Mountain Lions of the Black Hills

124 Mountain Lions of the Black Hills

2011). Many residents hunt deer annually, and in the past, families, including residents
and nonresidents, traditionally hunted deer in the Black Hills (Backman et al. 2001).
Because this new predator could reduce deer and elk populations in the Black Hills or
may even be perceived as a threat to personal safety when residents and their family
members hunt in the Black Hills, we expected that big game hunters would have stron-
ger negative attitudes toward mountain lions. However, when big game hunters were
surveyed in 2002, we found that their attitudes toward mountain lions were similar
to those of nonhunters ( table 8.6). This finding could likely be explained by two facts:
that mountain lion presence and sightings were relatively rare at the time and that
deer hunting in the Black Hills was perceived as good in 2002 (Gigliotti 2003). The
attitudes expressed in this survey made sense to me, based on the early conversations
I had had with hunters. Some rather enjoyed just the thought that they might see a
lion while out hunting for deer, elk, or another species. In contrast, some hunters would
approach me, knowing I was studying the species, and speak about how they were
unhappy to have lions occupying the Black Hills and, likely because they held a simi-
lar opinion to that of rural landowners with livestock, would like the species elimi-
nated from the state. Overall, though, during these early years there was much more
excitement associated with the presence of mountain lions than disdain for the
predator.

The Later Years

In any research proj ect focused on learning about aspects of a par tic u lar species,
there is a scientific won der that surrounds those actively involved in the study and
others with whom they associate. This won der can sometimes be misinterpreted as a
concern for the species, a love of the species, or a need to protect it in some way. It
seems that there is a threshold between two primary views of researchers who study
large predators: they are seen either as unbiased researchers or as biased and exhibit-
ing a protectionist mind- set. Unfortunately, no one knows for sure where the thresh-

Table 8.6. South Dakota residents’ attitudes toward mountain lions,

comparing big game hunters and nonhunters

Mountain lion attitude groups

Normally hunt big game

No (64%) Yes (36%)

Strongly pro- lion (23%) 22% 24%

Slightly pro- lion (34%) 33% 35%

Neutral (11%) 12% 10%

Slightly contra- lion (22%) 24% 21%

Strongly contra- lion (10%) 9% 11%

Source: Gigliotti, Fecske, and Jenks 2002.