The Census Bureau will start gathering information about hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities to do with wildlife on April 1, it announced. The federal agency does a survey of this subject every five years.
The agency will ask about 53,000 households about wildlife-related pursuits or leisure activities. Beyond hunting and fishing for sport or food, people may feed wild animals, observe and take pictures of them, watch birds and keep journals of birds sighted, and travel to enjoy seeing wild creatures. Wildlife pursuits make a serious contribution to the economy, according to the census.
The last time the data was collected, in 2006, the census found that “more than 87 million Americans 16 and older enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent $122 billion in pursuit of these activities,” stated an agency press release.
People will be contacted mainly by telephone. Information collected is strictly confidential by law.
What the agency learns from the survey will be used for decisions about conservation and maintenance of natural areas. A full report will be published in 2012.
The agency will ask about 53,000 households about wildlife-related pursuits or leisure activities. Beyond hunting and fishing for sport or food, people may feed wild animals, observe and take pictures of them, watch birds and keep journals of birds sighted, and travel to enjoy seeing wild creatures. Wildlife pursuits make a serious contribution to the economy, according to the census.
The last time the data was collected, in 2006, the census found that “more than 87 million Americans 16 and older enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent $122 billion in pursuit of these activities,” stated an agency press release.
People will be contacted mainly by telephone. Information collected is strictly confidential by law.
What the agency learns from the survey will be used for decisions about conservation and maintenance of natural areas. A full report will be published in 2012.
