Whose Discourse Is It Anyway? Understanding Resistance through the Rise of “Barstool Biology” in Nature Conservation

Abstract

Erica von Essen

‘Not the Wolf Itself’: Distinguishing Hunters’ Criticisms of Wolves from Procedures for Making Wolf Management Decisions

“…This repertoire of opposition to wolves is increasingly ubiquitous (see, e.g.,, Peltola & Heikkilä, 2015), but has not been presented all together before, nor interrogated as to their meaning. In our paper, we argue the latter oppositions to wolves have traction in the debate insomuch as they appear to transcend self-interested NIMBY and be veiled as ecological concerns at a time when policy and public opinion value buzzwords like naturalness in biodiversity conservation (Pol et al, 2006;Von Essen, 2015).…”

“…On the one hand, it may be understood as an act of deception. This would in turn say something about the discursive climate in which opinions are offered on wolf conservation, and hence which sorts of arguments hold validity (Von Essen, 2015). On the other hand, as we argue to be the case, the collapsing of hunters' opinions about wolves into ecological objections is also an unfortunate byproduct of present failures to offer deliberative arenas that can unpack the genuine ambivalences that hunters have about wolves and the processes around wolf conservation.…”

A Rabble in the Zoopolis? Considering Responsibilities for Wildlife Hybrids

“…That wolves today have "lost their wildness" as a combined result of hybridization and loss of lethal control is a common charge leveled by hunters toward the recovering, now protected European wolf population. 32 While partly another discursive strategy to delegitimize their conservation, research affirms this possibility. Wolf-dog hybrids may lose wildness, their fear of humans, and specialize in preying on livestock or domestic animals in human settlements.…”

“…31 However, there may be reason to approach this as an unsubstantiated rumor perpetuated by hunters seeking to delegitimize wolf conservation programs. 32 Once two interfertile congeners are sympatric, human activity can exacerbate chances of hybridization. For example, the research is clear on the link between hunting and increased hybridization.…”

The Implications of Victimhood Identity: The Case of ‘Persecution’ of Swedish Hunters

“…Based on population assessments, it is estimated that up to one third of wolves in Sweden and Norway perish from illegal hunting by such recalcitrant communities (Liberg et al 2012). Although it is difficult to arrive at such estimates given the evasive nature of poaching, reports of illegal hunting of wolves frequently surface in counterpublic media (von Essen 2015). 'Proxy' communication of illegal hunting by 'someone you know' is done by peers (von Essen and Allen 2015); there is also mounting physical evidence in the form of lost radio collars for wolves.…”