Abstract

Anthropomorphism, the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities, presents both opportunities and challenges for professionals communicating about animals across wildlife management, agricultural, and natural resource contexts. While scientific communication traditionally avoids anthropomorphizing animals, questions arise about when such approaches might benefit conservation education and stakeholder engagement. This narrative literature review synthesized research on anthropomorphism in wildlife communication through iterative searches across multiple databases, examining how Indigenous knowledge systems, natural resource interpretation practices, and anthropomorphic messaging affect public attitudes and behaviors toward animals. Research demonstrates that attributing emotions to animals consistently increases compassion and pro-environmental behaviors, while attributing complex cognitive abilities produces more variable outcomes. Anthropomorphic communication can foster empathy and conservation support but may also lead to unrealistic expectations about animal behavior and opposition to necessary management practices. The benefits and drawbacks of anthropomorphism in wildlife communication could be useful, too, for agricultural communicators and extension professionals who face similar challenges in balancing scientific accuracy with effective stakeholder engagement. We provide practical guidance for implementing thoughtful anthropomorphic messaging in animal communication contexts, particularly for natural resource and wildlife management.

Keywords: wildlife conservation, anthropomorphism, communication, interpretation, natural resources management

How to Cite:

Chalgren, L., Abrams, K., & Nankey, P. (2026). Anthropomorphizing wildlife in communications: A literature synthesis with implications for wildlife management and conservation. Journal of Applied Communications, 110(2), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.4148/jac.20845