CHEQUAMEGON, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is urging snowmobilers to stick to the marked trails.
Brian Heeringa is the Washburn District Wildlife Biologist. Every year he and his fellow Forest Service employees look for animal tracks in the Moquah Barrens. He says every winter they see tracks from snowmobilers going off trail, but this year seems to be worse. “I don’t have a percentage of what increase that is, but just noticeably for a group of us that spends a lot of time out there it was markedly increased this year.”
Heeringa says the off-trail riding can negatively impact wildlife in the area. Some species like sharp-tailed grouse will snow-roost in the Moquah Barrons. “Basically they create a little burrow… these colder spells where they can’t access food as easily.”
The noise alone from snowmobiles getting too close can be enough to flush the grouse causing them to expend energy they need to survive.
It can also make it easier for predators to find them.
The Forest Service is asking snowmobilers to stick to designated trails to help protect the wildlife.
