Alsatians and the European Hamster, an overview of the ACTeon investigation

ACTeon, one of the project partners in the framework of LIFE Alister, carried out an investigation in order to draw up the perception inventory Alsatians have about environmental protection, as well as their knowledge and interest for the European Hamster. Here are the main points that we should remember.
(questionnaire dating back to June, 2014 with a 720 inhabitant sample.  For more information, click here)

(Percentage of those who know about the European Hamster according to the age group)

¾ of Alsatians have heard about the European Hamster

>those over the age of 60 know the most: 96%, vs. 66% in the 18-30 age group.

Alsatians who know the most about the animal are the elderly and those who live in zones where the hamsters are protected.

(Responses of Alsatians on the population of the European Hamster in Alsace

Survival is ensured – Survival is threatened – Endangered – Don’t know)

Over 90% of Alsatians are aware of the European Hamster’s survival probabilities

>But they’re not sure if it is just threatened or if it actually is an endangered species.

Whilst the younger population categories (18-30 and 30-45) are less informed about the presence of the European Hamster in Alsace, they are relatively better informed on the species’ survival state.

Alsatians believe that the following threats endanger the European Hamster:

1. agricultural practices: 79%
2. urban sprawl: 74%
3. polluted rivers: 65%
4. traffic on roads: 61%

Taking today’s scientific and technical knowledge into account, the impact of pollution in bodies of water seems to be overestimated by those questioned, whereas the impact of predators seems to be underestimated. 

A mere one Alsatian out of five knew that actions to preserve the species existed

>Actions that were quoted the most often were counting and reintroducing hamsters.

The European Hamster boosts tourism!

>The economic sector with the highest positive impact, according to Alsatians questioned, was tourism and “nature” type leisure activities.

 In the field of agriculture, whilst the majority of Alsatians consider protective measures as positively impacting the sector, 40% of one age group (18 – 30 year olds) believe that this will have a negative impact.

(Impact of protective measures for the European Hamster

Agriculture – Urban sprawl – Roads – Nature type leisure activities – tourism)

For Alsatians, the quality of the environment is considered as a key territorial issue, just as important as purchasing power and unemployment.

(Unemployment – Insecurity – Environment – Purchasing power – Aging – Transports – Links with population)