COMMUNITY AND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION | Recreation and Safety in Bear Habitats

Recreation and Safety in Bear Habitats

About the Research

The purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of humans’ relationships to bears, including exploring the challenges associated with recreating (e.g., hiking, camping, hunting, ATV riding, etc.) and living in bear country. This research is multidimensional and considers multiple populations (i.e., residents and various types of recreationists) in four areas of the country: Colorado, Georgia/North Carolina, Montana/Idaho, and New Hampshire/Maine. The larger goal of the project is to gain insights into humans’ role and place in the natural environment for the purposes of developing better outcomes for people, bears, and other keystone species.

Survey

To participate, click the link for your region. The survey takes less than 3 minutes and includes the previewed questions. To join in a follow-up interview, enter your name and email address at the end of the survey.

Colorado

go.uncg.edu/co.bears

Georgia/North Carolina

go.uncg.edu/ga.bears

Montana/Idaho

go.uncg.edu/mt.bears

New Hampshire/Maine

go.uncg.edu/nh.bears

Thanks for completing the survey! If you have questions, please
email Justin Harmon at harmon@uncg.edu.

Preview of survey Questions

This is a preview of the survey questions that you will be asked:

  1. How informed are you about staying safe while living in bear country?
  2. How often do you see bears or evidence of bears where you live?
  3. Have you ever had any negative encounters with bears?
  4. What are your general perceptions or beliefs about bears (e.g., they need to be managed or controlled, or should be left alone)?
  5. How informed do you believe the average backcountry recreationist visiting your area is about bears, bear safety, and recreating in the presence of bears?
  6. How would you rate the effectiveness of local land managers in informing the public about bears and bear safety, and intervening with problem bears?
  7. As people continue to move to areas where bears reside, do you think there will be more human-bear interactions?
  8. As people continue to move to areas where bears reside, do you think there will be more need for bear management (e.g., removal or euthanization of problem bears)?
  9. If you’re willing to participate in a more in-depth, follow-up interview, please include your name and email below.

About Justin Harmon

Justin Harmon is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, focusing on recreation interventions post-cancer diagnosis and human-wildlife/human-human conflicts on public lands.

Before teaching, he worked in city, county, and state recreation, forestry, and wildlife agencies.

Contact: harmon@uncg.edu

black bear