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Event Type
Research Presentation
Academic Department
Biology
Location
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Start Date
14-4-2023 1:30 PM
End Date
14-4-2023 3:00 PM
Description
Under the direction of Drs. Elizabeth R. Gleim & Meg du Bray (University of Northern Colorado, Greeley)
Wild horses are frequently viewed as icons of the American West and their management is frequently steeped in controversy. However, managers face incredible challenges as they are charged to manage 62,398 wild horses in “off-range,” government-managed corrals and pastures and an additional 82,384 free-roaming wild horses in the U.S. on lands that aren’t meant to support more than 27,000 wild horses. The purpose of this research was to assess people’s knowledge and perceptions of wild horses and wild horse management. A survey was developed and distributed to students, faculty, and staff at Hollins University. Ultimately, 124 people took the survey, of which 61.3% were students and 38.7% were faculty or staff. Eighty-two percent of respondents felt that wild horses should be managed and 17.6% felt that they should not be managed. Fertility control and humane euthanization of sick and dying horses were viewed as the most effective and most supported management methods. When asked where they get most of their information on wild horses, 21.2% of respondents said social media and only 7.1% and 6.2% got the majority of their information from government websites and peer-reviewed literature, respectively. Collectively, this data could be used to help managers better understand people’s knowledge and perceptions of wild horses and their management and develop data-based strategies to enhance understanding and support of effective wild horse management strategies.
People’s Knowledge and Perceptions of Wild Horses and Their Management
Dana Science Building, 2nd floor
Under the direction of Drs. Elizabeth R. Gleim & Meg du Bray (University of Northern Colorado, Greeley)
Wild horses are frequently viewed as icons of the American West and their management is frequently steeped in controversy. However, managers face incredible challenges as they are charged to manage 62,398 wild horses in “off-range,” government-managed corrals and pastures and an additional 82,384 free-roaming wild horses in the U.S. on lands that aren’t meant to support more than 27,000 wild horses. The purpose of this research was to assess people’s knowledge and perceptions of wild horses and wild horse management. A survey was developed and distributed to students, faculty, and staff at Hollins University. Ultimately, 124 people took the survey, of which 61.3% were students and 38.7% were faculty or staff. Eighty-two percent of respondents felt that wild horses should be managed and 17.6% felt that they should not be managed. Fertility control and humane euthanization of sick and dying horses were viewed as the most effective and most supported management methods. When asked where they get most of their information on wild horses, 21.2% of respondents said social media and only 7.1% and 6.2% got the majority of their information from government websites and peer-reviewed literature, respectively. Collectively, this data could be used to help managers better understand people’s knowledge and perceptions of wild horses and their management and develop data-based strategies to enhance understanding and support of effective wild horse management strategies.