| A study was conducted in Pennsylvania to compare contributor and noncontributor attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife diversity and the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. It was found that contributors and noncontributors differ in attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife diversity and toward the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. There was a highly significant (p $<$.001) difference between the groups in all of the attitudinal categories tested. There was also at least a significant difference (p $<$.05) between contributors and noncontributors in all but one behavioral category. Contributors are a more homogeneous group, have better attitude crystallization, have greater positive attitudinal strengths and participate more in both consumptive and nonconsumptive wildlife-related activities. Contributors are more knowledgeable of the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. They are also more supportive of its activities and more willing to accept a variety of alternative funding sources to support wildlife diversity initiatives. A step-wise discriminant analysis revealed that contributor behavior could be predicted from the combination of six variables: (1) attitudes toward nongame, (2) being a member of an outdoor or conservation club/organization, (3) reading wildlife related magazines/journals, (4) donating money to outdoor or conservation related causes, (5) visiting a national or state park, and (6) marital status. If an individual possesses these combined characteristics, there is a 78% chance that their contribution behavior may be predicted. |
