Program on the Environment

This capstone examines how environmental education and outreach initiatives can reshape public perceptions towards wildlife. Perceptions that are often skewed by fear, misinformation, or personal bias. Changing perceptions can help mitigate human–wildlife conflict. Through an internship with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), I explored how community-based outreach initiatives can teach empathy and promote coexistence between humans and wildlife. Using a mixed-methods approach, I combined independent literature review, direct outreach, and structured surveys distributed across five local farmers markets. Survey questions assessed participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and willingness to engage in wildlife-friendly behaviors. Respondents were categorized into two groups: those who interacted directly with PAWS staff at outreach booths and those who did not.
Findings indicate that interactive staff engagement increases empathy, awareness, and behavioral intent—particularly toward species commonly labeled as “pests.” However, many participants also exhibited “cognitive dissonance”, expressing compassion for their pets and mammals while expressing negative attitudes toward wild animals. These results corroborate with existing literature on wildlife perception bias (Crawford, Dunn, & Nyhus) while expanding it through in person community research. Effective outreach strategies identified in this study include visually engaging materials, interactive “biofacts,” and approachable, knowledgeable staff facilitators. Overall, this project demonstrates that intentional, place based environmental education can shift narratives around wildlife, encourage personal responsibility, and strengthen community participation in wildlife conservation.