Modernization-induced socio-economic changes and their effect over the spatial distribution of recreational hunting and volunteering with animals

Socioeconomic changes characterizing the last 70 years changedhuman-wildlife relationships and diminished activities such as recreationalhunting. However, little research has tested whether the samechanges also increased other behaviors, such as volunteering for nongovernmentalorganizations (NGOs) that focus on protecting animals.We modeled the effects of urbanization, income, and higher educationover the incidence of recreational hunters and people who volunteerwith animals in Tuscany (Central Italy). Urbanized areas, characterizedby more educated residents, have fewer hunters and more peoplevolunteering than rural municipalities. Hunting participation over thelast 15 years also declined more in urbanized municipalities than inrural ones. Our findings indicate that the increased number of peoplevolunteering in animal welfare NGOs might be related to a shift inhuman-wildlife interactions similar to North America. Moreover, ourapproach may be used to identify hotspots of social conflicts withwildlife.