Conflict over CougarsA Window on Scientific ManagementDavid MattsonUSGS Southwest Biological Science CenterLiving with Cougars in the Flagstaff UplandsSize of cougar kills…TrendsCirca 1500Circa 1500Circa 1950Circa 1500Circa 1950Circa presentChanges in managementSCIENTIFIC MGMT & CIVIC WILDLIFE ORGANIZATIONSSCIENTIFIC MGMT & CIVIC WILDLIFE ORGANIZATIONSENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTPersistence of goals1980-presentDominionisticUtilitarianEcologisticScientificNaturalistic“Heritage”Provision of sport-huntingDepredation controlHuman safetyFlagstaffTucsonPhoenixKnown sites of cougar predationThe “Normal” Regime of Rule-Making & Implementation9 month seasonNo area limitsUntil recently, no limit on type of animalHunter reports kill within 10 days1 lion/resident/year, with some exceptionsMonitoring the lion population & managing the harvest$10$13Monitoring the lion population & managing the harvest$10$13A Regime Shift“Incidents”Mt Elden – Flagstaff2001-2002Sabino Canyon - Tucson2004“Opening the door to public input only gives voice to the animal rights nuts who will never be satisfied with less than a complete no kill policy.”“The governor is mightily displeased.”“Incidents”A Regime ShiftExistential anxietyPublicdiscontentIncivilitySome symptomsGreat difficulty identifying & securing the “common interest”A Regime ShiftSome symptomsProblem orientationDecision process(Psycho-) Social processKellert’s schematic of worldviewsAn AnalysisWorld Views(Kellert 1996, Ruther 2005)NegativisticHumanistic/MoralisticAesthetic/NaturalisticUtilitarian/DominionisticEcologistic/ScientisticThe Dominionistic/Utilitarian SubsystemThe IngroupHuntersHuntersWildlife watchersHuntersHUNTERSNON-HUNTERSHunter worldviewsHuntersNon-hunter worldviewsHUNTERSNON-HUNTERSHuntersAGFDOutfittersAgency wealthAgency ‘governance’CommissionVeteran of game management agenciesBoone & Crocket records;North American bighorn sheep Grand SlamYuma Rod & Gun ClubSafari Club InternationalSafari Club InternationalSet policyHire/fire the DirectorAgency cultureAgency plansAgency plansAgency plansThe Dominionistic/UtilitarianSubsystemLegitimacy and wealth are largely generated within the subsystemthrough provision of the “wildlife product.”Total Quality ManagementMODELS OF GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT…through provision of the wildlife product.Scientific Management“Let Arizona Game & Fish manage wildlife, using scientific and statistical methods, rather than having to be concerned about the public, political, and media reaction.”“No commissioner should ever have to bow to the wishes of emotional masses when science proves them wrong…politics should never interfere in their decisions.”“Problems” are of a technical & biophysical nature to be defined and solved by the experts (i.e., AZGF)MODELS OF GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENTVirtually no concept of governance related to liberal democracy & civility.Essentially no way to conceptualize “management” as fundamentally about identifying & securing common interests.A Dynamic EnvironmentWorld Views(Kellert 1996)Organizational Involvement Club attendanceTrust PhilanthropySocial Capital & Public TrustCapacity for CivilitySocial Capital & Public TrustCapacity for CivilitySocial Capital & Public TrustCapacity for Civilityr = 0.63Attentiveness of goals to emerging valuesSocial Capital & Public Trust Capacity for Civility Potential for conflict over state wildlife management A1 L i z ,&16-"~ <.> - i. em, disenfranchised ' 1 St Princi pal C h - omponent -Social Capital & Public TrustCapacity for Civility133211Potential for conflict over state wildlife managementThe OutgroupAnimal Rights &Animal Welfare ActivistsThe OutgroupAnimal Rights &Animal Welfare ActivistsENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTAnimal Rights & Animal Welfare ActivistsAnimal Rights & Animal Welfare ActivistsANIMAL RIGHTSOTHERAnimal Rights & Animal Welfare Activists“…a religious fervor…”Animal Rights & Animal Welfare Activists“…a religious fervor…”RECTITUDEAnimal Rights & Animal Welfare Activists1978 1995Animal Rights & Animal Welfare ActivistsPercent of AZ residents who did not know who manages AZ wildlifeAnimal Rights & Animal Welfare ActivistsFoci of articles in the Flagstaff, AZ, Daily Sunduring “normal” periods, 1999-2005Perturbations(continued)Mt Elden – Flagstaff2001-2002Sabino Canyon - Tucson2004PerturbationsPerturbationsTucson Daily StarSabino CanyonFlagstaff Daily SunSabino CanyonMt EldenPerturbationsFoci of articles in the Flagstaff, AZ, Daily Sunduring “normal” periods, 1999-2005Foci of articles in the Flagstaff, AZ, Daily Sunduring perturbations, 1999-2005Perturbations“The governor is mightily displeased.”PerturbationsAZGF defends its legitimacy……who said AGFD was doing a good job.…who knew AGFD managed Arizona’s wildlife.“The Problem”Discourse contentAZGF is over-reacting, not being responsive or creative, & is serving the special interests of hunters.People are irresponsible, for example by having dogs off leash; unbridled development is also a problem.Cougars are a threat to human safety“The Problem”Discourse contentAZGF is over-reacting, not being responsive or creative, & is serving the special interests of hunters.People are irresponsible, for example by having dogs off leash; unbridled development is also a problem.BLAME: AZ Game & FishINTENT: IntentionalBLAME: The Public; developers,recreationistsINTENT: Intentional & InadvertentCougars are a threat to human safetyBLAME: CougarsINTENT: Intentional & Inadvertent“The Problem”Discourse contentAZGF is over-reacting, not being responsive or creative, & is serving the special interests of hunters.People are irresponsible, for example by having dogs off leash; unbridled development is also a problem.BLAME: AZ Game & FishINTENT: IntentionalBLAME: The Public; developers,recreationistsINTENT: Intentional & InadvertentCougars are a threat to human safetyBLAME: CougarsINTENT: Intentional & InadvertentPSYCHO-SOCIALBIOPHYSICALPOLICY, “normal” & constitutive“The Solution”Discourse contentClose conflict areas, educate, enforce leash laws, do research, and make people responsible for their actions.Kill the threatening cougar, kill more cougars in general, & educate the public.“The Solution”Discourse contentClose conflict areas, educate, enforce leash laws, do research, and make people responsible for their actions.Kill the threatening cougar,