Balancing public opinion in managing river otters in Missouri

摘要

State and federal wildlife agencies must consider social and cultural impacts of wildlife restoration as well as ecological impacts (Breidenbach and Goedeke 1999). Successes in recovering wildlife populations, once unquestioned by the public as socially beneficial, often now generate conflict, begging the all-too-real question posed in the contemporary movie, "Jurassic Park"--what animals should be restored to the landscape, where, in what numbers, and what do we do when there are unanticipated consequences of restoration. The restoration and subsequent management of river otters (Lutra canadensis) in Missouri is a telling case study of both success and problems stemming from the reintroduction of a wildlife species. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has experienced diverse public perspectives and conflicting citizen expectations for otter management. Our insights may be helpful to other wildlife agencies that must now anticipate increased social conflict arising from wildlife restoration programs that are either unpopular among some segments of the public, or ironically, those that are inordinately successful.