title: Regulating wild boar populations is "somebody else's problem"! - Human dimension in wild boar management.
abstract: As a part of the ongoing game survey of the German federal state of Lower Saxony (WTE), we conducted inquiries into wild boar management and distribution, as well as hunters' attitudes, in order to determine the reasons for the increase of wild boar populations and to inform our game management strategy. According to hunters' reports within the WTE, increases in distribution and population continue and a reduction of the wild boar population has been deemed necessary on a large scale. In the home region, however, it seems to be "somebody else's problem" (SEP), according to hunters' opinions. The majority of hunters are not able to regulate the population and this could be a reason that wild boar numbers continue to increase. Cooperation and comprehensive hunting with efficient hunting methods seems to be the most promising solution, as non-hunting methods are unpopular amongst hunters. The hunters seem to be aware of the problems, solutions and contributing factors; however, most hunters do not feel responsible and see the management of wild boar, again, as a SEP. Regional conditions, as well as hunters' willingness and capacity to manage wild boar will have to be incorporated into management concepts.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: oliver.keuling@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Keuling
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany; Hunting Association of Lower Saxony (LJN Landesjägerschaft Niedersachsen e.V.), Schopenhauerstr. 21, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: egbert.strauss@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Egbert
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Strauß
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: ursula.siebert@tiho-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Siebert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D006801:Humans; D034421:Sus scrofa
keywords: Human dimension; Hunters' opinion poll; Hunting efficiency; Monitoring; Sus scrofa; Wildlife management