The natural recolonization of gray wolves (Canis lupus) into parts of their former range in the upper Midwest of the United States has led to
wolves establishing territories in semiagricultural areas containing
livestock. As part of a study on wolf-livestock relationships in a
northwestern Minnesota agricultural area, we surveyed rural landowners
within and outside of wolf range to assess perceptions regarding the
risks wolves pose to livestock (mainly cattle). The mean response score
for rural landowners to the statement I think wolves should be allowed
to exist in northwest Minnesota'' was between neutral and disagree.
There was no difference in mean response scores between rural residents
living within wolf range and residents living adjacent to but outside
of wolf range. The rural residents' mean response score to the
statement ``Wolves are causing unacceptable levels of damage to
northwest Minnesota's livestock industry'' was between neutral and
agree. Although there was a statistical difference in mean response
scores of residents living within wolf range and residents living
outside of wolf range, the scores were not substantially different from
each other. While landowners felt wolves were a threat to their
livelihood, other factors (market fluctuations, laws and government,
diseases, extreme weather, flooding) were ranked as greater threats to
the agricultural community. Rural residents both within and outside of
wolf range harbored similar negative attitudes toward wolves, even
though residents outside of wolf range have not had a population of
wolves in their area for >100 years, indicating little change in
cultural attitudes toward wolves.