Wolf Support Poll Conducted In SW Also Shows Widespread Support For Wolf Control and Ranching
Wolf Crossing’s analysis of this poll is somewhat different too bad most of the mainstream media didn’t take a harder look at the results. Here is the rest of the story
Poll shows Support for Wolves, ALSO that wolf management for ranching is OK.
Commissioned by organizations such as the Re-Wildling Institute, Arizona Zoological Society, New Mexico Audubon Council, the Southwest Environmental Center and conducted by Research & Polling, Inc., one of the southwest’s largest full-service market research and public opinion research companies a recent poll seeking support for Mexican wolves and testing the waters on the public’s opinion on livestock grazing among wolf reintroduction areas. The poll was conducted among Arizona and New Mexico voters and had some interesting results.The vast majority of those polled in both states had little to no knowlege of the Mexican wolf recovery program. Therefore it isn’t surprising that most of those polled support wolf recovery, 69% in NM and 77% in Arizona.Â
What was surprising and not reported in the mainstream media who probably didn’t get that part of the press release, is the strong support for both wolf control and livestock grazing that prevales throughout the poll results.Â
Most telling is the fact that 68% of those polled in NM had little to no knowledge of the Mexican wolf recovery program. wolf recovery survey summary NM In Arizona 51% to 52% had little to no knowlege of the Mexican wolf program. wolf recovery survey summary Arizona
Not reported in the major media outlets was the fact that those polled supported ranching on federally administered land and felt livestock grazing was good for the envirnonment.
On livestock grazing.
49% New Mexico participants believed livestock grazing is good for the environment. 26% had no opinion.
51% Arizona participants believed livestock grazing is good for the environment. 28% had no opinion.
Spending taxpayer dollars on controlling wolves for ranching benefits.
79% New Mexico participants want taxpayer dollars to go towards helping ranchers who have experienced wolf conflicts to reduce them. 11% specified that they wanted taxpayer dollars to go to removing and even killing wolves that cause conflict with livestock.
71% Arizona participants want taxpayer dollars to go towards helping ranchers who have experienced wolf conflicts to reduce them. 11% specified that they wanted taxpayer dollars to go towards removing and even killing wolves that caused conflict with livestock.Â
On Wolf control
In New Mexico, 33% of participants want to see wolves that kill 3 or more livestock killed or removed. 25% were neutral on the matter (this means they didn’t oppose wolves being killed or removed). Only 36% oppose killing and removing wolves that kill livestock.
In Arizona, 28% of participants want to see wolves that kill 3 or more livestock killed or removed. 24% were neutral on the matter (this means they didn’t oppose wolves being killed or removed). Only 44% oppose killing and removing wolves that kill livestock.
This poll was interpreted to show mass support for wolf recovery and certainly be interpreted that way if one ignores all other results, yet it also shows widespread support for ranchers and ranching in AZ and NM. In most wolf advocacy press releases the support for controling wolves was either spun to benefit their adgenda’s or left completely out. One website flat out lied that wide support was had for not removing problem wolves.Â
The poll clearly shows that the majority of people identify with ranchers on loss of personal property and their ability to sustain their livelihoods through livestock grazing and if necessary, through wolf control. The poll could very well be interpreted to show that wolf control to support ranchers is more important to the participants than removal of grazing to support wolves.
What this poll also says, is that even with the anti ranching agenda set forth by those commissioning the polls, the whole range of poll results the participants generally had positive attitudes about ranching and livestock grazing.Â
The vast majority of those polled admitted little to no knowledge of the issue, therefore the uneducated public opinion on Mexican wolves and wolf reintroduction is positive. Despite mass media campaigns by wolf advocates who have been educating the public on wolf management that may or may not be scientifically based for years the public still supports livestock grazing on federally administered lands. Possibly even over wolf recovery even though they also support the idea of wolves on the same landscape. What would happen with a little pro active education on the real wolf story from a ranching / local community perspective?
To analyze the results yourself click the following
wolf recovery survey summary NM
wolf recovery survey summary Arizona
For a sample of how the story was reported in NM click the following link.
Poll finds broad support for wolf reintroduction
KOB.com - Albuquerque,NM,USA
ALBUQUERQUE, NM (AP) - There’s new a poll out on the 10-year-old federal program to release Mexican gray wolves in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern …
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July 11th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I agree Laura. I was surprised the poll was not more negative towards grazing and reimbersment for the rancher considering the over whelmingly biased reporting on this issue. If the media would report all the facts who knows what the polls would say.
I know from personal experience that most people, even in rual areas in AZ are not aware of the wolf reitroduction program. I inform as many people as I can that are willing to listen.
Keep up the good work.