From perception to practice: how training transforms evaluations toward wild boar trapping

Wildlife management depends on the acceptance of management measures, which knowledge and perceptions may influence. Wild boar trapping is discussed as a management tool in Germany but remains contested regarding animal welfare, legal, and hunting-ethical aspects. We examined the effects of a standardized training program on knowledge and perceptions among authorities, forestry professionals, and hunters in Hesse, central Germany. Between 2021 and 2025, nine training courses were conducted with anonymous pre- and post-training surveys using Likert scales and a ranking item. All groups demonstrated significant improvements (all p ≤ .01) with medium to large effect sizes in perceived knowledge, animal welfare acceptability, and perceived necessity, with initial between-group differences largely resolving post-training. Group-specific perceived efficiency persisted: forestry professionals favored driven hunts as most efficient, while authorities and hunters favored trapping. Targeted training can address knowledge gaps, shift perceptions, and partially align diverse groups, even if group-specific preferences remained.