# Public management attitudes and behavioural intentions towards the management of (over)abundant wild ungulate populations

## TL;DR

People's attitudes toward managing wild ungulate populations in Spain vary with their socioeconomic context and do not always match their willingness to act.

## Contribution

This study reveals that attitudes toward wildlife management in the Iberian Peninsula do not consistently translate into behavioral intentions, highlighting the role of cognitive dissonance and social norms.

## Key findings

- Respondents generally supported non-lethal management methods, but attitudes varied with socioeconomic factors.
- Many supported education efforts, but few intended to participate or fund wildlife management.
- Hunters showed stronger alignment between attitudes and behavioral intentions compared to non-hunters.

## Abstract

Social perceptions of wild ungulates depend on their abundance and the socioeconomic context. These perceptions shape attitudes toward management and explain social behavior toward the species. Our objective was to evaluate attitudes and behavioral intentions toward wild ungulate management in the Iberian Peninsula. We conducted a survey of 440 participants in mainland Spain. Respondents generally supported non-lethal methods, though attitudes varied with socioeconomic context. A key finding was that attitudes did not directly translate into behavioral intentions, suggesting the influence of cognitive dissonance or social norms. While many respondents supported education and awareness actions, a considerable share reported no intention to participate or provide financial support. Recreational hunting was broadly rejected. Notably, hunters’ involvement in management was associated with attitudes that more strongly predicted behavioral intentions. These results highlight the complexity of the social landscape and underscore the need to adapt management strategies to socioeconomic settings and behavioral drivers.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-025-02258-x.