Who’s Responsible?: Public Ascriptions of Responsibility for Endangered Species Conservation in Arkansas, USA

Abstract Human attitudes towards species and attributes of wildlife contribute to support for conservation. However, there is limited information on how perceptions of conservation as a concept and process influence attitudes towards endangered species conservation. Furthermore, the question of who society attributes as being responsible for the conservation of endangered species still looms. We address how perceptions towards wildlife and endangered species conservation predict ascriptions of responsibility for conservation through a survey of 1,049 residents of Arkansas, USA, about their attitudes towards and understandings of wildlife and endangered species conservation, their perceptions of and experiences with wildlife agencies, and their beliefs about the responsibilities various interested parties bear with regards to conserving endangered species. Respondents held generally positive attitudes towards wildlife conservation and endangered species conservation, as well as government wildlife agencies (US Fish and Wildlife Service and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission). Respondents perceived all interested parties (i.e., all Americans, all residents of Arkansas, licensed hunters/anglers in Arkansas, Arkansas landowners with endangered species on their land, and nongovernmental conservation organizations) as at least somewhat responsible for endangered species conservation in Arkansas. Ascriptions of responsibility to interested parties were often positively predicted by variables related to the importance of wildlife to ecosystem health and conservation costs. Our findings illustrate the perceived value of endangered species as a public resource, suggesting support for conservation efforts and their funding that has implications across the United States.