From Victim to Perpetrator: Evolution of Risk Frames Related to Human–Cormorant Conflict in the Great Lakes

Media coverage of management of the black bearUrsus thibetanusin Japan

“…It is likely that the more often newspapers mention the risk of bears, the higher readers' perception of the risks posed by bears becomes, potentially affecting people's attitudes toward the animals (Muter et al, 2009).The fact that people's attitudes towards bears tend to be more negative in rural than urban areas (Hosoda et al, 2009;Tsubota & Yamazaki, 2011) may simply reflect their closer proximity to the threat but may also be explained by the potential influence of the media in amplifying the perception of risk (Gore et al, 2005). It is likely that the more often newspapers mention the risk of bears, the higher readers' perception of the risks posed by bears becomes, potentially affecting people's attitudes toward the animals (Muter et al, 2009).The fact that people's attitudes towards bears tend to be more negative in rural than urban areas (Hosoda et al, 2009;Tsubota & Yamazaki, 2011) may simply reflect their closer proximity to the threat but may also be explained by the potential influence of the media in amplifying the perception of risk (Gore et al, 2005).…”

“…Most of the bears captured in 2006 were 3.0 1.0 6.5 11.0 5 killed, which seemed to address local residents' demands, although the high mortality may have affected the bear population (Tsubota & Yamazaki, 2011). Newspapers have the potential to influence people's perception of a topic (Detjen, 1995;Muter et al, 2009), and officials in the Ministry of the Environment could reach out to reporters to ensure that bear incidents are accurately reported and that the conservation context and full range of management issues become part of public discourse about bears.…”

Distribution, relative abundance, and prey demand by double-crested cormorants on Manitoulin Island lakes vs. Lake Huron Coast

“…The spatial extent of foraging cormorants is less understood than colony locations but acknowledged to be a regional question given the scale of study in the Great Lakes (Dorr et al, 2010a;Fielder, 2008Fielder, , 2010Johnson et al, 2010;Lantry et al, 2002;Madenjian and Gabrey, 1995;Seefelt and Gillingham, 2006). Certainly, the public perception of cormorants is situated at regional scales within Great Lakes ecosystems (Muter et al, 2009). Individual movements and population monitoring are two direct methods for determining the regional distribution of foraging cormorants.…”

“…As in most locations, North Channel colonies are near the coast and in close proximity to the inland lakes with large recreational fisheries. Public interest in the cormorant issue on Manitoulin Island is regional in focus and links increasing numbers of cormorants as perpetrators of declines in fish abundance (Muter et al, 2009). The survey is based on aerial line transect methods beginning in the nesting period through to late summer, and as a result provides a consistent methodology across all aquatic ecosystems surveyed during and after the nesting period (Ridgway, 2010b,c).…”

Relative demand by double-crested cormorants and anglers for fish production from lakes on Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron

“…Anglers generally view double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) as competitors for fish production in the Laurentian Great Lakes with the relative demand for fish by cormorants defining the 'cormorant issue' in the region (Muter et al, 2009). Technical and policy information needed to help resolve the apparent conflict is extensive (Behrens et al, 2008;Cowx, 2003;Harris et al, 2008).…”