PUBLIC LANDS -- A new statewide poll found that 90 percent of Idaho residents approve of livestock grazing as a legitimate use of public lands, the same percentage as guided recreation and mountain biking.

The survey conducted by the University of Idaho Social Science Research Unit for the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission found that:

• 98 percent of those surveyed by telephone approve of hiking and camping on public lands.
• 71 percent approved of logging on public lands.
• 65 percent approve of the use of motorized recreation, such as ATVs and motorbikes, on public lands.

The survey completed in December was based on 585 telephone surveys with Idaho residents, says Gretchen Hyde, executive director of the commission, in a media release.  More than half of the survey participants have lived in Idaho for more than 30 years, and participants represent a diverse cross-section of political ideology, she said.

The IRRC is a state agency that, according to his website, "seeks to increase public understanding about the balanced management of public rangelands."

Using public lands for energy development and transmission lines received the lowest level of support for uses posed in the survey -- at 62 percent.

Public approval of livestock grazing on public lands went up 1 percent since 2010, and 10 points since 2001, according to previous polls conducted for IRRC by the University of  Idaho. 

"We're pleased to see public support for livestock grazing on public lands increasing," said Chris Black, IRRC board chairman and a Bruneau Rancher who has received a BLM national stewardship award for exemplary livestock management on public lands. "We think Idahoans are seeing improved range management when they're out recreating on rangelands and forests.

"We feel it's important to show real people doing tangible things to improve public lands, the environment and threatened and endangered species, including candidate species such as sage grouse," Black continued. "That's what is expected in 21st Century public lands management."

IRRC officials said they commissioned the poll to understand the overall perception of Idaho residents about grazing, and how those perceptions might be evolving due to changes in Idaho's population demographics.

In a wildlife-related question, the poll found that 84 percent of the respondents recognize that private ranchlands provide important wildlife habitat. On a scale of 1-7, 68 percent of the  respondents rated the value of private farms and ranches for wildlife as being a 5 or higher.  In addition:

• 79 percent believe that sheep and cattle ranchers manage rangelands in a responsible manner.
• 82 percent believe that livestock grazing should continue to be part of public lands management.

In a series of questions rating the credibility or reliability of information provided to the public, ranchers and scientists rated 84 percent and 83 percent reliable, while BLM officials received a reliability rating of 80 percent and environmentalists received a rating of 55 percent. 

UI officials say the poll is statistically valid, sampling a broad cross-section of Idaho's rural and urban residents, an equal number of males and females, and mobile phone users as well as landline users.   

For a copy of UI public opinion survey, email sstuebner@cableone.net.