Interests, beliefs, experience, and perceptions shape tolerance towards impacts of recovering predators

The modification of landscapes is increasing the interface between humans and wildlife, while conflicts concerning predator impacts on human activities persist. Some previously persecuted but now protected predator species are experiencing recovery and range expansion. Tolerance is considered essential for achieving coexistence between humans and wildlife; however, its conceptualisation remains unresolved. Little is known about tolerance in the context of recovering predators, particularly which drivers are relevant to all or specific species and human interests. Using an online questionnaire survey shared with members of organisations with interests in rural land-based activities, we collected data on interests and beliefs, and attitudes, perceptions, experience, and management preferences for six recovering vertebrate predators in the UK (n=819). We created a species tolerance score representing the management choices of the respondents in different conflict scenarios, which differed...