Julia Smith recently completed her Masters Thesis in zoology at Southern Illinois University.........Her paper is entitlted RECOLONIZATION OF THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES BY LARGE CARNIVORES: HABITAT SUITABILITY AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS.....................Julia's extensive research and "drill down" included the variables that the most experienced biologists utilize to determine the feasibility of Wolves, Pumas and Bears being able to recolonize and sustain a population------cover type, road density, distance to roads, human density, distance to water and slope.....................Bottom line is that roughly 12% of the entire Midwest can once again "house" all three species if we humans give them a chance to step back into these historical haunts....................Julia, very fine thesis you have crafted here..................Best of luck to you going forward

THESIS APPROVAL

RECOLONIZATION OF THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES

BY LARGE CARNIVORES:

HABITAT SUITABILITY AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS

By

Julia B. Smith

A Thesis Submitted in Partial

Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of

Master of Science

in the field of Zoology

Approved by:

Dr. Clayton K. Nielsen, Co-Chair

Dr. Eric C. Hellgren, Co-Chair

Dr. Mae A. Davenport

Graduate School

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

December 5, 2012

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF

JULIA B. SMITH, for the MASTER OF SCIENCE degree in ZOOLOGY, presented on 

December 5, 2012, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

TITLE: RECOLONIZATION OF THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES

BY LARGE CARNIVORES: HABITAT SUITABILITY AND HUMAN DIMENSIONS

MAJOR PROFESSORS: Dr. Clayton K. Nielsen and Dr. Eric C. Hellgren

Large carnivores in the United States are making a comeback following decades of 

systematic eradication. Black bears (Ursus americanus), cougars (Puma concolor), and gray 

wolves (Canis lupus) may recolonize the midwestern United States provided there is substantial 

suitable habitat. However, viability of large carnivore populations is as dependent on social 

acceptance as on biological factors. I developed individual and combined models of suitable 

habitat for black bears, cougars, and wolves in 18 midwestern states using geospatial data, 

expert-opinion surveys, and multi-criteria evaluation. I also assessed attitudes and perceptions of 

Illinois citizens about large carnivores via a mail-in survey.

Experts indicated land cover was the 

most important variable for predicting potential habitat for black bears and cougars; human

density was the most influential variable for wolves. Large, contiguous areas of suitable habitat 

comprised 35%, 21%, and 13% of the study region for wolves, bears, and cougars, respectively. 

About 12% of the region was considered suitable for all 3 species. Arkansas, Minnesota, Texas, 

and Wisconsin had the highest proportions (>40%) of suitable habitat for black bears; Arkansas, 

Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin had the most (≥20%) suitable cougar habitat; and 

only 4 states in the study region contained <29% suitable wolf habitat. Models were validated by 

comparing suitability values of independent sets of known carnivore locations to those of 

random locations, and models appeared accurate. More than 70% of survey respondents (n = 

791) were male and their average age was 60; 55% were hunters. Approximately 40% were ii

unsure about the population status of large carnivores in Illinois; of the remaining respondents, 

most (ranging from 20% for black bears to 41% for cougars) believed the presence of all 3 

species had increased over the past decade.

More residents supported protection (43%) and 

increasing numbers of large carnivores (39%) than opposed them (26%), although support for 

black bears was slightly higher than for cougars and wolves. Rural residents and livestock 

owners were the most likely to want carnivore numbers to decrease and least likely to support 

their protection; higher levels of education corresponded to positive attitudes toward large 

carnivores. My research provides the foundation for well-informed management plans, policy 

decisions, and educational initiatives for large carnivores in midwestern states where large 

carnivore populations have been absent for decades.

CLICK ON TAB BELOW..........THEN, CLICK ON THE URL COORDINATES TO READ JULIA'S ENTIRE THESIS

Recolonization of the Midwestern United States by Large Carnivores