Public attitudes about coyotes in New England

Abstract

Abstract A survey of New England residents suggests that achieving an acceptable balance between coyote control and coyote protection is likely to be very difficult. Only 5% of survey respondents felt that coyotes should be eliminated, but when asked if coyotes should be completely protected, 39% agreed, 40% disagreed, and 23% were willing to pay an average of $5.05 per year for coyote protection, while a similar number (19%) were willing to pay an average of $4.20 per year to control coyotes. These contingent valuation results also indicate that coyotes have existence value. Only about 20% of respondents had even seen a coyote, and younger, urban residents in southern New England who do not hunt were most likely to be willing to pay to protect coyotes.