Have you ever wondered if you are a Traditionalist or Mutualist, maybe a Pluralist?
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies with assistance from its regional branches and others recently looked at how the public values wildlife.
For centuries, wildlife has been viewed as something akin to property, managed for the sole benefit of humans, without possessing intrinsic value or worth of its own. If you believe that now, you are a Traditionalist according to America’s Wildlife Values survey.
Across the country, 28% agree with you. In Nevada, 22% concur.
If you regard wildlife as having intrinsic value independent of human use or purpose, sentient beings deserving of respect and freedom from frivolous and unnecessary harm, then you are a Mutualist.
Nationally, 35% agree with you. In Nevada, 44% of us are Mutualists…the second highest percentage in the country. Only California exceeds us by a couple of percentage points.
Pluralists are people capable of either point of view, depending on circumstances. Nationally, 21% claim that status; in Nevada, it is 19%.
Survey respondents called Distanced have no interest in this topic. That’s about 15% of us.
Taking Mutualists and Pluralists at their word, is it now time for fish and wildlife agencies to find ways to make management decisions that affect the lives of individual animals? Is it only about numbers?