Effects of snowmobiling across open water on fish and wildlife

Authors(s): D. Trochta

Publication: Effects of winter recreation on wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone Area: a literature review and assessment. Report to the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

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Abstract: Snowmobiling on open water involves a daring or, in some cases, intoxicated snowmobiler with a powerful machine who attempts to either make it across open water or to take a round trip on open water without submerging the snowmobile. If the snowmobile is submerged, the snowmobiler will hook onto it with a rope or chain and pull it out of the water using another snowmobile on the bank. Snowmobiling on open water has the potential to affect water quality; aquatic species, such as invertebrates and trout; and riparian-dependent wildlife, specifically moose, furbearers, waterfowl (including trumpeter swans), and bald eagles. This activity is currently not widespread in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA), but has occurred in a few isolated areas (the author has personal knowledge of the activity occurring on the Henrys Fork at Mack?s Inn, Idaho, and D. Welch of the U.S. Forest Service has observed snowmobiles crossing open water on Island Park Reservoir). There is potential for this type of activity to increase because of its popularity in other parts of the country. The most desirable waters for this activity are shallow ponds or shallow slow-moving streams with a gradually sloping bank where the machine can either exit or be retrieved if submerged. If the snowmobiler engages in this activity on a regular basis, it is desirable to choose locations near a facility where the wet snowmobiler can warm up and dry off. Most waters in the GYA (lakes, ponds, and streams) are frozen throughout the winter period. However, some spring-fed streams, thermal waters, and areas where a stream empties into a lake or reservoir may remain open during part or all of the winter. Because the amount of open water is limited in the GYA during winter, it is critical to the survival of many wildlife species. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Snowmobiling on open water has the potential to pollute the water with snowmobile exhaust and spilled oil and/or gas, to stir up sediments on the bottom, to disturb winter-stressed fish and other aquatic wildlife, and to displace wildlife from important winter habitat. Bald eagles forage along open water, and waterfowl use open water for foraging and loafing during the winter. Moose use open water for foraging and travel and find security in the associated riparian vegetation. Several furbearers use open water and associated riparian vegetation during the winter. A literature search produced little information on the effects of snowmobiling on open water. Adams (1975) found that lead and hydrocarbons from snowmobile exhaust were in the water at high levels during the week following ice-out in a Maine pond. Fingerling brook trout in the pond showed lead and hydrocarbon uptake. Stamina, as measured by the ability to swim against the current, was significantly less in trout exposed to snowmobile exhaust than in control fish. Gabrielsen and Smith (1995) found that fish stopped swimming in response to ground or sound vibration. In the GYA, the Potential Opportunity Areas that will most likely be affected by snowmobiling on open water include: (1) Destination areas (2) Primary transportation routes (12) Low-snow recreation areas MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES Agency managers need to be aware of the potential for snowmobile use on open water and that there are possible effects to water quality, fish, and wildlife. This activity is in defiance of common sense, and agencies should prohibit it on public land to avoid impacts to water quality, aquatic species, and riparian-dependent wildlife. To maintain water quality, Bury (1978) suggests a shift to four-cycle engines in snowmobiles. Four-cycle engines produce less pollutants. Shea (1979) recommends that snowmobile trails be routed away from river courses to protect wintering swans. LITERATURE CITED Adams, E. S. 1975. Effects of lead and hydrocarbons from snowmobile exhaust on brook trout (Salvalinus fontinalis). Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 104(2):363?373. Bury, Richard L. 1978. Impacts of snowmobiles on wildlife. Page 154 in Proceedings, 43rd North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference. Gabrielsen, G. W., and E. N. Smith. 1995. Physiological responses of wildlife to disturbance. Pages 95?107 in R. L. Knight and K. J. Gutzwiller, editors. Wildlife and recreation: coexistence through management and research. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA. Shea. R. 1979. The ecology of trumpeter swans in Yellowstone National Park and vicinity. Thesis, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA. PREPARED BY: Dan Trochta, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Forest Service, Targhee National Forest, Island Park, Idaho, USA.

Keywords: animal, fish, wildlife, management, human activity, trout, moose, Alces alces, ungulate, waterfowl, water bird, Anatidae, swan, trumpeter swan, Olor buccinator, eagle, bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, food, forage, bibliography