Snowmobilers care about our wildlife and our environment…
Contrary to popular belief, today’s snowmobiles actually have a surprisingly small impact on our environment. Most of the ground, water and vegetation that snowmobiles travel over is frozen and protected by a layer of snow. Snowmobile manufacturers spend millions of dollars designing and engineering their snowmobiles to stay on top of that snow, and as a result most modern snowmobiles actually exert less pressure on the ground than a person walking. To further reduce environmental impact, the Klondike Snowmobile Association encourages all of our members to make use of pre-existing trails whenever possible, and to avoid any areas designated as environmentally sensitive.
In recent years snowmobile manufacturers have also made significant improvements in the air quality department. Almost all snowmobiles currently in production make use of on board computers and either four stroke engines or direct-injection two stroke engines, both of which are significantly cleaner and more efficient than the traditional two-stroke snowmobile engines of decades past.
For many years local and national snowmobile associations have also been active participants in dozens of wildlife protection initiatives and campaigns across the country, most of which are proving to be successful.
Environmentally Friendly Snowmobiling Tips…
- Be a responsible snowmobiler. Always be prepared, learn and use safe riding techniques, and be nice to everyone you meet.
- Respect all wildlife. Animals are more vulnerable during winter, please respect their habitat, give them lots of space, and reduce your noise levels as much as possible.
- Respect the land. Use pre-existing trails when available, and avoid any areas that have been designated as environmentally sensitive.
- Leave tracks not trash. If you had room to bring it in, you have room to bring it out.
- Embrace new technologies. Modern snowmobiles run much cleaner and more efficiently than those from the past. In addition to environmental benefits, they also offer better performance while saving you time and money on fuel and oil.
- Maintain your sled. A well tuned snowmobile will be more reliable, environmentally friendlier, and perform better.
- Keep it quiet. Refrain from using aftermarket parts or modifications that increase noise. They scare wildlife and annoy people.
- Join your local snowmobile club. Their volunteers work hard for you, and they are often a great source for current conditions, riding tips and other useful information.
- Spread the word! Snowmobiles have improved immensely over the last few years, and their environmental impact is actually surprisingly small.
February is… National Snowmobiling Environment Month!
Canadian Snowmobiling and the Species at Risk Act
The Species At Risk Act is a major step forward in protecting our environment and the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) supports the general intent of this Act. The goal is to be actively involved in protecting and preserving Canada’s natural treasures including species at risk.
Snowmobiling offers a unique winter experience and connection to nature. An environment that is not seen is not enjoyed. Out of sight is out of mind and leads to the public losing their sense of ownership. An environment that people do not share a sense of ownership in loses its importance for everyone.
Snowmobilers are committed to the environment as active participants. In surveys, snowmobilers consistently rank “being one with nature” and “viewing the scenery” as some of the most compelling reasons to be outdoors in winter and that’s why, both individually and as a group, we are so attuned to respecting our environment and keeping nature beautiful.
Snowmobile clubs have been active stewards of the Canadian environment for decades, investing time and money in preserving our natural heritage. The snowmobile community has invested millions of dollars in expense, labour and time developing trail networks in every province and territory, and many of them have also been very active in building and promoting the Trans Canada Trail. Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations members are committed to working with government ministries and agencies to build and maintain trails that meet or exceed all applicable environmental specifications and regulations, avoid environmentally sensitive areas, protect waterways, and respect nature.
Properly managed snowmobiling has very little impact on the environment. Multiple studies demonstrate the low impact of snowmobiling on many species. In point of fact, for some species of plants and animals humans on foot can actually have a greater impact than humans on snowmobiles. There is also evidence that the creation of trails can benefit large animals especially in times of deep or drifted snow.
Most of today’s organized snowmobiling occurs in designated areas and on defined and organized trails, which comprise a comparatively small footprint compared to the overall Canadian land mass. Moreover, snowmobiling only occurs during the winter when the earth is protected by a blanket of snow and ice, mitigating impact on plants and earth. When winter is over and the snow melts and our snowmobiles are put away, most snowmobiling areas return completely unharmed to their natural state.
Southern Lakes Caribou
The southern lakes region of the Yukon is home to many unique people, but it’s also home to four unique herds of Woodland Caribou: the Atlin, Carcross, Ibex, and Laberge herds. At one point in history these herds had thousands of caribou each, however after many years of humans hunting them and encroaching on their habitat their population numbers began to decline. By the early 1990s it was noted that some of the caribou herds were down to only a few hundred animals, and would soon disappear entirely if action wasn’t taken.
In 1993 the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Program, a community based initiative, was started. Governments, First Nations, and community groups including the Klondike Snowmobile Association all worked together to help save the Southern Lakes Caribou. In addition to monitoring the herds, the program focused on conducting an extensive education campaign to educate snowmobilers and other backcountry users on how to reduce their impact on the caribou and their habitat. Much of this work is now being continued by the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Committee.
The Klondike Snowmobile Association and everyone else involved in the Southern Lakes Caribou Recovery Program are pleased to report that the program was successful, and in recent years the Southern Lakes Caribou population has been slowly but steadily increasing.
Herd monitoring and recovery efforts are still ongoing. The Klondike Snowmobile Association encourages all snowmobilers to please do their part to help protect the caribou…
- When you see caribou please keep quiet and keep some distance. Caribou are vulnerable during winter and they are easily spooked, which increases their risk of injury and causes them to burn excessive calories. Food and shelter for these caribou is hard to come by during the long Yukon winters.
- When travelling through potential caribou habitat please stick to pre-existing trails as much as possible. Caribou herds are sensitive to human activity, and travelling off trail disturbs their food sources, scares the caribou, and creates express lanes for predators.
- Avoid hunting Southern Lakes caribou. Caribou meat is an important food source for many Yukoners and current herd populations are looking significantly better than the low points noted during the 1990s, however these particular herds continue to be affected by significant habitat encroachment and their numbers are not yet strong enough to sustain regular hunting.
- Spread the word. Please respect the animals and their habitat and encourage your family, friends and visitors to do the same.
For more information on woodland caribou please visit https://yukon.ca/en/woodland-caribou, and for more information on the Southern Lakes Caribou check out https://southernlakescaribou.com/.