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Backcountry skiers put high stress on wildlife

TENILLE BONOGUORE

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 10:15 PM EDT 13/03/07

New European research shows off-piste skiing and extreme winter sports adversely affect native Alpine animals ...Read the full article

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  1. Dan P from Calgary, Canada writes: It would be nice if a reference was provided, such as the name of the journal or conference where we can find the full article.
  2. Robert Tegart from Canada writes: Time to test this one on our polar bears.
  3. André Poirier from Canada writes: “Disturbance by snow sport free-riders appears to elevate stress, which potentially represents a new serious threat for wildlife,&8221;

    What a great term "snow sport free-riders" ...

    I guess surfers could be termed "sea sport free riders" or when we go for a run in the park we couls say "forest sport free riders ..."

    What is it with all these free riders destroying the environment? We sould all be paying customers at ski resorts and snowmobile camps and gyms ...!
  4. greg dassoy from vancouver, Canada writes: So what!? What about my stress level? I get stressed if I can't ski off-piste....
  5. David Le Gallez from Ottawa, Canada writes: So now PETA will start declaring that leaving our homes is cruelty to animals because it stresses them out.

    Wonderful ... In more interesting news, paint it drying some where.
  6. J F from Canada writes: This research was probably funded by a group more interested in keeping all these horrible and nasty free riders out of the backcounty so they can score all the fresh tracks for themselves.
  7. snow lander from Edmonton, Canada writes: greg that is why your province has available to you the myriad of professionals that will look after your medical and psychological needs. having said that i agree skiing beats all of the above.
  8. Matt Gunn from Vancouver, Canada writes: I'm very curious how the study would identify what particular factor was causing increased stress on the ptarmigans. The cause-effect link between backcountry skiers and the birds stress levels seems very weak with the information given in this article. Did they consider other potential stress factors such helicopter use, pollution, food source availability, climate change, etc? How do they peg it on backcountry skiers?

    More information on where this study can be found would be nice.
  9. Chris S from Guelph, Canada writes: Regarding the first comment: Here's a link to the article in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Science (. You have to have access to the journal, which most university libraries do.

    http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/(jjcfqknmzrnhxu45egbbtp21)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,1,21;journal,1,321;linkingpublicationresults,1:102024,1
  10. Chris S from Guelph, Canada writes: Sorry, forgot the title and authors:

    Spreading free-riding snow sports represent a novel serious threat for wildlife

    Raphaël Arlettaz, Patrick Patthey, Marjana Baltic, Thomas Leu, Michael Schaub, Rupert Palme, Susanne Jenni-Eiermann
  11. Matt T from Canada writes: I guess I should stop skiing back country then eh?

    No Chance.
  12. terry gray from chelsea, Canada writes: I am older than everything except some trees and was there first. Besides when a grouse flies out of its hole it scares the crap out of me too.
  13. Rick Drysdale. from Canada writes: This reminds me of the research done that showed the caribou were stressed by the presence of pipelines. I have since then seen pictures and video clips of them grazing beside the pipes and acting as if they don't exist.
    Mayby they can adapt to the disturbances better than the researchers think.
  14. John Smith from Calgary, Canada writes: Us pesky backcounty skiers are doing too much damage to the environment with our human powered chairlifts (read climbing skins) and small groups. God forbid anyone would go out and enjoy the environment devoid of chairlifts and tour groups.

    Personally, I'd like to see the same research done, but instead measuring how a bird's stress levels increase when a natural predator is in the area. I'm sure its pretty high. Better ban bears, foxes, cougars, wolverines and coyotes before its too late!
  15. DAMIAN CLOW from North Vancouver, Canada writes: Has anybody ever been to the Alps....show me the animals!!!! The birds and maybe the odd goat is about all you'll find for animals. The europeans killed everything that moved long ago...and now they are telling us to stop doing the recreational acitivities we love, because it "stresses" a few birds out...COMMON!
  16. allcanadian allamerican from american sector of, Canada writes: Back country skiing , boarding, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, all these sports should be banned, how would you like it if I started snow boarding down the roof of your home for fun and adventure?
  17. Another Opinion from Toronto, Canada writes: I don't know if I consider backcountry skiing to be especially harmful to the environment compared to... say... clear-cut logging. But then I suppose just about any human incursion into a pristine natural area is bound to have some sort of consequence, even if it is relatively minor.

    My biggest laugh is from reading all the comments from avid backcountry people. I have no doubt that, in different circumstances, those same people would spout long diatribes on the purity and environmentally sensitive nature of their pursuit. I find it somewhat entertaining to see these nature-lovers sneering at the suggestion that nature doesn't love them back.
  18. Matt T from Canada writes: " Back country skiing , boarding, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, all these sports should be banned, how would you like it if I started snow boarding down the roof of your home for fun and adventure?"

    If you could, I would love to see it. We could put the video on Youtube and make millionnsssssssssss.
  19. k b from Canada writes: Enviro-weenies can give it a rest. I live in a small town near a lake, and on lots of mornings I pass half a dozen white-tail deer about 200 yards from my house as they pass in and out of a hole in the fence on to a golf course they are feeding in. Go through Banff or Jasper in the summer and you see elk, and geese lollygagging around the playgrounds, parks and schoolyards. You almost have to nudge bighorn sheep with your bumper to get them out of your way when you are trying to get past a few of them on the highway. I grew up on a farm, and we had a wild coyote living on the north end of the barnyard for a few years. The bottom line is that animals get very used to humans. A few back-country skiers won't do much, if any, harm and it's usually nature lovers like that who do the most for creating parks and looking after wildlife. Much ado about nothing, once again, but that is what the modern environmental lobbyists are all about.
  20. paul malouf from Montreal, Canada writes: FYI: For even more environmental information: The UK"S Guardian (& somewhat less in The Independent) have great environmental sections with lots of great articles on: energy, conservation, climate change, food, pollution, water etc... Lots of reports/studies/reviews that never reach the MSM in Canada.
  21. mondo pinion from Fredericton, Canada writes: Right on Rick. As long as we don't ever hunt or hurt them, most species will get used to us. Still I do hate what motorized recreation like ATVs and snowmobiles are doing to the pristine silence of winter woodlands. It is wrong. Should be limited to restricted recreational trails here and there and legitimate transportation. At least the snowsporters are not motorized. But are they being dropped off by helicopters? -- This is another example of a sloppy news articles that raises an issue without clarifying it.
  22. B D from TO, Canada writes: How can they focus on back country skiing when housing developments are cutting through traditional migratory paths in Alberta? Let's put a stop to that! Back country skiiers may be a part of the problem, but there are many bigger fish to fry (so to speak) when it comes to stressing out the animal population.
  23. Andrew Kubik from San Diego, writes: I'm pretty passionate about the environment, and I believe in preservation. But its crap like this that turns the mainstream against environmentalists and gives the term "tree hugger" a negative conotation. A report like this does more damage to the environmental movement's credibiltiy than anything else. environmentalists need to realize that hey need to play the PR game as much a anyone, and that credibility is very important.

    I'm sure these birds are stressed out all the time anyway. They have to find and consume twice their body weight everyday just to stay alive. That's like working in a sales job and having to make a butt-load of sales everyday. I know I'd be stressed.
  24. Rick Drysdale. from Canada writes: Andrew Kubik from San Diego
    I,m sure the birds are probably more stressed about becoming some other animals lunch too. Seems they are way down on the food clain.
  25. bring back the PIZZA-HUT PRIAZZO! from Canada writes: i think thats just too bad. human beings are a part of this nature as well. the stress ppl put on nature is the same as the stress nature puts on us when huge waves from earth quakes drown our cities or when sharks invade our beaches. you cannot separate man from nature. we are part of it, not separate. nature without man present, doing man things, would not be nature as its designed to be.
  26. bring back the PIZZA-HUT PRIAZZO! from Canada writes: man has as much right to the wilderness as the animals.
  27. bring back the PIZZA-HUT PRIAZZO! from Canada writes: to further that, man as a dominant species is a natural selective force of nature. those animals that cannot adapt, should rightfully perish.
  28. Cut The Crap from Canada writes: Who in the %&&^%$ funded this stupid 'research?'

    That's where the real crime is here. A ridiculous waste of good money spent on inane, partisan, politically-driven 'research' gives all science a bad name.
    .
  29. Rolloff deBunk from Calgary - The new Centre of the Universe, Canada writes: Not to worry dear birds the human species has started its own countdown clock and they (birds) may survive us yet
  30. Paul Thompson from Canada writes: Pizza Hut, the world will be a much poorer and more boring place if the likes of you have their way.
  31. William T from Chilliwack, Canada writes: Good thing only .0001% of Canada is made into ski hills.
  32. Don't Tax Me Anymore!!! from Toronto, Canada writes: I don't know about the birds but those damn snowmobiles stress me out.
    Though they stress me out they also bring me great joy...you know, when they make headlines in the paper. "Snowmobiler ducks too late going under bridge" or "Snowmobile sinks after going through thin ice." My favourite (and the birds) will be coming in the form of spring headlines. Happy trails. LOL.
  33. Roland Neissinger from Oakville, Canada writes: Soon they can jump around with the frustrated mountain goats, there won't be any snow left for a while to do extreme skiing...
  34. Dan Vallee from Ottawa, Canada writes: allcanadian allamerican ... bring it on.... I'd be more than happy to board down your house and on to you face.... What do you want us to do, wrap every damn bird in a hermetically sealed bubble.
  35. matt bodkin from whistler bc, Canada writes: in this part of the world- its the snowmobilers doing most of the stressing out
    how this sport can go on unregulated while the users pollute the pristine backcountry is beyond me
    attempts are being made by manufacturers to produce machines that are less emmiting but the sleds are typically underpowered and heavy and as such the pollute for pleasure crowd is slow to come around to the benefits of the lower emmisions
  36. Rover Rollover from Canada writes: Now if we could only get the back country types to own up when it comes to the costs of rescuing them, that would be progress. Currently if one of the off-piste'rs gets into trouble and needs to be rescued (and this happens all the time in Banff and other national parks, there was one at Lake Louise this week), the happy taxpayer gets the bill. Backcountry permits need to be priced a whole lot higher to help cover some of these costs, which are increasing with heavier use of these lands.
  37. Snow Mobiler from 6 ft of powder, Canada writes: Matt Bodkin - You are obviously a skier and you never had the pleasure of 151 horse between your legs - and I suppose the motors from chair lifts have no emmisions!
  38. Betty Davis from Toronto, Canada writes: Agree 100% with "Don't Tax Me Anymore" but don't forget to add the ATV riders who go over private property, tear up the landscape and generally make life miserable for anyone who has to listen to the noise they create.
  39. Brian James from Calgary, Canada writes: Sounds reasonable Rover but you should also be advocating people paying to be pried out of their cars after a crash if they were speeding or driving recklessly or people paying for the fire services when they burn their house down with their cigarettes.

    You might be right though...If people thought about having to pay the cost of rescue services before they did something reckless of stupid you'd save the rest of us a lot of money.
  40. John Rowell from Nelson, B.C., Canada writes: The story doesn't make it clear that it is the helicopters, snowmobiles, and ATVs that stress out animals. I backcountry ski but I always ski in.
  41. matt bodkin from whistler bc, Canada writes: actually snowmobiler from six feet of powder- i own a snowmobile- a 1996 tundra- a great machine to get you up a lengthy logging road approach before you turn the stinky thing off and start skinning
    and yes 151 horses underneath is a tremendous rush- however with this rush is the byproduct of huge amounts of unburnt petrol discarded into the snowpack and air of these backcoountry locales
    the argument of ski lift motors is only partially valid
    if one person or 1000 people use the lifts the emmisions are similiar due to the fact the lifts are running regardless
    the difference between one and 1000 people on snowmobiles should be plainly obvious!
  42. Paul Thompson from Canada writes: There's little I hate worse than heading out for what I hope will be a quiet winter hike only to hear the roar of snowmobiles going where they shouldn't be, a tendency shared by dirt-bikers in the summer. Let them stick to their designated trails. If I want to hear machinery I'd stay in the city. As for you, Mr. Snow Mobiler from 6 ft. of powder, I hope having all that horsepower between your legs isn't a substitute for something else. Sorry, I just couldn't resist it.
  43. John Smith from Canada writes: As the owner of a luxury ski resort I agree with this article. It is unbelievably cruel and insensitive to ski through the backcountry. You are depriving lifties and hotel staff of jobs, not to mention the potential for cutbacks in the oil industry if we lose enough of you fitness maniac freaks to the insanity of off-piste skiing that we have to restrict lift hours. Not only that, you're harming the wildlife. Do you have an environmental assessment done before you go for a ski? No? Thought not. Yet SkiConglom had one done, and we passed. The sooner legislation to stop you economically and environmentally dangerous backcountry skiers is passed the better.
  44. John Smith from Canada writes: Although, more seriously, given the number of Europeans in that small space, sanctuaries for animals may not be a bad idea. (It would be interesting to see if the animals can recognise the boundaries, and migrate into them as elephants do in Africa.)
  45. J F from Canada writes: John Smith...what a ridiculous statement. Resort skiing is horrible for the environment....you're encouraging thousands of people to DRIVE into the mountains for the privilege of sliding down some overcrowded crap runs with artificial snow made from nasty chemicals? And what about how wasteful hotels are with water and electricity? Spare me.

    95% of the people who ski are too lazy and can't ski deep snow very well so it prevents them from going into the backcounty anyway...so no need to worry, plenty of skiers left to fill your pockets from charging us $10 for a cold hamburger.

    BTW...i work in the development industry and most environmental assessments are a joke. Hire some consultants to write some fluff and some schmuck rubber stamps your approval.
  46. K Riddell from CA formerly, Vancouver etc, United States writes: In context, this article may have some merit. Having lived and skkied extensively in Switzerland I saw way more back country skiers there and even higher concentrations of Heliskiiers in what is a fraction of the surface area of Canada's BC skiiable terrain. This last is counter intuitive to their strict control of helicopter access for recreational purposes. I believe the conclusions (yes the journal article should certainly be referenced) may carry some merit IN EUROPE. There are some areas in BC and ALta that get 'heavy traffic', but nothing in comparison to resort areas and it is wierd to target backcountry skiiers as a cause. What is also significant- and interesting to me -is that the conclusion of this article is deeply believed (true or not) by Euro- skiiers and far more than in Canada they are sensitive to 'skiing in trees' as a bad thing to do for environmental reasons (not only for fear of pulling a 'Sonny Bono'). Whenever raving about the joys of 'sous bois' tree skiing I inevitably got the same lecture about the concerns about the deer etc. For me THAT was novel. So many people thinking the same way - for better and worse. Canada has less ski traffic. more land. Soak it up and enjoy it responsibly. We have some of the last vestiges of wilderness in the world but it doesn't mean they should not be enjoyed in a non polluting manner. btw. Sierra's skiing is remarkably different: shared access is a hotter topic and you almost never see significant signs of wildlife. Is this Canada's future too? I hope not.
  47. Christal Watson from North of Steeles, Canada writes: J F, I don't know a whole lot about skiing yet--I hope to make if off the bunny hill this winter--but man-made snow is just water, dude. No chemicals.
  48. Dog's Best Friend from Canada writes: Greg Dassoy. I'll assume that your remark was tongue in cheek. If that really is your position it's a classic example of why human interference in animal habitat is destroying the animal populations in throughout the country. I can only hope that governments wise up and put severe restrictions on this type of activity. Just because humans want something doesn't necessarily mean that we should have it.
  49. Dog's Best Friend from Canada writes: Pizza Hut P. Do us all a favour and DON'T offer your telling insights into nature and man. That kind of thinking comes from eating too many stuffed crusts.
  50. Paul Chretian from Canada writes: This is just a liberal attempt to control our lives ever more. Sheila Copps will use this to restrict banff development even more. Yeah I know she is retired but a paternlistic liberal never retires. I would suspect that the poor birds are more stressed out by the crazy scientist who catches them more than the odd skier who goes off trail.
  51. Bill H from London, Canada writes: Could JF be having a little difficulty recognizing sarcasm?
  52. John Smith from Canada writes: methinks
  53. casey miller from oddawa, Canada writes: I have a suggestion - hunters like to shoot but there is less wildlife for hunters to kill - and since these extreme skiiers want excitement - what could be more exciting then letting the hunters track and shoot the damn extreme skiiers - wouldn't that be a win-win-win scenario, the hunters are happy, the wildlife is left alone, and the skiiers get thier thrills.
  54. allcanadian allamerican from american sector of, Canada writes: Dan Vallee from Ottawa, Canada writes: allcanadian allamerican ... bring it on.... I'd be more than happy to board down your house and on to you face.... What do you want us to do, wrap every damn bird in a hermetically sealed bubble.

    No Dan I would be more than happy to wrap YOU in a hermetically sealed bubble and then POP you! LOL
  55. Rick Taves from Canada writes: The extreme sports crowd wants nothing but a bigger kick. By making trails and courses we lay claim to part of nature as our own, and rest we leave to wildlife. The extreme sports crowd want to grab everything for itself just to get a bigger rush. They are part of the ATV, Skidoo, Seedoo crowd. They are the audience for those disgusting ads promoting four wheel drive trucks and SUVs that promise that you can go anywhere you like, across meadows and streams, up any hillside and mountain. Because baby, you deserve it.
  56. Nic Quigley from Canada writes: Rick Taves from Canada, if you read the top headline to the whole story it is reffering to "backcountry skiers" not the"ATV, Skidoo, Seedoo crowd." If you have a compaint about these people better take it up in the right place.
  57. Helen Pettingill from Canada writes: I'm sure it is a problem. I suppose it's tantamount to people whipping along a nature trail on their BMX bikes. They don't make much noise (though big groups of them might) but going off the trails & leaving garbage lying around isn't good. In short, large numbers of people skiing on any random ski trail on any given day is bound to impact the local environment. As for those types who think skidooing or driving motor boats is their idea of getting close to nature... Don't even get me started. All they're doing is polluting & terrozing wildlife. Be a big person & snowshoe across the woods & paddle or sail yourself across the lake. You'll gain a lot more respect if you do. Show some respect for the wild animals.
    If you want to do well for mother nature, remember this if nothing else: When you find yourself in an environmentally sound area, take nothing from it (besides the beauty in your memory) & leave nothing but footprints when you leave.
  58. Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: Backcountry skiers put high stress on wildlife? Get out!
  59. Dr. Morgan Tyler from Toronto, Canada writes: We always thought swarms of drunken hunters with high-powered rifles, or large native bands with arrows and traps would put stress on the wildlife.

    Now we find out it's back-packing skiers.
    This is a complete joke, hope the Gov't didn't pay for the study.
  60. Tony M from All Over, Canada writes: Save the environment.

    We should close down all ski hills in national parks. Banff and Jasper should be closed to the public. There is no reason for humans to kill the environment with roads etc.
  61. Bruce Batchelor from Langley, Canada writes: It is the mere prescence of people which causes the stress. Whether on motorized transport or on foot. Whether 10 metres or 1000 away from the wildlife. This has been known for decades. Wendell Berry wrote about it in the 60"s in his essay about the nature consumers. Now it is lifestyle merchandizing, and the selling of thrills. Too many industries from clothing, to equipment, to vehicles, to booze, and advertising, and hotels depend on the exploitation of the public domain. Not to mention sports promoters. Even snowshoeing leaves a footprint. The next recession will reduce the money, time, adn inclination available for these invasive activities.
  62. Alex MacLean from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey, Cut the Crap, could you do the same? Back up your claim that this research is "politically driven". I don't see it, maybe you could point that out for me. It has the ring of pure science to me. I wasn't aware that the "bird constituency" had political champions. Ridiculous.
  63. Ben Robitaille from Kanata, Canada writes: They shoud find out if the stress is generated by the disapearence of the snow and glaciers from global warming. This doesn't seem to be a very scientific study. How many extreme skiers do you know? Not that much I would guess... This is a waste of time, effort and money. Someone should stop those meaningless studies and solve real problems.
  64. Ben Robitaille from Kanata, Canada writes: Human development can't be stopped but it mostly needs to change it's behavior and how it interact with nature. Closing down parks will only prevent people from seeing the beauty that need protecting.
  65. Wayne B from Calgary, Canada writes: Ben Robitaille, human development can be stopped. Don't make mother nature angry, you won't like her when she's angry. The scales will adjust, sooner or later.
  66. Sandy G. from Canada writes: This has been up on the front page of the Globe's website for 5 days now. It's an interesting topic, but is it still front page news? Or has the paper fired all its reporters?
  67. D K from Canada writes: IF they think skiing stresses out the animals, imagine what hunting season must do to them...... maybe we should give them some Valium?

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