Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Mountain Lions: A Public Survey of Residents Adjacent to Saguaro National Park, Arizona

In spring 2000, the authors conducted a telephone survey of 9 local wildlife managers and a mail survey of local suburban residents to assess their knowledge of and attitudes toward mountain lions near Tucson, Arizona. All of the wildlife managers wanted more information that could lead to improved management of mountain lions. The overall response to the public survey was 493 completed surveys, or about 52% of potential respondents.

Respondents’ knowledge of mountain lion biology was low. Respondents supported management measures that protect mountain lions in all landscapes and opposed measures that removed protections. The majority of respondents (79%) favor mountain lion protection on public and private land, but 69% believe that mountain lions should be shot or trapped when they have caused problems that affect humans.

A majority of respondents (54%) oppose policies that would protect mountain lions only within national parks and other reserves. 25% of respondents felt that that mountain lions should be controlled (i.e., shot or trapped) anywhere they are found in association with human developments. However, 92% felt that a bounty on mountain lions should not be reinstated. Most respondents (71%) stated that it is appropriate to kill mountain lions for public safety, but 12% feel that it is never appropriate to kill a mountain lion. A minority of residents supported killing mountain lions to protect livestock (27%), for sport hunting (12%), and for protection of wild prey species (7%).