Full Report: The 2006 Economic Benefits
of Wildlife Viewing in Florida 
(7.3MB)
In 2006, there were 1.6 million wildlife viewers
(residents and nonresidents) participating in non-residential
activities in Florida. In addition, there were nearly 3.3 million
residents participating in residential activities in Florida.
Nonresidential activities are those performed at least one mile
from an individual's home. Conversely, residential activities are
those performed within one mile of an individual's home. The
nonresidential activity cited most often by recreators was
observing wildlife, whereas the primary residential activity was
feeding wildlife. Overall, 4.2 million people participated in some
form of residential or nonresidential wildlife viewing in Florida
in 2006.
The total retail sales from 2006 wildlife viewing
in Florida was estimated at $3.1 billion ($2.4 billion by residents
and $653.3 million by nonresidents). Since 2001, expenditures in
Florida for wildlife viewing have almost doubled ($1.575 billion in
2001). These numbers show a reversal from the previous five-year
period in which expenditures had decreased slightly ($1.677 billion
in 1996). These 2006 expenditures support a total economic effect
to the Florida economy of $5.248 billion. The 2006 economic impact
of wildlife viewing in Florida is summarized below.
2006 Economic Impacts of Wildlife Viewing in
Florida
| Resident |
Non-Resident |
Total |
| Retail sales |
$2.428 billion |
$653.3 million |
$3.081 billion |
| Salaries & wages |
$1.204 billion |
$391.8 million |
$1.595 billion |
| Full & part-time jobs |
38,069 |
13,298 |
51,367 |
| Tax revenues: |
|
State sales tax
|
$243.1 million |
$69.7 million |
$312.8 million |
|
Federal income tax
|
$292.5 million |
$92.8 million |
$385.3 million |
| Total economic effect |
$4.078 billion |
$1.170 billion |
$5.248 billion |
Demographics and Participation
Characteristics of Wildlife Viewing Recreators
Participants in wildlife watching in Florida are
near 50 years of age, are likely to be married, and are split
evenly between male and female, though more nonresidents are
female. Only a small percentage of wildlife viewers in
Florida, both nonresidential and residential, report they are
non-white.
| Nonresidential
Activity |
Residential
Activity
|
| Resident |
Non-Resident |
| Race (non-white) |
7 percent |
5 percent |
5 percent |
| Average age |
49 years |
51 years |
51 years |
| Gender (male) |
47 percent |
34 percent |
48 percent |
| Marital Status (married) |
56 percent |
80 percent |
62 percent |
| Average household income |
$62,816 |
$73,862 |
$60,641 |
| Education: |
| 8 years of less |
2.3 percent |
0.0 percent |
3.8 percent |
| 9-11 years |
4.9 percent |
2.3 percent |
5.7 percent |
| 12 years |
32.4 percent |
16.1 percent |
34.4 percent |
| 1-3 years college |
22.9 percent |
24.5 percent |
24.0 percent |
|
4 years college or more
|
37.5 percent |
57.2 percent |
32.0 percent |
The average household income for residents
participating in nonresidential and residential activities is
similar. Nonresidents have, on average, a household income higher
than resident participants. Both have incomes higher than the 2006
state average ($44,448, per U.S. Census Bureau). As with income
levels, the education levels of residents who participate in
residential and non-residential activities are similar; however,
nonresidents have, on average, a higher level of education.
Persons with Disabilities