ATTITUDES TOWARD WOLVES IN SOUTHEASTERN NORWAY

In some Norwegian regions conflicts between sheep farmers and wildlife managers have increased considerably in frequency and intensity. In o rder to gain more insight into the inhabitants' attitudes toward one c arnivore species, opinions about the preferred size of the wolf popula tion, attitudes and knowledge about wolves, and experience with animal -related activities were surveyed in southeastern Norway. The attitude typology identified by Kellert (1986) was applied. Of the total sampl e, 14% wanted wolves extirpated in Norway, 37% wanted the present popu lation reduced, 40% wanted it maintained, and 7% wanted it increased. The proportion wanting wolves extirpated or reduced increased as the p erceived size of the wolf population increased, age increased, and edu cational level decreased. The attitude profiles showed that old person s, pensioners, and those with only basic education expressed high domi nionistic, high negativistic and high utilitarian, and low naturalisti c scores, whereas young persons with higher education showed the rever se pattern.