Permitting pets in Florida State Park campgrounds: selected perceptions of campers

Abstract

Since the 1950s pets have been excluded from Florida State Park Campgrounds. In response to public comment and pressure, the Florida State Park System recently began to reconsider this policy. The initial step in this process was to survey campers to examine camper characteristics and perception's about a variety of campground issues, particularly attitudes towards allowing pets in Florida State Park campgrounds. This paper discusses the findings. People with previous camping experience at campgrounds that permitted pets reported only slight negative impacts. Most campers expected that permitting pets in campgrounds would have negative impacts on campground noise and the observance of wildlife. If behavior is consistent with stated intention, permitting pets in the state park campgrounds would result in a slight increase in overall camping frequency.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

Citation

Holdnak, Andy; Holland, Steve; Fedler, Tony. 1998. Permitting pets in Florida State Park campgrounds: selected perceptions of campers. In: Vogelsong, Hans G., comp, ed. Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 1997 April 6 - 9; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-241. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 33-35.