Wildlife Stakeholder Acceptance Capacity for black bears, beavers, and other beasts in the east

The formal concept of wildlife stakeholder acceptance capacity (WSAC) in wildlife management is less than a generation old. The genesis of wildlife management in North America occurred during a time when populations of many wildlife species were low, their habitats were altered and degraded, and the human population was rapidly urbanizing. The focus of wildlife management was to restore wildlife populations and habitats. Once restored, wildlife managers strove to maintain populations at levels within biological carrying capacities (BCC) and provide benefits to a relatively narrow range of stakeholders. In recent years, cultural changes associated with a predominantly suburban society have led to conflicts with traditional wildlife management approaches and broadened the stakeholder base. Wildlife managers have had to consider the interests of a wider stakeholder base that supports a diversity of often conflicting expectations, while relying on traditional funding sources. For certain species, management for WSAC has taken priority over management for BCC. This scenario is particularly focused in the northeast United States where human population densities are some of the highest in the nation. We explore the current state of our knowledge of WSAC for certain species in the east, and review the tools being used for monitoring and assessment. We discuss adequacy of these approaches and offer suggestions for incorporating WSAC into wildlife management planning and operations. We consider the implications of WSAC to the future of wildlife management in North America.