Abstract
People have a significant role to play when it comes to predator control. The announcement of the Predator Free 2050 goal (PF2050), in June 2016, will require the engagement of thousands of people across New Zealand. Given the timeline, young adults, in particular, are an important consideration.
The attitudes, involvement and knowledge of 18 to 24 year olds towards PF2050 and predator control were surveyed in 2017. The results showed that this demographic believes small, introduced mammals (including domestic cats) to be threats to the environment, whereas larger introduced mammals are considered resources and should be managed as such. Traditional forms of control such as traps and bait stations were viewed positively, in contrast to aerial drops of poison, which was viewed negatively. Respondents seemed open to the potential use of gene drive as a predator control method. Throughout the survey, concern was expressed for the welfare of the targeted animals, which may have contributed to the support for gene drive. Overall, the majority of young adults were not directly engaged with predator control; however, they did express strong interest in PF2050 and conservation in general.