Varied motivations for snake removals in a Desert City
January 1, 2024 - Larson, Kelli L.; Bateman, Heather L.; Clark, Jeffrey A. G.; Hughes, Bryan
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EmailJournal or Book Title: HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF WILDLIFE
DOI:10.1080/10871209.2024.2429431
Abstract: Despite the ecological importance of snakes, people are often unwilling to coexist with them. In our study, we partnered with a company in central Arizona (USA) to survey clients who paid to have snakes removed from their property. Specifically, we examined the contextual, attitudinal, experiential, and socio-demographic factors underlying snake removal decisions, which included perceived threats, generalized fear, and the desire to move snakes to desert habitat. Whether the snake was venomous most substantially explained perceived threats as a motivation for removals, whereas more general fears were explained by affective attitudes, experiences with snakes, and normative beliefs about killing snakes, along with age and education. The desire to relocate snakes to desert habitat was largely explained by normative beliefs against killing snakes. Understanding the motivations for paid snake-removal decisions informs conservation, yet research is needed to mitigate the effects of translocations on snakes.
Type of Publication: Article; Early Access