dimensions of Wildlife
By: , and 

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Abstract

The transactional model of stress and coping (TMSC) provides a conceptual framework for understanding adaptations to stressors like chronic wasting disease (CWD). Understanding hunter response to stressors is important because decreased participation and satisfaction can affect individual well-being, cultural traditions, agency revenue, and local economies. Using TMSC, we explored how deer hunters coped with CWD. We also compared involvement, and impacts and emotions related to CWD, inside and outside a CWD management zone. Then we examined coping related to CWD presence, and if the disease affected human health. Most hunters would cope using product shift (i.e., eating meat after a negative test result) rather than displacement (i.e., hunting elsewhere) or dropout. Hunters who may be displaced reported lower involvement in deer hunting, and increased worry about CWD. Results suggest that CWD information and testing may increase hunter worry. Funding expanded testing without prompting displacement or dropout are important management considerations.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Cognitive and behavioral coping in response to wildlife disease: The case of hunters and chronic wasting disease
Series title Human Dimensions of Wildlife
DOI 10.1080/10871209.2021.1919340
Volume 27
Issue 3
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 22 p.
First page 251
Last page 272
Country United States
State Minnesota
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