Poster presented at the Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management Conference, Revelstoke, BC, October 6-7, 2010

1. Harming or Killing Snakes In Canada: Results of the National Survey, 2010
Jonathan Choquette1, Kristen Campbell2, Brian Hutchinson3, R.J. Payne4
1 School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, N1G 2W1, jchoquet@uoguelph.ca ;
2 School of Environment and Management, Royal Roads University, Victoria BC, V8P 5C2, kristen.2campbell@royalroads.ca;
3 Parks Canada, Ottawa ON, K1B 3V7, Brian.Hutchinson@pc.gc.ca;
4 School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay ON, P7B 5E1, rjpayne@lakeheadu.ca
Introduction
The survey sought to obtain answers to questions Table 3: Response and Income Two other variables – income and education – exhibit
about how people in Canada react to snakes, when marginally significant differences when examined for
they encounter them on their own properties Income Harm/Kill Other
(homes, cottages, farms) or elsewhere (roads, trails, responses to snakes. For income, people having lower
Responses than the median Canadian income are slightly more
parks).
Under 31 749 likely to harm or kill snakes; for education, people with
While a broad number of reactions to snakes, Median$$ high school or less education are slightly more likely to
ranging from “avoid the snake” through “get
someone to deal with the snake” were identified by Over 23 942 harm or kill snakes.
respondents, it was the “harm/kill” response that Median $$
was the focus of the research. X2 3.641 .056
Next Steps
Table 4: Response and Education Next comes two sets qualitative interviews, one with
residents of southern Alberta that will focus on
Education Harm/Kill Other
interactions with Prairie Rattle Snakes, and the other in
Responses
the Windsor, Ontario area with a broader focus. Each
High School 21 497 set of interviews will be guided in selecting
or less interviewees by the results presented in this poster.
More than 41 1403
High School Following the interviews both sources of data will
Men are more likely than women to harm or kill snakes. X2 1.838 .175 contribute to the development of a social marketing
Rural residents are more likely to harm or kill snakes strategy to change the behaviours of those who harm
than urban. or kill snakes.
Income and education may have some influence, but
Methods the extent of any such influence requires further study. References
Table 1: Response and Gender
Data for the study were collected in the last week of Ashley, E. Paul, Kosloski, A., and Petrie, S., 2007.
March and the first week of April, 2010, by means of Gender Harm/Kill Other Incidence of intentional vehicle–reptile collisions.
telephone surveys conducted by Harris-Decima, Inc. Responses Human Dimensions in Wildlife, 12:137–143.
Harris-Decima operates a weekly “Vox” survey during
which clients can add particular questions to a standard Male 40 905 Bixler, R.D., C.L. Carlisle, W.E. Hammitt and M. F. Floyd.
array of socio-demographic and socio-economic 1994. Observed fears and discomforts among urban
variables. The nine questions formulated for this Female 23 1014 students on field trips to wildland areas. The Journal of
research (see Appendix I for the questions) sought to Environmental Education 26(1): 24-33.
gauge people's reactions to snakes on their property X2 6.522 .011
and elsewhere as well as people's awareness of snakes Matchett, G. and Davey, G. 1991. Test of a disease
and their protection status in Canadian provinces. avoidance model of animal phobias. Behaviour
Research and Therapy, 29, 91-94. Cited in Bixler, R.D.
Table 2: Response and Urban/Rural
The two weeks of telephone surveys yielded 2021 and M.F. Floyd. 1999. Hands on or hands off? Disgust
interviews. These interviews were collected randomly, Location Harm/Kill Other Discussion sensitivity and preference to environmental education
but selection was stratified according to populations in Responses activities. The Journal of Environmental Education 30
each Canadian province. This stratification means that, As expected, a respondent’s gender is significant in the (3): 4-11.
while the total number of respondents (2021) “harm/kill” response, with men more likely than
constitutes a large sample of Canadians, sample size Urban 31 1288 women to harm or kill snakes encountered on their Sissons, A. 2006. Attitudes and Values Towards
becomes problematic when one leaves the more property. Similarly, respondents’ location in rural areas Reptiles. Report prepared for Parks Canada, Ontario
populous provinces. Rural 32 631 versus urban areas shows a statistically significant Region.
difference response, with people in rural areas more
X2 8.791 ,003
likely to harm or kill a snake encountered on their
property