Falconer perceptions of, and support for, rabbit hemorrhagic disease biosecurity actions

Abstract

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2) is a highly contagious virus that primarily infects wild and domestic rabbits and hares (lagomorphs). In the United States, state wildlife agencies rely on stakeholders to report RHDV2-related mortalities and engage in voluntary biosecurity actions to prevent the spread of RHDV2. However, stakeholder perceptions of RHDV2 and relevant biosecurity actions have not been evaluated. We conducted the first study in the United States on how falconers’ risk perceptions, knowledge, trust in state wildlife agencies to manage RHDV2, hunting behaviors, and demographic characteristics influenced their willingness to engage in voluntary biosecurity actions and support potential government-mandated biosecurity measures. To complete our study, we surveyed 480 falconers in 45 states using an online questionnaire from April 2021 to March 2022. Most respondents were aware of RHDV2 but did not know about the multiple vectors for RHDV2 transmission or that infected lagomorphs are unlikely to show signs of disease. Most respondents were willing to engage in all voluntary biosecurity actions (52.9–89.8%) and supported 3 of the 4 RHDV2 management strategies (56.0–62.5%). Respondents’ willingness to engage in or support biosecurity measures depended on the importance they placed on biosecurity, their risk perceptions, and their trust in state wildlife agencies to manage RHDV2. Consistent, up-to-date outreach efforts should communicate the economic and hunting risks associated with RHDV2 and how falconer adoption of biosecurity behaviors may lower the risk of human-mediated RHDV2 spread. State wildlife agencies may build trust with falconry groups by actively engaging falconers in lagomorph and RHDV2 monitoring efforts and working with falconers to implement biosecurity measures that are safe for raptors while also lowering the risk of human-mediated RHDV2 spread.