Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conferences

 

Title

PERCEPTIONS KNOWLEDGE OF ALABAMA FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCERS TOWARDS COYOTES

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

October 1993

Members of the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association (AFVP) were surveyed in 1992-1993 to assess their attitudes and knowledge of coyotes and the amount of perceived damage caused by coyotes. A mail-back questionnaire was developed and pilot tested. The revised questionnaire was sent to all members (N = 84) of the AFVP; individuals whose main income is the production of fruits and vegetables. Seventy-seven percent (n = 61) of those surveyed returned completed questionnaires. Tests for nonresponse bias were conducted and results showed no significant difference. Attitudes were assessed using a Likert scale where 1 = respondents favoring maximum protection of coyotes and 5 = maximum control of coyotes. Data analysis suggests that attitudes of fruit and vegetable producers towards coyotes is neither maximum protection nor maximum control (x=3.61). However, their attitudes do lean toward the maximum control side of the scale. In addition, knowledge about coyotes and perceived threat by coyotes did not affect producer’s attitudes (x2 = 261.12, P = 0.54; x2 = 904.50, P = 0.37, respectively), however, those with coyote damage more strongly favored control.