Affordability might have been king in last week’s big-ticket elections, but a new poll is a reminder that environmental concerns still loom large for U.S. residents.

More than 7 in 10 respondents (72%) to a recent poll by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, an environmental advocacy group, said they’d be more likely to support candidates who back protecting the environment and endangered species.

The poll of 2,004 adults aged 18 and older was conducted from June 26—July 3, 2025. It had a 2.1% margin of error.

Some other top-line findings:

• 7 in 10 (70%) respondents told pollsters they think it’s a good idea to factor the value of nature into government decisions.
• 82% of respondents said they believed protecting imperiled species of animals and plants is important to people living in the US. A further 80% said they believed the overall diversity of animals and plant life is important to people living in the US.
• 54% of voters oppose cutting staff at national parks and other agencies that oversee wildlife and natural resources.

The poll’s findings on concerns about funding at national parks and other environmental agencies came before the federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and now appears headed for a resolution.

Last week, a cadre of Massachusetts lawmakers pressed the Trump administration to provide more clarity on a wave of planned layoffs that could result in the loss of National Park Service jobs in the Bay State.

The poll is generally reflective of broader findings. For instance, more than half of respondents (54%) to a March Gallup poll said they believed protecting the environment should be a priority, even if it curbs economic growth.

Seventy-two percent of respondents to that same Gallup poll also said they worried a “great deal” or a “fair amount” about the quality of the environment.

“Americans are concerned about the environment, the welfare of animals, and conserving nature,“ IFAW said in a statement, adding that it matters because ”there is a clear public mandate for conservation—not just for nature’s sake, but as a political and moral priority for voters.”