Stakeholder perception of biological control in Washington State (USA)
Biological control has a long history of success, with many agents proving safe and effective against their targets. However, despite these successes, many people cite historic unsuccessful examples of biological control practices such as the release of generalist predators such as the cane toad (Rhinella marina), mongoose and cats. To test the public perception of biological control in Washington State (USA), an online questionnaire was sent to stakeholders to explore their attitudes toward classical biological control and knowledge of agent efficacy, testing, safety, and regulation. In total, 433 completed questionnaires were received. The results indicated a broad support for classical biological control, although many responses suggest widespread misunderstandings and misconceptions of the practice. Results also indicated that an understanding of classical biological control regulations was unclear to many respondents. When communicating about biological control, it is important that practitioners balance historical failures with current successes, and educate stakeholders about regulation, ensuring that outreach and policy development remain focused on actual risks.
Sources
Looney C, Andreas J, Donovan SM (2025) Haunted by cane toads—An exploratory survey of public attitudes and knowledge about classical biological control. BioControl. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-025-10350-0.