Wildlife watching in the U.S.: the economic impacts on national and state economies in 2006: addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-associated Recreation

              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

Report 2006-1Wildlife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

Report 2006-1

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

July 2008

Jerry Leonard

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Arlington, VA

This report is intended to complement the National and State Reports for the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The conclusions in this report are the author’s and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The author thanks Jim Caudill, Sylvia Cabrera, Richard Aiken, and Tom Allen for valuable input on this report.2 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Wildlife watching is one of the most popular types of outdoor recreation in the United States. Nearly a third of the U.S. population, 71 million people, enjoyed closely observing, feeding, and photographing wildlife in 2006. Wildlife watching around the home and on trips is an important and growing form of recreation. Eight percent more people participated in 2006 than in 2001.

In addition to contributing significantly to people’s enjoyment of the outdoors, wildlife watching has a substantial impact on the nation’s and states’ economies. The $45.7 billion spent on wildlife equipment and trips in 2006 contributed substantially to federal and state tax revenues, jobs, earnings, and economic output.

This report presents estimates of the national and state economic impacts of wildlife watching, which were derived using data from the 2006 Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation Survey (FHWAR). The following topics are addressed: (1) national participation in wildlife watching; (2) expenditures associated with participation in wildlife watching; (3) estimates of the total economic activity generated by these expenditures; (4) total employment and employment income associated with these expenditures; and (5) estimates of associated state and federal tax revenue. Two other reports used the 2006 FHWAR to address the national and state economic impacts of hunting and fishing1.

1 See “Hunting in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse,” Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and “Sportfishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse,” American Sportfishing Association.

The 2006 FHWAR collected information on fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching participation and expenditures in 2006. National and state reports are accessible on the following websites http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov and http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/fishing.html

Introduction

Mark Bertram/USFWS

Lee Karney/USFWSWildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006 3

The 71 million people who wildlife watched in 2006 are further categorized as around-the-home and away-from-home participants. Of the 71 million people who wildlife watched, 95% (68 million) did so within one mile of their homes. These 68 million recreationists are referred to as around-the-home participants2. Thirty-two percent of all wildlife watchers took trips or outings at least one mile from home to engage in their activities. These 23 million recreationists are referred to as away-from-home participants.

2 Their activities include one or more of the following: (1) closely observing or trying to identify birds or other wildlife; (2) photographing wildlife; (3) feeding birds or other wildlife on a regular basis; (4) maintaining natural areas of at least one-quarter acre for which benefit to wildlife is the primary purpose; (5) maintaining plantings (shrubs, agricultural crops, etc.) for which benefit to wildlife is the primary concern, or (6) visiting public parks within one mile of home for the primary purpose of observing, feeding, or photographing wildlife.

Participation in Wildlife Watching

Inside The Numbers

Roughly one out of three Americans 16 years of age and older, or 71 million, participated in wildlife watching in 2006.

The 71 million wildlife-watching participants is more than four times greater than the attendance of all National League Football teams during the 2006 season.

Wildlife-related expenditures in 2006 were $45.7 billion.

Expenditures on wildlife watching are equivalent to the amount of revenue from all spectator sports (football, baseball, and other sports), all amusement parks and arcades, casinos (except casino hotels), bowling centers, and skiing facilities.

Summary of National Economic

Impacts of Wildlife Watching: 2006

Participation

71,132,000

Total Expenditures

$45,654,959,000

Total Industry Output

$122,581,880,075

Employment

1,063,482

Labor Income

$40,460,527,120

State and Local Taxes

$8,862,580,065

Federal Taxes

$9,329,700,750

Ron Singer/USFWS4 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Table 1. Number of Wildlife-Watching Participants: 2006

(Population 16 years and older)

State where activity took place

Total participants Number

Alabama

1,161,000

Alaska

496,000

Arizona

1,277,000

Arkansas

1,011,000

California

6,270,000

Colorado

1,819,000

Connecticut

1,170,000

Delaware

285,000

Florida

4,240,000

Georgia

1,987,000

Hawaii

262,000

Idaho

754,000

Illinois

2,566,000

Indiana

2,042,000

Iowa

1,205,000

Kansas

816,000

Kentucky

1,475,000

Louisiana

738,000

Maine

801,000

Maryland

1,491,000

Massachusetts

1,919,000

Michigan

3,227,000

Minnesota

2,093,000

Mississippi

731,000

Missouri

2,248,000

Montana

755,000

Nebraska

490,000

Nevada

686,000

New Hampshire

710,000

New Jersey

1,713,000

New Mexico

787,000

New York

3,852,000

North Carolina

2,641,000

North Dakota

148,000

Ohio

3,489,000

Oklahoma

1,110,000

Oregon

1,484,000

Pennsylvania

3,947,000

Rhode Island

436,000

South Carolina

1,115,000

South Dakota

432,000

Tennessee

2,362,000

Texas

4,225,000

Utah

877,000

Vermont

468,000

Virginia

2,312,000

Washington

2,331,000

West Virginia

743,000

Wisconsin

2,039,000

Wyoming

643,000

United States, total

71,132,000

Economic Impact Quick Facts

Expenditures rippled through the economy generating $122.6 billion in total industry output and 1,063,482 jobs

The more than one million jobs supported by wildlife watchers are almost three times the number of people who work for United Parcel Service in the U.S.

Figure 1. Wildlife Expenditures by Major Category: 2006

(Total Expenditures: $45.7 billion)

Figure 2. Trip Expenditures for Wildlife Watching: 2006

(Total Trip Expenditures: $12.9 billion)

Equipment: 51%$23.2 billionOther: 21%$9.6 billionTrip: 28%$12.9 billionTransportation: 35%$4.5 billionLodging: 25%$3.2 billionFood: 33%$4.3 billionOther: 7%$0.9 billionWildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006 5

spending associated with wildlife watching has a substantial impact on economic activity, employment, and household income across the nation.

Methods

The 2006 FHWAR contains estimates of annual travel and equipment expenditures by wildlife-watching participants. These expenditures were used in conjunction with an economic modeling method known as input-output analysis4 to estimate total industry output, employment and employment income associated with these expenditures.

Direct Expenditures

Total direct expenditures by participants were $45.7 billion in 2006. Trip-related expenditures accounted for about $12.9 billion (28 percent of total expenditures). Food and drink accounted for 33 percent of total trip-related expenditures and transportation and lodging accounted for 35 and 25 percent, respectively.

Equipment and other expenditures accounted for $32.8 billion (72 percent of total expenditures). Special equipment such as off-road vehicles, tent trailers, motor homes, pick-up trucks, and boats accounted for 27 percent of total expenditures. Packaged and bulk wild bird food accounted for 7 percent of total expenditures, while film and developing accounted for 2 percent, and photographic equipment such as cameras accounted for 7 percent.

4 The estimates of total economic activity, employment, employment income and federal and state taxes in this report were derived using IMPLAN, a regional input-output model and software system. For additional information, see MIG, Inc. IMPLAN System (2004 data and software) and Olson and Lindall, IMPLAN Professional Software, Analysis and Data Guide. For additional information on input-output modeling, see Miller and Blair Input-Output Analysis .

Spending associated with wildlife watching generates a substantial amount of economic activity across the United States. Participants spent $45.7 billion in 2006 on a wide variety of goods and services. Trip-related expenditures by away-from-home participants include expenses for food, lodging, and transportation. Both around-the-home and away-from-home participants also buy equipment and related goods for the primary purpose of engaging in wildlife watching such as binoculars, cameras, wild bird food, memberships in wildlife organizations, camping equipment, motor homes, campers, and off-road vehicles.

To help place the $45.7 billion in wildlife-watching expenditures into context, consider that it is equivalent to the amount of revenue from all spectator sports (football, baseball, and other sports), all amusement parks and arcades, casinos (except casino hotels) bowling centers, and skiing facilities3.

These direct expenditures are only part of the total picture. Businesses and industries that supply the local retailers where the purchases are made also benefit from wildlife-watching expenditures. For example, a family may decide to purchase a pair of binoculars to use primarily for birdwatching on an upcoming vacation. Part of the total purchase price will go to the local retailer such as a sporting goods store. The sporting goods store in turn pays a wholesaler that in turn pays the manufacturer of the binoculars. The manufacturer then spends a portion of this income to pay businesses supplying the manufacturer.

In this fashion, each dollar of local retail expenditures can affect a variety of businesses at the local, regional, and national level. Consequently, consumer

3 The figures were obtained from the revenue totals, corrected for inflation, displayed in the 1997 Economic Census published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching

Tax Impact Quick Facts

$9.3 billion in federal tax revenue

$8.9 billion in state tax revenue

Steve Hillebrand/USFWS6 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Table 2. National Expenditures for Wildlife Watching by Category: 2006

Expenditures

Percent of Category Expenditures

Percent of Total Expenditures

Trip-Related Expenditures

Food

$4,298,403,000

33.4%

9.4%

Lodging

$3,217,878,000

25.0%

7.1%

Public transportation

$1,566,963,000

12.2%

3.4%

Private transportation

$2,889,050,000

22.4%

6.3%

Guide fees, pack trip or package fees

$250,047,000

1.9%

0.5%

Public land use fees

$140,508,000

1.1%

0.3%

Private land use fees

$66,145,000

0.5%

0.1%

Equipment rental

$148,706,000

1.2%

0.3%

Boating costs

$224,981,000

1.7%

0.5%

Heating and cooking fuel

$72,470,000

0.6%

0.2%

Total trip-related

$12,875,152,000

100.0%

28.2%

Equipment

Wildlife-watching equipment

Binoculars, spotting scopes

$656,462,000

6.7%

1.4%

Cameras, video cameras, special lenses, and other photographic equipment

$3,078,089,000

31.2%

6.7%

Film and developing

$767,465,000

7.8%

1.7%

Commercially prepared and packaged wild bird food

$2,707,601,000

27.4%

5.9%

Other bulk foods used to feed wild birds

$642,531,000

6.5%

1.4%

Feed for other wildlife

$664,554,000

6.7%

1.5%

Nest boxes, bird houses, feeders, baths

$789,918,000

8.0%

1.7%

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing

$451,524,000

4.6%

1.0%

Other wildlife-watching equipment (such as field guides and maps)

$111,582,000

1.1%

0.2%

Wildlife-watching equipment, total

$9,869,727,000

100.0%

21.6%

Auxiliary equipment

Tents, tarps

$243,670,000

23.6%

0.5%

Frame packs and backpacking equipment

$140,371,000

13.6%

0.3%

Other camping equipment

$368,281,000

35.6%

0.8%

Other auxiliary equipment (such as blinds)

$280,739,000

27.2%

0.6%

Auxiliary equipment, total

$1,033,060,000

100.0%

2.3%

Special equipment

Off-the-road vehicle

$3,819,030,000

31.1%

8.4%

Travel or tent trailer, pickup, camper, van, motor home, recreational vehicle

$5,329,261,000

43.4%

11.7%

Boats, boat accessories

$1,824,071,000

14.9%

4.0%

Cabins and Other

$1,298,904,000

10.6%

2.8%

Special equipment, total

$12,271,266,000

100.0%

26.9%

Other Items

Magazines, books

$359,681,000

3.7%

0.8%

Land leasing and ownership

$6,551,517,000

68.2%

14.4%

Membership dues and contributions

$1,052,496,000

11.0%

2.3%

Plantings

$1,642,061,000

17.1%

3.6%

Other, total

$9,605,755,000

100.0%

21.0%

National Total, All Items

$45,654,960,000

100.0%Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006 7

Total Industry Output

The direct expenditures of $45.7 billion in 2006 generated $122.6 billion in total industrial output (TIO) across the U.S. TIO includes the direct, indirect, and induced effects5 of wildlife-watching expenditures. The ratio of TIO to direct expenditures, 2.68, means that for each $1 of direct spending associated with wildlife watching, an additional $1.68 of economic activity is generated. Major sectors affected include retail

5 Direct effects are production changes associated with the immediate effects of changes in final demand (in this case, changes in wildlife-associated expenditures); indirect effects are production changes in those industries which supply the inputs to industries directly affected by final demand; induced effects are changes in regional household spending patterns caused by changes in regional employment (generated from the direct and indirect effects) (Taylor et al. 1993, Appendix E, p. E-1).trade which accounted for $26.2 billion (21 percent of the impact in all sectors); manufacturing $22.4 billion (18 percent); and accommodation and food services $7.3 billion (6 percent).

Employment and Employment Income

The total industrial output of $122.6 billion resulted in 1,063,482 jobs (full and part time) with total income of $40.5 billion. With respect to employment, major industrial sectors affected include trade with over 358 thousand jobs (34 percent); accommodation and food services with 116 thousand jobs (11 percent); real estate and rental with 71 thousand jobs (7 percent) and arts, entertainment, and recreation with 61 thousand jobs (6 percent).

The retail trade sector accounted for the largest portion of income at $10.6 billion (28 percent); manufacturing accounted for $3.5 billion (9 percent); transportation and warehousing with $2.6 billion (7 percent) and accommodation and food services at $2.4 billion (6 percent). Table 3 summarizes economic impacts by major business sector.

Federal and State Taxes

Wildlife-watching expenditures generate taxes at both the state and federal level in a number of ways. Direct and indirect expenditures generate state sales tax (except in those states without sales tax). Second, employment income is taxed at both the state (with the exception of states which do not tax income) and federal levels. Additionally, tax revenue is generated through taxes on corporate profits and excise taxes such as fuel taxes. Based on total industrial output and associated employment that result from wildlife-watching, 2006 tax revenue at the federal level was $9.3 billion, and tax revenue at the state and local levels was $8.9 billion.

Table 3. National Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching by Major North American Industrial Classification Sector: 2006

Total

Industrial Output

Sector as Percent

of Total

Employment

Sector as Percent

of Total

Salaries, Wages, and Business Owner’s Income

Sector as Percent

of Total

11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting

$1,734,812,928

1.4%

19,448

1.8%

$429,253,120

1.1%

21 Mining

$938,586,944

0.8%

2,078

0.2%

$191,473,248

0.5%

22 Utilities

$1,869,424,128

1.5%

2,586

0.2%

$355,420,448

0.9%

23 Construction

$1,095,349,760

0.9%

9,468

0.9%

$434,646,272

1.1%

31-33 Manufacturing

$22,396,049,408

18.3%

57,350

5.4%

$3,490,920,448

9.1%

42 Wholesale Trade

$4,141,315,328

3.4%

23,562

2.2%

$1,485,685,504

3.9%

48-49 Transportation and Warehousing

$4,977,086,976

4.1%

49,743

4.7%

$2,608,190,976

6.8%

44-45 Retail trade

$26,186,409,984

21.4%

358,982

33.8%

$10,585,159,680

27.6%

51 Information

$5,180,698,112

4.2%

17,017

1.6%

$1,280,071,168

3.3%

52 Finance and insurance

$6,462,498,816

5.3%

31,670

3.0%

$2,248,221,696

5.9%

53 Real estate, rental, and leasing

$12,442,369,024

10.2%

70,810

6.7%

$2,112,347,264

5.5%

54 Professional, scientific, and technical services

$5,293,267,968

4.3%

40,302

3.8%

$2,413,937,408

6.3%

55 Management of companies

$2,644,068,096

2.2%

12,366

1.2%

$1,147,169,792

3.0%

56 Administrative and waste services

$3,231,049,728

2.6%

56,684

5.3%

$1,523,274,240

4.0%

61 Educational services

$589,612,288

0.5%

10,996

1.0%

$317,360,864

0.8%

62 Health and social services

$4,504,817,152

3.7%

54,267

5.1%

$2,250,874,880

5.9%

71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation

$2,733,827,584

2.2%

61,320

5.8%

$1,144,816,896

3.0%

72 Accomodation and food services

$7,316,387,840

6.0%

116,456

11.0%

$2,422,788,864

6.3%

81 Other services

$4,111,477,504

3.4%

58,819

5.5%

$1,484,820,864

3.9%

92 Government and non-NAICs

$4,604,338,688

3.8%

9,560

0.9%

$490,758,976

1.3%

Total

$122,581,880,075

100.0%

1,063,482

100.0%

$40,460,527,120

100.0%8 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

State Impacts

Table 5 shows the economic impacts of wildlife-watching expenditures by state for 2006. U.S. totals are shown at the bottom of Table 4. State totals do not add up to U.S. totals because state impact figures show only those impacts which occur within the state. For example, a Bozeman, Montana sporting goods store may carry a brand of fishing tackle that is manufactured in Burlington, Vermont. When an angler purchases the fishing tackle, only a portion of the money is kept by the retailer in Montana. Part of the total selling price goes to the Vermont manufacturer. This transaction between the sporting goods store and the manufacturer (or wholesaler, depending on the situation) will not appear in the Montana state totals. However, the U.S. totals capture these interstate impacts.

Table 4. Top 10 States Ranked by Economic Output: 2006

Economic Output

Wildife Watchers

California

$7,861,784

6,270,000

Florida

$5,483,887

4,240,000

Texas

$5,199,313

4,225,000

Georgia

$2,866,010

1,987,000

New York

$2,744,957

3,852,000

Michigan

$2,682,981

3,227,000

Pennsylvania

$2,617,987

3,947,000

Washington

$2,522,788

2,331,000

Colorado

$2,498,650

1,819,000

Illinois

$2,094,651

2,566,000

USFWS

John and Karen Hollingsworth/USFWSWildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006 9

Table 5. Total Wildlife-Watching Expenditures and Economic Impacts, State and National Totals: 2006

Retail Sales

Total Multiplier Effect

Salaries, Wages, and Business Owner’s Income

Jobs

State and Local Tax Revenue

Federal Tax Revenue

Alabama

$450,004,000

$763,019,969

$261,145,268

10,157

$59,073,791

$56,999,666

Alaska

$581,051,000

$979,049,156

$365,227,026

7,677

$90,462,951

$73,981,210

Arizona

$838,307,000

$1,417,593,023

$497,597,606

15,251

$118,656,059

$112,152,584

Arkansas

$607,073,000

$962,498,578

$318,312,411

13,054

$85,419,561

$68,251,298

California

$4,179,583,000

$7,861,783,545

$2,898,324,047

71,589

$694,071,367

$661,980,117

Colorado

$1,387,737,000

$2,498,650,078

$947,113,528

25,076

$215,195,505

$215,199,322

Connecticut

$509,950,000

$850,498,028

$301,057,408

7,723

$61,992,738

$76,117,654

Delaware

$130,832,000

$202,985,060

$76,694,358

1,975

$19,534,585

$17,091,820

Florida

$3,081,496,000

$5,483,886,801

$1,968,928,284

54,699

$441,174,660

$469,231,344

Georgia

$1,615,316,000

$2,866,010,418

$990,509,431

27,830

$210,368,321

$218,156,184

Hawaii

$210,414,000

$377,229,745

$138,962,819

4,037

$29,934,131

$28,731,654

Idaho

$265,383,000

$443,322,880

$149,546,066

5,903

$35,209,977

$30,692,944

Illinois

$1,133,856,000

$2,094,651,278

$732,522,628

19,563

$172,860,981

$173,519,438

Indiana

$933,920,000

$1,592,654,298

$534,963,380

18,382

$127,643,050

$117,403,879

Iowa

$318,006,000

$504,066,731

$158,346,649

6,133

$39,721,781

$34,458,575

Kansas

$156,185,000

$261,312,911

$86,121,213

3,254

$20,595,630

$18,457,552

Kentucky

$542,059,000

$876,589,835

$308,469,670

10,463

$76,106,481

$67,004,906

Louisiana

$312,430,000

$528,585,799

$174,990,553

7,149

$35,656,732

$32,641,998

Maine

$865,643,000

$1,363,283,289

$449,075,022

15,790

$109,088,901

$95,276,497

Maryland

$636,214,000

$1,087,487,864

$411,947,664

10,702

$105,700,884

$96,237,501

Massachusetts

$754,963,000

$1,323,102,012

$493,832,193

12,782

$118,794,668

$119,220,099

Michigan

$1,622,521,000

$2,682,980,647

$888,369,360

25,904

$234,620,066

$208,317,592

Minnesota

$698,889,000

$1,257,307,710

$415,020,642

14,461

$94,641,265

$97,402,161

Mississippi

$175,846,000

$282,846,960

$89,951,646

3,963

$22,620,022

$17,503,184

Missouri

$869,075,000

$1,533,269,199

$492,836,686

18,247

$113,984,610

$110,201,665

Montana

$376,451,000

$628,626,746

$213,352,389

9,772

$49,978,388

$49,134,259

Nebraska

$141,910,000

$237,121,387

$84,048,964

2,800

$20,308,619

$17,147,832

Nevada

$362,229,000

$622,355,747

$223,533,883

7,185

$53,134,171

$55,438,382

New Hampshire

$273,920,000

$433,069,336

$138,169,255

4,493

$34,005,945

$36,000,943

New Jersey

$537,449,000

$937,971,380

$333,688,184

9,591

$74,972,349

$82,542,184

New Mexico

$297,174,000

$517,789,189

$175,613,450

6,926

$45,582,882

$34,331,148

New York

$1,567,629,000

$2,744,957,161

$976,341,339

25,557

$253,858,169

$228,315,323

North Carolina

$916,903,000

$1,534,848,880

$526,541,060

18,005

$132,702,863

$118,969,021

North Dakota

$22,913,000

$34,412,569

$11,274,941

432

$2,640,771

$2,397,510

Ohio

$1,187,703,000

$1,959,067,364

$641,229,996

22,527

$161,039,630

$135,181,453

Oklahoma

$328,660,000

$566,739,268

$177,134,746

7,872

$38,381,020

$37,310,701

Oregon

$776,414,000

$1,356,918,545

$502,803,677

16,185

$123,668,107

$119,329,180

Pennsylvania

$1,442,681,000

$2,617,987,223

$880,311,154

27,066

$198,669,207

$201,839,913

Rhode Island

$214,247,000

$319,355,116

$103,376,462

3,979

$29,003,444

$25,369,221

South Carolina

$550,777,000

$893,737,916

$287,854,340

11,411

$69,282,791

$62,212,355

South Dakota

$183,304,000

$212,421,799

$67,739,979

3,150

$14,341,518

$14,171,516

Tennessee

$992,362,000

$1,740,506,233

$612,455,711

21,007

$129,813,625

$132,119,631

Texas

$2,939,018,000

$5,199,312,905

$1,774,344,227

49,714

$403,654,212

$396,262,200

Utah

$564,443,000

$1,011,192,904

$358,663,018

12,291

$84,529,757

$75,424,860

Vermont

$122,872,000

$193,752,874

$65,167,085

2,639

$16,187,164

$14,721,048

Virginia

$960,190,000

$1,582,376,262

$525,718,997

17,489

$112,281,482

$123,789,859

Washington

$1,502,311,000

$2,522,788,253

$863,650,386

25,798

$203,873,231

$206,166,107

West Virginia

$241,601,000

$359,959,136

$119,053,839

5,620

$28,318,361

$25,628,823

Wisconsin

$744,689,000

$1,239,245,783

$411,909,759

17,166

$111,142,639

$91,313,320

Wyoming

$394,869,000

$618,782,924

$212,420,021

8,797

$52,158,264

$47,427,972

United States, total

$45,654,959,000

$122,581,880,075

$40,460,527,120

1,063,482

$8,862,580,065

$9,329,700,75010 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

Wildlife-watching in the U.S. has significant economic impacts at the local, regional, state, and national levels. In 2006 it generated $122.6 billion in economic output, 1.1 million jobs and $18.2 billion in state, local, and federal tax revenues. Wildlife watching’s continued popularity gives evidence to the importance that people attach to diverse, accessible and robust fish and wildlife populations.

The magnitude of its economic impacts prove that wildlife watching is a major force, driving billions in spending around the country. These economic impacts can be the life-blood of a local economy. Rural areas can attract thousands of wildlife watchers each year, generating millions of dollars.

Summary

Debbie McCrensky/USFWSWildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006 11

American Sportfishing Association. Sportfishing in America: An Economic and Conservation Powerhouse. Washington DC, 2008.

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Hunting in America: An Economic and Conservation Powerhouse. Washington DC, 2008.

MIG, Inc. IMPLAN System (2004 Data and Software). 1940 South Greeley Street, Suite 101, Stillwater, MN 55082. 2004.

Miller, Ronald E. and Peter D. Blair. Input-Output Analysis: Foundations and Extensions. Englewood Cliffs NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1985.

Olson, Doug and Scott Lindall. IMPLAN Professional Software, Analysis and Data Guide. 1940 South Greeley Street, Suite 101, Stillwater, MN 55082. 1996.

Taylor, Carol, Susan Winter, Greg Alward and Eric Siverts. Micro IMPLAN User’s Guide. Fort Collins CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service, Land Management Planning Systems Group, 1993.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, October 2007.

U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1997 Economic Census. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, April 2000.

Sources

Aaron Collins/USFWS

Steve Hillebrand/USFWS12 Wildllife Watching in the U.S.: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov

Cover photo: Karen Laubenstein/USFWS