Human responses to encounters with wildlife in urban parks

Abstract A total of 3,697 subjects at seven study sites were observed directly, and 246 were interviewed on site, to determine human responses to wildlife encounters in five urban or suburban parks in Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado. Fifty‐five percent of the park visitors studied made an observable, spontaneous response to the wildlife present; 74% of these persons made a perceptible orientation to the wildlife, 20% followed up with investigation, and 6% made deliberate contact with the wildlife. More than 90% said the wildlife encounters enhanced their park visit that day. These data on responses to wildlife and the conditions associated with them provide basic information about how wildlife enhances urban park visitation.