Public Opinion and Agency Trust Towards Wolf and Cervid Management in Minnesota

Investigating How Minnesotans See Wildlife Management

White-tailed deer and moose are subject to active management in Minnesota. White-tailed deer are popular game species in Minnesota, with a large constituency of approximately 400,000 licensed deer hunters across the state. Moose populations are limited to the arrowhead region of northeastern Minnesota; they have declined to roughly one-third of their historic abundance in that region of the state and have largely disappeared from their historic range in northwestern Minnesota. 

Wolves’ relationship to cervids is complicated. Comprehensive wolf management currently rests outside of the purview of the state because wolves remain a federally listed endangered species. 

Wolves prey on cervids, and are one factor in the decline of moose. However, wolf predation may also help to segregate moose and deer populations, reducing the risk of brainworm transmission. The management of each of these species arrives in the context of a diverse set of public stakeholders characterized by their social identities, each with varying degrees of trust in agencies making decisions about resources on their behalf. 

This project will examine public attitudes towards and beliefs about moose and white-tailed deer and their relationship with wolves and examine public trust in agency decisions about management tradeoffs.

Project Goals

• Conduct a representative survey of Minnesota residents about the interactions between humans, deer, moose, and wolves and identify who the public considers key stakeholders in the decision making and management of these animal populations

• Conduct a second survey of deer permit holders

• Carry out DNR-led engagement with Tribal co-managers to conduct Tribally relevant social research related to wolf and cervid management