Roads and trails affect caribou
Conservationists have long argued that roads and backwoods trails put plants and animals at risk.
 It's easy to get annoyed by such statements because they appear overblown. Besides, it's hard to teach the youth to appreciate nature and hunt responsibly if the bush is off limits. And it's also true that even for adults wilderness experiences enhance our appreciation of the land and makes us more protective of it.
Some say wildlife even benefit from the increased mobility brought about by snow machines because hunting pressure is distributed. Others consider this distribution problematic, however, because it eliminates areas wherein the wildlife are entirely undisturbed.
In any event, there are some important factors for business interests and recreational trail users to turn their minds to. After all, by taking small measures now, big damage to the wildlife down the road might be averted. And environmental mistakes are so difficult and so costly to undo that being extra cautious pays off in the long run.
A recent report by the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board called "Down the Road: The Effects of Roads on Trails on Wildlife" explains that the impact of human activity in the bush is real and substantial. And they go on to explain how responsible planning can allow access to recreational areas as well as the economic opportunities in forestry and mining – and still minimize detrimental effects.
Some consequences of roads and trails are obvious, even if they might appear insignificant. For example, roads and trails provide easier access to the bush and can lead to increased poaching or over-hunting in a particular area. Overhunting of moose due to off-road vehicle access is evident in some parts of the Alsek region. And the Finlayson caribou herd's population might be declining due to increased hunting, presumably as a result of access with snow machines.
Often more roads means more trails as people naturally are inclined to explore on foot and on ATVs, thus increasing the scars on the land. Also, when there are more roads, some animals are more likely to be killed by passing vehicles. And sensitive animals like caribou, bears and moose that aren't killed can be disturbed by the increased human activity, especially by the disruption caused by ATVs and snow machines.
When caribou are already pestered by insects or struggling to keep warm and also around calving time, too much contact with people and their machines can jeopardize their health. And wolves are more successful in killing caribou along trails. Other consequences are not so obvious.
After spring's first thaw, when all the land is exposed and muddy except for the long white lines of snow machine and ski trails, we can see the effects of snow compaction. A good example of this is the spider webs of recreational trails found around Grey Mountain and Marsh Lake.
The most noticeable damage is broken branches. In the Tombstone are, one study by Dorian Amos demonstrated that the scars left by snow machines remain year-round. Dwarf birch tends to die back under trails, and it tends not to recover. The snow compaction on trails changes vegetation significantly, affecting the temperature of the soil, reducing the bacteria in soil and delaying snow melt.
This damage to the habitat affects plant growth and small animals, which in turn affects the animals that eat those plants and animals, which affects their predators. Scientists call the fragmented landscape caused by roads and trails "linear disturbance."
The Southern Lakes caribou herd has suffered as a result of severe habitat damage from ATV use in the Marsh Lake area. Elsewhere, caribou tend to avoid roads and seismic lines up to 250 metres on either side of the trail. And large groups of caribou tend to break into smaller groups along pipeline corridors.
Caribou can even be driven out of areas where the density of roads and trails is increasing. When caribou encounter a pipeline, they tend to run along it instead of crossing it and expend dangerous amounts of energy – this means thinner animals for hunters, as well as jeopardizing healthy calving. Caribou's migratory routes can even be affected.
The effects of roads and trails might not appear big when you look at them in isolation, but when they're looked at cumulatively over time, we can see they're substantial. Land-use planners now are able to take steps to minimize the damage so there can be access to land for commercial and recreational use.
First, their plans can encourage use of existing roads rather than creating new ones.
When roads are necessary, there are methods that can reduce their impact. New road and recreational trails can be strategically placed on the most resilient landscapes and designed to minimize disruption, such as over gravel and sand substrate. Parts of trails can be hardened to prevent ponding and trail braiding. And roads and trails for mineral exploration can be used temporarily and then restored to minimize long-term impact.
Planners can locate trails so that the damage is limited to particular areas rather than spread out. And individuals can minimize the damage. It's always best to stay on the existing trails rather than widening the trail or cutting a new one. And ATV and snow-machine users can drive slowly and maintain a respectful distance from any animals they pass. If the animals don't get spooked, they won't suffer from stress.
And trail users can be especially mindful of the caribou's sensitive times, such as insect season in late summer or the springtime before and after calving, when the animals need a little extra space. People might even avoid trails or special areas for brief periods each year to be respectful of the wildlife.
Roads and trails don't seem like much to people, who are used to seeing such things, but to animals – especially caribou – the disturbance caused by people on the land is an important factor in their health.
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