This content analysis was one component of a multi-faceted human dimensions investigation. Characterizing the content of NPS documents allowed the authors to draw a few important conclusions about NPS priorities, management needs, and information gaps related to management of impacts associated with wildlife habituation and food conditioning in national parks.

In 2008, the Biological resource Management Division of the National Park Service (NPS) launched a multi-faceted inquiry to inform management of human-wildlife habituation across the National Park system. The NPS created a Task Agreement with Cornell University to complete several parts of the inquiry, including a habituation-themed workshop attended by professional researchers and practitioners. The workshop included a series of presentations about habituation and the role it plays in human-wildlife interactions in national parks. This work summarizes the conference topics.