Alistair J. Bath, Leslie A. Eddy, Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Prince Phillip Drive, St. John's, NF A1A 5S7, Canada

The International Wolf Center has been open to the public for nearly fifteen years, and yet, little is known about the actual visitors to the center. With approximately 46,500 visitors per year, it is important to understand the attitudes of these visitors not only toward wolves, but their feelings about their recreational experience at the center. While it is generally believed that visitors to the wolf center may hold more positive attitudes toward wolves than those found in the Minnesota general public, there has been no research specifically to explore this hypothesis. In addition, to evaluate the effectiveness of the center it is necessary to understand the visitor's recreational experience, concerns and satisfaction with aspects of the center. The purpose of this paper is to present results documenting 1996 visitor attitudes toward wolves and toward the quality of the experience at the center.

Data were collected from a random sample of 1996 visitors to the International Wolf Center, who were contacted to participate in the study immediately after completing their visit to the center. By measuring actual behaviour through a post-experience questionnaire, the nature of the on-site experience was not influenced; respondents were not predisposed to the knowledge, attitude and behaviour questions which could have influenced their behaviour within the center. A total sample size of 366 was obtained during the study period (July to December 1996), consisting of respondents from July (n=75), August (n=39), September (n=85), October (n=122), November (n=39), and December (n=6). The pretested questionnaire consisted of 76 variables addressing attitudes toward wolves and their management within Minnesota, the nature of their visit in terms of what they did, and after being given some factual information on population numbers of wolves in Minnesota within the questionnaire, respondents were once again asked about their attitudes toward wolf management, particularly issues of delisting the wolf in Minnesota. The final section of the questionnaire obtained socio-demographic data and the location of residence of each respondent.

Visitors held overwhelmingly positive attitudes toward wolves, much stronger than those documented in the Minnesota general public. Approximately 62% of respondents indicated strongly liking wolves with the rest liking wolves; only a few respondents indicated any disliking of animals. More than 95% of respondents indicated that wolves were good. Most respondents (65%) felt that wolves should remain completely protected in Minnesota; only 11% were neutral. Most respondents (66%) stated that wolves did not have a significant impact on livestock and only slightly less (60%) believed wolves had no significant impact on hunting opportunities. In terms of managing problem wolves, wolves that kill livestock, the visitors were split in their opinions. While 46% disagreed that wolves that kill livestock should be killed, approximately 43% agreed, with 11% of respondents indicating no opinion. Nearly half the visitors (48%) stated that they would be willing personally to contribute money for compensation to livestock owners; 26% disagreed and another 26% neither agreed nor disagreed.

Most visitors accurately estimated the current population of wolves in Minnesota and believed the population was increasing. After becoming aware of the issue of delisting, visitors changed their attitudes becoming much more supportive of full protection of the wolf than before. A stronger anti-hunting sentiment was also documented after learning about population numbers and the discussion of delisting. Such information has important implications to gaining public acceptance of wolf management within Minnesota.