Wildlife-Human Incident and Communication Analysis on Federal Public Lands in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

OMB Control Number 1024-0224

Expiration Date:

National Park Service

Bear-Visitor Interactions Survey

Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to capture visitors’ perceptions and experiences with bear safety communication efforts. Communication efforts are used to encourage visitors to use good judgement and execute appropriate behavior in bear country in order to prevent negative bear-visitor interactions. The survey contributes directly to improving bear safety communication, increasing bear awareness, and how to best disseminate information to visitors. As a result, this will improve the quality of the service offered to the public (e.g., well-informed visitors may be less likely to have negative interactions with bears).

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: The National Park Service is authorized by the NPS Research Mandate (54 USC 100702) to collect this information. We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to elicit visitors’ perceptions and experience with communication efforts to educate visitors on appropriate behavior around bear safety and prevent negative bear-visitor interactions. Your response is voluntary, and we will not share the results publicly. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. The permanent data will be anonymous. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 

Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 9 minutes per response. Please direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this form to: Lauren Miller, Yellowstone Center for Resources Resource Management, Yellowstone National Park, [email protected] (email); or Phadrea Ponds, NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, Fort Collins, CO; [email protected] (email).

 

1. When did you make the decision to visit? (Please select only one response) 

On the same day of the visit   A week before the visit  1 month before the visit  2-6 months before the visit

More than 6 months but less than a year before the visit  A year or more before the visit  This is an unplanned visit  Don’t Know/can’t recall  Other:_____________________

2. Are you a first-time visitor to Grand Teton National Park/Bridger Teton National Forest/Yellowstone National Park? (Please select only one response) 

• YES  

• NO 

3. Which of the following best describes the group you are traveling with? (Select one)

	Myself (alone)
	Myself with family (including spouse/partner/ and/or other family members/relatives
	Myself with family and friends
	Myself with friends
	Commercial guided tour group
	Outfitter/guide
	Club/organization/school
	Other organized group (such as business group, scout group, etc.)
	Other: ________________

4. How many people are traveling in your personal group, including you?

___ Number of people

5. How often do you practice the following behaviors when in bear country? (1=Always and 7=Never):

Statement	Always	Usually, about 90% of the time	Frequently, about 70% of the time	Sometimes, about 50% of the time	Occasionally, about 30% of the time	Rarely, less than 10% of the time	Never	N/A
Carrying bear spray	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Maintaining distance from wildlife	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Properly storing food	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Hiking in groups	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Avoiding seasonal closure areas	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Making noise while in bear country	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Removing ear buds while in bear country	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Other:________________________________	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐

6. During your trip to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (including, but not limited to, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Bridger Teton National Forest), which activities did you/will you include on this visit? (Please select all that apply)

	Plan to do (have not yet)	Already participated	May Participate (undecided)	Did/will not participate
ATV/OHV use
Hiking within a half mile of a trailhead
Hiking beyond a half mile of a trailhead
Wildlife watching
Wildlife photography
Fishing
Hunting
Road cycling
Mountain biking
Horseback riding
Guided tour
Camping in a campground/car camping
Backpacking
Picnicking
Going to a visitor center
Scenic driving
Other:__________________________

7. Which statement best describes your participation in planning for the visit?

• I planned or was involved in planning the visit to the Grand Teton National Park/Bridger Teton National Forest/Yellowstone National Park.

• I did not plan or was not involved in planning the visit to Grand Teton National Park/Bridger Teton National Forest/Yellowstone National Park.

8. We would like to know what sources of information you used for trip planning, and which was the most preferred. (Please check all that apply, and One most preferred source) 

	Did not use	Before arriving to this area	In this area	Most Preferred Source
National Park/National Forest website				
Other websites				
Friends/relatives				
Previous visits				
Visitor/Tourist Information centers				
Park newspaper				
Park map				
Printed materials (books, brochures, other maps etc.)				
Agency hosted Social Media, e.g. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook from Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Bridger Teton NF				
Other Social Media (e.g. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook)				
Ranger-led tours/programs				
Guided trips/outfitters				
Roving rangers/volunteers available to answer questions				
Trailhead bulletin boards				
Self-guided materials (e.g. Junior Ranger activity books)				
Hotel information kiosks/computer terminal				
Phone inquiry to Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, Bridger- Teton NF				
Smartphone (to access current data)				
National Park/National Forest App				
Newspaper/magazine articles				
Talked to people in local communities and local businesses				
Ads from tourism office, Chamber of Commerce				
Other: __________________________				

 

9. What do you remember from the bear safety messages received before or during your trip to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Do you recall seeing messaging targeting the following behaviors?

Statement	I recall this message	Somewhat recall this message	I do not recall this message	Not sure if I recall this message	Not applicable
Carrying bear spray	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Maintaining distance from wildlife	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Properly storing food	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Hiking in groups	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Avoiding seasonal closure areas	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Making noise while in bear country	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Removing ear buds while in bear country	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐
Other:________________________________	☐	☐	☐	☐	☐

10b. If “I recall this message” or “somewhat recall this message”, where did you see this message- please be specific (e.g., day picnic area in Yellowstone; trailhead in Bridger-Teton NF)?

______________________________________________________________________________________________

11. What do you think is the most important bear safety messaging? (1=Very important and 7=Not important at all):

Statement	Very important	Important	Somewhat important	Neither	Somewhat unimportant	Unimportant	Not important at all	Not applicable
Carry bear spray	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Maintain distance from wildlife	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Properly store food	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Hike in groups	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Avoid seasonal closure areas	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Make noise while in bear country	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Remove ear buds while in bear country	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐
Other:________________________________	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	☐

12. What is your age?

	18-24 years old		55-64 years old
	25-34 years old		65-74 years old
	35-44 years old		75 years or older
	45-54 years old

13. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed? Please select only one response.

Less than high school Some high school High school graduate Vocational/trade school certificate Some college Associate degree (AA, AS, etc)

Bachelor's degree (BA, AB, BS, etc.) Master's degree (MA, MS, MEd, MSW, MBA etc. ) Professional degree (MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD, etc.) Doctorate degree (PhD, EdD, etc.)

14. Which of the following best describes your residency [location]? Check one.

• Permanent Resident of adjacent community and/or within 1 hour driving distance of location

• Seasonal Resident of adjacent community and/or within 1 hour driving distance of location (returning annually for 1-6 months)

• Not a Resident (lives more than 1 hour driving distance to location)

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