Attitudes toward Black Bear* | Mean | S.D. |
Positive attitude (α = 0.77) I enjoy seeing black bears in natural areas Bears are an important part of our ecosystem Black bears should be conserved for future generations Bears are not a threat to people Seeing a black bear increases my appreciation of nature It is important for me to know black bears exist, even if I never see one | 5.58 5.14 6.12 6.22 4.18 5.53 6.29 | 1.27 1.55 .95 1.11 1.58 1.47 .98 |
Negative attitude (α = 0.63) I worry about problems bears might cause to my property Risk of being injured by a bear in a natural area is high Black bears are a nuisance | 2.99 3.29 3.12 2.55 | 1.54 1.81 1.55 1.26 |
Environment and management statement (α = 0.61) People should learn to live with black bears near their homes Black bears are being properly managed in this area State governments should buy land for bear conservation | 4.75 4.86 4.52 4.91 | 1.48 1.60 1.04 1.79 |