What's That Buzzing Noise? Public Opinion on the Use of Drones for Conservation Science

There is rapidly growing interest among scientists and practitioners in using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to gather ecological data crucial for the effective conservation and management of natural resources. Public acceptance and support of drone use for conservation will play an important role in shaping the local-level regulatory landscape in the near future, either promoting or derailing the use of drones for this purpose. Here, we report the findings of the first public polling conducted on the use of drones for conservation efforts. We find moderate to strong public support for using drones for conservation among Americans but differing levels of support for other domestic uses. Demographic factors are not predictive of public support; rather, positive beliefs about science and egalitarian worldviews are associated with increasing support. The results highlight the importance of proactively engaging the public on this issue and avoiding antagonistic messages or cues that may activate ideologically driven opposition.