Caribou closures threaten to implement even more land closures. Organized snowmobiling in British Columbia has come a long ways in the past decade with more riders than ever before wanting to do the right thing. Wanting to comply with closures, and be an active steward for the sport many snowmobilers try to inspire respect for closures and the Caribou recovery efforts knowing that sometimes we simply are getting the short end of the stick. What pushes snowmobiles to the brink of frustration?
Scape Goat
Although there are six objectives to the Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan required for the program to even begin to be potentially successful to date, government refuses to act upon all six at the same time due to public pressure. If the goal was to recover caribou numbers, wouldn’t it make sense to implement all objectives at the same time? I doesn’t appear so because one constant has been persistent, and aggressive closures while other objectives have been either forgotten or implemented too late to make a difference such as predator management.
Lack of public education
Quite often snowmobilers see people and organizations lashing out at snowmobilers with limited knowledge about the Caribou recovery process. Miley Cyrus for example, has absolutely no idea what is trying to be accomplished with predator management, yet she feels compelled to speak against the wolf cull, inspiring her fans to join in the battle. Many from urban centers who have absolutely no connection to the back country join the I hate snowmobiler band wagon, simply because they have been fed negative propaganda either through the media, or their local mountaineering store that just so happens to support the ban of motorized recreation.
Skewed Media reporting
CBC recently released a press release with the Valhalla Wilderness society which focused on negative non fact based reporting urging government to ban snowmobiling from the back country. CBC’s one sided story left those unaware of the true facts surrounding the caribou recovery process fired up to join in the fight against back country snowmobiling. Going through the remarks posted after the article was frustrating for every snowmobiler, especially those actively involved in the Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan. This seems to be a constant theme for many publications, snowmobilers taken out of context when they agree for quotes, or certain facts omitted in the writer’s attempt at getting a juicy story. Many snowmobiling clubs and organizations have had to delegate specific spokes people who are wise to the ways of main stream media and the potential for words to be taken out of context.
Particularly after tragedy, media representatives have been found to take words out of context to perpetuate myths of who snowmobilers truly are.
Heli Ski conflict
No motorized access should be just that in many snowmobilers minds, but this apparently does not apply to some Heli Ski operations who fly the areas continually during the winter season. These helicopters fly caribou closed area, and land in caribou closed areas dropping off back country skiers.
Science has shown that caribou are far more affected by the silent skier they see as a potential predator, rather than the snowmobile they can hear from miles away. Continual conflict between Heli Ski operations and local snowmobilers is growing with snowmobilers again feeling they have gotten the short end of the stick in land use negotiations. Heli Ski operations celebrate the protection of their tenure.
Cause and Effect
There really is no cause and positive effect to date with the caribou recovery implementation plan.
Lands have been secured, and caribou have declined. Caribou transplant efforts have failed miserably with many caribou destroyed in the process and numbers declined. Caribou that reside within park boundaries continue to decline at the same rate or higher than those in other areas of the province.
Yet more closures are being implemented. Every snowmobiler is asking the same question why more closures? Snowmobile closures will not bring back deforested areas. Closures will not miraculously create fertility in cows that are past breeding age, and caribou closures will not address the high rate of predation on this species.
Snowmobilers simply want to be involved in a process that is fair and effective. Many snowmobilers are active in conservation and stewardship efforts trying to make a difference even through the harshest of times. If everyone affected and involved in the Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan were treated equal, that would be a step in the right direction. Truth and integrity with the process will go a long way when it comes to compliance. So many questions are left unanswered and swept under the rug in the name of recovery but the window of recovery is narrowing and continual pressure of impending closures looms above the heads of back country riders. The time to clean house is now.
