Human Dimensions of Migratory Wildlife:Attitudes and Values of Gateway Community Residents in Greater Yellowstone

NOTE TO OMB REVIEWER:

For the purposes of this review and submission the questions in this survey are all included and are consistent with the currently approved pool questions for the NPS Programmatic Review Process. Given the open-ended nature of qualitative interviews, some respondent answers to questions may relate to other questions in the guide. In order to not fatigue the respondent, researchers will actively listen to responses and not ask respondents to answer questions that may have been answered previously.

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Current Expiration Date: 8/31/2015

THE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF MIGRATORY WILDLIFE:

DOCUMENTING THE ATTITUDES AND VALUES OF GATEWAY

COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN GREATER YELLOWSTONE

INITIAL CONTACT SCRIPT

Hello, is __________________ available? My name is ______________. I’m from the University of Montana and I’m working with Yellowstone National Park on a joint research project about people’s experiences and opinions on migratory wildlife and their management in the Greater Yellowstone Area. Specifically we’re talking to residents in Gardiner and West Yellowstone. As part of our study, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and listen to your thoughts on migratory wildlife management. I’m happy to meet you at a time and place of your convenience. The interview typically takes about 45 minutes. Could we go ahead and set up a meeting? Great. Where and when works best for you. Alright, we’ll see you: [repeat time and location]. Really looking forward to it. Have a nice day.

[If they decline] I’m sorry to hear that. Could you please briefly answer three questions for me:

1. Which, if any, of the following categories would you say best fits you: rancher, community leader, resident or business owner?

2. How do wildlife wandering out of Yellowstone effect your personal life, business or community?

3. How do you typically come into contact with wildlife outside the park and at what times of the year?

Thank you for your time. If you change your mind and decide that you would like to be part of the study, please contact me. My number is: ______________. Thanks and have a nice day.

INTERVIEW GUIDE

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me today. This interview is being conducted as part of a joint project between Yellowstone National Park and the University of Montana to study people’s experiences with and opinions about migratory wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Area. This study has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget as well as the University of Montana’s Institutional Review Board. A typical interview takes about 45 minutes to complete. You will not be asked to provide your name or address at any time during this interview. Your identity will be protected and your responses will remain anonymous. However, with your permission I would like to tape-record our conversation so that I am able to carefully document your statements and opinions. Although a transcript might be prepared to assist our research, it will not be released to the public. Do I have your permission to tape-record this interview? Do I have your permission to tape-record this interview? [If they say yes: “Ok, great. Thank you.” If they say no: “Ok, I understand. Thank you for your time today.”]

The information from this study will be used in research articles, projects and presentations that will be shared with the public, Yellowstone National Park, wildlife managers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, scientists and the states of Wyoming and Montana to foster more socially responsive wildlife conservation. With that said, I want you to know that in any research products created from this process, you will only be referred to in a very general way as a [rancher/elected official/resident/business owner] from the [West Yellowstone/Gardiner] area.

In addition to the Paperwork Reduction Act, we are required by the University of Montana to receive your consent to participate in this interview. Do you agree to participate in this interview and to sign the consent form.

**Ask Respondent to sign INFORMED CONSENT FORM**

Paperwork Reduction and Privacy Act Statements: The National Park Service is authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7 to collect this information. We will use this information to evaluate respondents’ attitudes about wild bison management in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Your response is voluntary. Your name and contact information have been requested for follow-up mailing purposes only. When analysis of the questionnaire is completed, all name and address files will be destroyed and will in no way be connected with the results of this survey. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

We estimate that it will take about 45 minutes to complete a typical interview and up to 90 minutes to complete a much longer interview. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to: Elizabeth Covelli Metcalf, Assistant Professor, The Department of Society and Conservation, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, CHCB 465, 32 Campus Drive. Missoula, MT 59812 or [email protected] (email).

Do you have any other questions about the process? Okay, then let’s get started.

The following series of questions ask about your history in this region and your experiences with wildlife that seasonally leave Yellowstone National Park. If you have any questions during the interview please stop me and ask. There are no right or wrong answers. You do not have to respond to a question if you do not want to.

We’re particularly interested in your experiences, opinions and perspectives on migratory wildlife and their management around Yellowstone National Park. As you likely know, migratory wildlife are individuals or populations that move between distinct seasonal habitats in order to find sufficient food resources, reduce predation risks and/or raise young. Local examples include long distant migrants like Pronghorn who migrate between Grand Teton National Park and the Red Desert of Wyoming, various bird species who raise their young in Yellowstone each summer and winter further south, or short distant migrants who move from valley bottoms to upper elevation forests each summer.

Can you please describe a few of the different migratory wildlife species that you are aware of in this area?

TOPIC AREA 1 - RES 1

1. Would you please tell me a bit about your background, what brought and/or keeps you here in the area?

• [Probe] How would you characterize yourself or role in this community? [for example: rancher, outdoor enthusiast, activist, politician, business owner, etc.]

TOPIC AREA 4 - PA1

2. What do you like most about living in this area?

3. What do you like least?

TOPIC AREA 4 - PA1

4. Now I would like to ask you several questions about your interactions with migratory wildlife that seasonally move beyond Yellowstone National Park.

1. Please describe what is it like to live with migratory wildlife in or near your community?

2. How do wildlife wandering out of Yellowstone affect your personal life, business or community?

3. Have you ever experienced property damage due to wildlife?

4. Have you ever felt your safety was threatened due to wildlife?

5. How do you typically come into contact with wildlife outside the park and at what times of the year?

6. What, if any, strategies do you personally find effective to enhance your coexistence with wildlife?

TOPIC AREA 6 – OPMGMT4

5. I would like to shift topics and discuss your thoughts and opinions about the management of migratory wildlife from Yellowstone National Park.

1. In your opinion, what works and what doesn’t work in how such wildlife are currently managed?

2. In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue of wildlife management in this area?

3. How do you feel about wildlife wandering out of the park? Should this be allowed and, if so, under what circumstances?

• [Probe] Who should have management authority for wildlife that cross park boundaries?

4. What issues or concerns need to be addressed by managers to minimize conflict between people and wildlife that leave the park?

• [Probe] How well are these concerns currently understood by managers and incorporated into current management plans or practices?

5. In your opinion, how should managers manage wildlife species in and around Yellowstone whose populations approach or exceed population objectives?

TOPIC AREA 6 – TRUST1 (variation)

6. We are almost done with the interview. Before we conclude, I have a few more questions for you about how you get information about wildlife in Yellowstone and about how you interact with government officials and scientists about the management of wildlife.

1. Where do you get your information about wildlife management in this area?

2. How have you been engaged by public agencies about wildlife management?

3. How would you like to be engaged by agencies about wildlife management?

4. What opportunities do you currently have to talk with National Park Service staff and other agencies about the management of wildlife that wander outside of the park’s boundaries?

5. Have you attended any government sponsored informational events or meetings about the management of wildlife that leave the park’s boundaries?

• [Probe] Please describe the event and what stood out the most to you.

TOPIC AREA 6 – OPMGMT 1 and OPMGMT 2

1. As we look to the future of wildlife management in and around Yellowstone National Park, what are your hopes and concerns?

2. Is there anything else you think I should know about the issue that we have not already covered?

There are just a few more questions to help us finish today.

TOPIC AREA 1 – Age2

1. In what year were you born?

TOPIC AREA 4 - PA1

2. How do you currently make your living? [Match response to the job categories below, or probe for more detail if answer is not specific enough.]

• Employed for wages as ______

• Self-employed as _____

• Out of work and looking for work

• Out of work but not currently looking for work

• A homemaker

• A student

• Retired

• Unable to work

TOPIC AREA 1 - ED1

3. What is the highest level of education you have completed? [Match response to the education categories below, or probe for more detail if answer is not specific enough.]

• 8th grade or less

• Some high school

• High School graduate or GED

• Some college, business or trade school

• Associate’s degree

• Bachelor’s degree

• Some graduate school

• Master’s or professional degree

• Doctoral degree

TOPIC AREA 7 – ECON1

4. What was your approximate annual household income before taxes and deductions for calendar year 2014?

Under $10,000	$70,000 – $79,999
$10,000 - $19,999	$80,000 – $89,999
$20,000 - $29,999	$90,000 – $99,999
$30,000 – $39,999	$100,000 – $149,999
$40,000 – $49,999	$150,000 - $199,999
$50,000 – $59,999	$200,000 or more
$60,000 – $69,999	Prefer not to answer

TOPIC AREA 1 – RES4

5. Length of residence

[Note to interviewer: record gender M or F]

Thank you again for taking time today to share your experiences and perspectives on migratory wildlife and their management in this area. Would you be willing to recommend others in your community that may be invested in this issue? We’re trying to reach as wide a range of perspectives as possible, so if you have recommendations of people who may or may not share your perspective, I’d greatly appreciate it. Who else should I contact?

[Note to interviewer: write down names and contact information. Thank you.]

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