Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5045-7971

Advisor

Hunt, Kevin M.

Committee Member

Kouba, Andrew J.

Committee Member

Morin, Dana J.

Committee Member

Iglay, Ramond B.

Date of Degree

12-12-2025

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Forest Resources (Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

This dissertation explores the acceptance capacity of Mississippians towards black bears (Ursus Americanus), and their intentions to participate in their conservation and management. It intends to bridge the theory and application of wildlife acceptance capacity among three main objectives. First, a systematic literature review of journal articles employing the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis (SALSA) method revealed the development phase of Wildlife Acceptance Capacity (WAC)-conceptual phase (1988 -2000) and applied phase (post 2000), highlighting the strong scholarly collaboration among high human development index (HDI) countries with limited collaboration with the low HDI countries. Second, a mail survey of 4,080 Mississippi landowners assessed the psychological and situational determinants of acceptance towards increasing the black bear population. Perceived behavioral control, attitudes, social trust, perceived risks, and perceived benefits significantly predicted acceptance. Demographic variables, such as income and education, did not affect the intentions of landowners to accept black bears. These findings were consistent between counties with frequent black bear encounters and counties with infrequent black bear encounters and emphasized localized education and outreach interventions from wildlife agencies. Third, a mail survey of 4,000 Mississippi licensed resident hunters was conducted to assess their intention to hunt black bears if a harvest season were available in the future. Psychological and situational determinants were examined using the extended theory of planned behavior. Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were key determinants of the hunter's intention, while education affected the intention negatively. Social trust, perceived risks and perceived benefits were not significant determinants, which may be because of the current ban on black bear hunting and the low population of black bears in the state. This dissertation concludes that effective black bear management in Mississippi requires integration of behavioral insights, improving social trust in wildlife agencies, and tailoring outreach activities based on stakeholder demographics.

Sponsorship (Optional)

MSU Grant #: G00007866

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