Knowledge and Experience Predict Indiscriminate Bat-Killing Intentions among Costa Rican Men

Human–wildlife conflicts create collateral damage when people attempt to control one problematic species and inadvertently kill others. I observed a collateral damage problem in southern Costa where people seeking to control common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) indiscriminately killed sympatric, non-target bat species (e.g., by baiting bats with poisoned bananas). To learn about this phenomenon and its causes, I developed and implemented a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior. In a sample of 504 men, 14 percent had individually killed 1–115 bats within the past 5 yr, 68 percent had killed bats as children, and 27 percent said that they would kill bats that they found roosting on their farms, even if they could not identify the species. Men who intended to indiscriminately kill bats thought that it would reduce disease transmission to livestock, whereas men who did not intend to kill bats thought that killing bats would reduce ecosystem functioning and/or damage nature. Ultimately, men were more likely to intend to indiscriminately kill bats if they knew less about bat natural history and/or had previously suffered vampire bats attacking their livestock. Men knew more about bat natural history and were less likely to harbor indiscriminate bat-killing intentions if they had experienced some form of environmental education. My results suggest that environmental education will be most effective for bat conservation when combined with farmer support to ameliorate perceived livelihood risks associated with vampire bats. Resumen Los conflictos entre humanos y animales silvestres hacen danos colaterales cuando la gente tiene la intencion de controlar una especie problematica y mata otras inadvertidamente. Observe un problema de dano colateral en el sur de Costa Rica donde la gente con la intencion de controlar los vampiros comunes (Desmodus rotundus) mataba indiscriminadamente especies simpatricas y no-objetivas (e.g., por atraer murcielagos con bananas envenenadas). Para aprender sobre este fenomeno y sus causas, desarrolle e implemente un cuestionario basado en la teoria de comportamiento planificado. En una muestra de 504 hombres, el 14 por ciento habia matado individualmente 1-115 murcielagos entre los ultimos cinco anos, el 68 por ciento habia matado a murcielagos cuando eran ninos, y el 27 por ciento menciono matarian a los murcielagos si los encuentren en sus fincas, incluso si no podian identificarlos. Los hombres que tenian la intencion de matar los murcielagos indiscriminadamente pensaban que iba reducir la transmision de enfermedades a la ganaderia, mientras que hombres que no tenian la intencion de matar los murcielagos pensaban que matar murcielagos reduciria las funciones ecosistemicas y/o haria danos a la naturaleza. Ultimadamente, los hombres fueron mas probables a tener la intencion de matar murcielagos indiscriminadamente si sabian menos sobre la historia natural de los murcielagos y si habian sufridos por los murcielagos vampiros atacando a sus ganados. Hombres sabian mas sobre la historia natural de murcielagos y eran menos propensos a tener intenciones de matar murcielagos indiscriminadamente si habian tenidos alguna experiencia de educacion ambiental. Los resultados sugieren que la educacion ambiental deberia ser mas eficaz para la conservacion de murcielagos cuando se combina con apoyo a los ganaderos para aminorar los riesgos percibidos del sustento asociado con los murcielagos vampiros.