Environmental Impact - Wildlife/Vegetation Effects

Brander, R. B. (1974). Ecological impacts of off-road recreation vehicles: Outdoor recreation research applying the results: 29-35.

Abstract

This paper focuses on the environmental impacts of snowmobiles. It is not a scientific study, instead the author infers some effects from existing literature on the structure and mechanics of snow and the significance of snow to small mammals and their predators. The insulation that snow provides is very important to small mammals which spend most of the winter at the ground and snow interface. Mechanical compaction reduces snow depth, increases thermal conductivity and snow densities by destroying air spaces. This can result in loss of habitat and in some cases mortality in some small mammal populations. The decrease in small populations of small mammals can in turn negatively affect their predators, and on up the food chain. More scientific information is needed. Because snowmobiles accelerate the rate of environmental degradation compared to hikers, existing information should be used in making management decisions. One suggestion is to restrict traffic to a few trails and roads rather than allowing free access to fields, etc.

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