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Rangers Catch Snowmobilers Riding Illegally in Yellowstone National Park's Backcountry

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Four Indiana visitors to Yellowstone National Park have been invited to return to Mammoth Hot Springs late next month...to face charges of snowmobiling illegally in the park's backcountry.

Rangers caught the four, who had rented snowmobiles, more than a mile inside the park boundary near West Yellowstone. They'll have to return to the park in late February to appear before the federal magistrate in U.S. District Court.

Park officials were not immediately available to say whether the four also faced charges of snowmobiling in the park without a guide, as the current snowmobile regulations require.

While limited, managed snowmobile and snowcoach travel over groomed, snow-packed park roads is permitted in Yellowstone, the use of snowmobiles in the backcountry, on trails, and off road has always been prohibited.

Violators face a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail as well as forfeiture of their snowmobiles. Additional charges of damage to park resources can result in another $5,000 fine and an additional six months imprisonment.

In recent weeks, rangers have observed off-road snowmobile tracks up to two-and-a-half miles inside Yellowstone’s backcountry. Rangers regularly patrol the boundary and have the option to ticket, arrest, and confiscate the snowmobiles of violators, who can expect to face aggressive prosecution.

Comments

I do not question that you obey the rules when riding your snowmobile, or that you are sensitive regarding resource impacts. However, snowmobile use does result in environmental impacts. They vary based on the type and weight of the machine, speed, driving patterns, snow depth, affected wildlife, vegetation, etc. It should be noted that snow depth varies considerably and can range from several feet to just a few inches within a short distance depending on terrain, vegetation and wind patterns. The noise and visual disturbance of a machine can and does affect sensitive wildlife. I am not implying that other human uses also result in impacts, although they are usually significantly less. A snowmobile driver skimming over a stretch of virgin snow may not see the resulting impacts, but they do occur. I also have used snowmobiles and understand their attraction. However, it is legitimate for parks to closely manage or restrict their use in response to resource concerns and purposes of affected parks.


Snowmobile impact on wildlife and wilderness environments has not been studied much. To say that they should be banned from national parks and especially Yellowstone based on this limited research is crazy. A human compresses the snow more than a sled due to less weight distribution. I have also heard non motorized users spook wildlife to a greater degree. This is because the animals have no warning of the approach. With sleds they can hear the motors and take appropriate measures long before the sled gets to them. I don’t think people should be riding where there not supposed to be. When you start closing parks down to certain user groups its not long before they become large museums…stay on the outside and just look. What ever happened to the concept of multiple use, I own just as much of that park as you.?


amen they shouldnt allow snowmobling in any national parks


snowmobiling backcountry is no big deal. It is for people who want to have fun. See things you dontgetr to riding trail. as long as you dont make deep holes and rut up the ground the no harm no foul. under 8 feet of snow nothing is going to get hurt. especially on a mountain.


just let the snowmobile operators enjoy the land that they own to ride on... oh you mean they don't own any of their own land for their "recreation".... thought so


Hey anonymous,

I also own the land. And I'm perfectly happy that there are restrictions on its use--as there are with any piece of land anywhere.


Well you did it again Kurt.
One point in common keeps popping up.
There seems to be two user types in every contraversial situation that develops in our National Parks. There are the ones that want no noise, no tracks, no change to anything, no movement that will be noticed by another, not even wildlife, and some would even prefer no people at all. Then you have user #2, those that find it necessary to incorperate one or more of the above factors into the activity which they are interested in participating.
There is a lot of places and a lot of spaces. Enough for everyone to enjoy doing their thing. There will always be the bad guys that need to be controlled and dealt with. To say, just eliminate all that participate in a certain activity, for the acts of a few, is simply ignorant. To say that certain activities just can't be allowed without real attempt to work out a way, that to is ignorant. I think people are smart so maybe it is not ignorance but rather a smoke screen for something worse.
The most significant difference in the two users is that user #1 is always seeking to eliminate user #2 from the parks, unless user #2 conforms to user #1's Philosophy as to appropriate use. Not once have I heard anyone in the user #1 group ask if there is any thing they can do to help accomodate user #2. I have yet to hear anyone from user #2 group say in any way that they prefer to eliminate user #1 from their use of the park. Now, granted , it's not that simple, I know. But, it reflects attitude. And until you development an atmosphere of reasonable attitudes there will never be respect, much less harmony.
Now, the National Park System is facing a most difficult future and there is one thing for sure. People can unite and save the system or they can fight and destroy it. It happens every day in all facets of life. There are users from many walks of life. None are completely right and none are completely wrong. Everyone needs to question their own attitude and decide which side of this fence they want to be on. That part IS simple.

Best to everyone,
Ron


"There seems to be two user types in every contraversial situation that develops in our National Parks. There are the ones that want no noise, no tracks, no change to anything, no movement that will be noticed by another, not even wildlife, and some would even prefer no people at all."

Who? This seems to be a strawman.


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