Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Minnesota
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Longterm, we expect that the information generated from this project will be used to identify valid risk-based testing alternatives, surveillance systems, and implementation strategies that will support the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and States in eradication of BTB from livestock and wildlife. The primary obtive is to improve the effectiveness of bovine tuberculosis eradication programs developed and implemented by state agencies including the Minnesota DNR, by identifying the risk perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, social and personal norms, and behaviors among landowners/cattle producers and deer hunters relevant to BTB; understanding how risk perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, norms and behaviors affect willingness of cattle producers and deer hunters to support or implement BTB policy; and identifying the social networks existing among cattle producers and deer hunters that allow exchange of information about BTB. This objective will be achieved by increasing the knowledge and understanding of social and psychological factors influencing cattle producers’ and deer hunters’ support for BTB eradication programs.