[NatureNS] Protected areas; ATV use-some thoughts for moose and trout

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From: bev wigney <bkwigney@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 13:18:26 -0500
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  and get it up to speed than it is with a bicycles. And harde

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David, and all,

I agree with much of what you've written.   However, I feel there is an impo=
rtant distinction that should be made between careless or wanton destruction=
 by pedestrians, and bicycles, as opposed to what is possible using ATVs, mo=
tocross motorcycles and off-road equipped 4x4s.    It would be next near to i=
mpossible for pedestrians, unless they appeared en masse, perhaps by the doz=
ens, and all wearing steel-cleated shoes, to produce anywhere near the damag=
e of even one thoughtless or purposefully malicious person on an ATV.  For e=
xample, just a week or so ago, I happened to be checking the local online ne=
ws for my area and noticed a story about vandalism at the Digby Pines golf c=
ourse.  Apparently, for years, they have encouraged hikers, x-country skiers=
 and dog walkers to traverse the golf course in winter, so long as they resp=
ect the area around the putting greens.  This system seems to have worked.  H=
owever, last week, there was destruction on the course caused by vandals usi=
ng an ATV.  Hikers and others did report the act of vandalism as it occurred=
, but obviously it happened too quickly to stop before the damage was done. =
 I suppose the hope will be to catch whoever was responsible.=20
http://www.digbycourier.ca/News/Local/2016-01-14/article-4404267/Snow-job%3A=
-Vandals-tear-up-Digby-Pines-golf-course/1

Now, the above incident occurred at a place where there were "many eyes" to r=
eport the damage a.s.a.p.   What happens when there are few to no eyes watch=
ing? =20

As John has suggested, this may come down to a greater need for surveillance=
, probably using trail cameras, and also at least some policing on the part o=
f some authority or another.  Based on my own experiences arou d Ottawa, I b=
elieve that designating an area as "off limits" does very little good, and i=
n fact, may well provoke vandalism by that small few who resent being told w=
hat to do.  In a way, better to try to keep protected places unidentified an=
d attempt to use natural barriers (large fallen trees, immovably huge rocks,=
 etc...) strategically placed as a deterrent.

I should mention that I've discussed this topic ad nauseum with forest range=
rs, hiking association, park biologists, and many others during my travels. =
 Most have plenty of horrifying stories to tell about purposeful destruction=
 - and all are at a loss for any effective solution other than surveillance.=
=20

bev wigney



On 2016-01-24, at 1:07 PM, "David & Alison Webster" <dwebster@glinx.com> wro=
te:

> But some people who do not own or use ATVs are also slobs. Should one ther=
efore conclude that those who don't use ATVs should be excluded ?
>     As for the other point--
> "2.       He believes that ATVers will just have to =E2=80=9Cpolice themse=
lves=E2=80=9D."
>=20
>  So far as I am aware, ATVs must have a license plate (Has this changed ?)=
 Just about everyone carries a camera these days. If an ATV driver is out of=
 line; anyone present (ATVer or not) should report it with a photo of the of=
fending vehicle/driver.
>=20
> =20
>=20
> My overall experience with ATVers has been positive; with the exception of=
 kids and the very rare 'adults' who have never grown up.
>=20
>     A bit of toterance, patience and adult education will go a long way.
>=20


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<html><head></head><body bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><div><div>David, and all,</div>=
<div><br></div><div>I agree with much of what you've written. &nbsp;&nbsp;<s=
pan class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26=
, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.2=
30469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">How=
ever, I feel there is an important distinction that should be made between c=
areless or wanton destruction by pedestrians, and bicycles, as opposed to wh=
at is possible using ATVs, motocross motorcycles and off-road equipped 4x4s.=
 &nbsp; &nbsp;It would be next near to impossible for pedestrians, unless th=
ey appeared en masse, perhaps by the dozens, and all wearing steel-cleated s=
hoes, to produce anywhere near the damage of even one thoughtless or purpose=
fully malicious person on an ATV. &nbsp;For example, just a week or so ago, I=
 happened to be checking the local online news for my area and noticed a sto=
ry about vandalism at the Digby Pines golf course. &nbsp;Apparently, for yea=
rs, they have encouraged hikers, x-country skiers and dog walkers to travers=
e the golf course in winter, so long as they respect the area around the put=
ting greens. &nbsp;This system seems to have worked. &nbsp;However, last wee=
k, there was destruction on the course caused by vandals using an ATV. &nbsp=
;Hikers and others did report the act of vandalism as it occurred, but obvio=
usly it happened too quickly to stop before the damage was done. &nbsp;I sup=
pose the hope will be to catch whoever was responsible.&nbsp;</span></div><d=
iv><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rg=
ba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227=
, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "=
><a href=3D"http://www.digbycourier.ca/News/Local/2016-01-14/article-4404267=
/Snow-job%3A-Vandals-tear-up-Digby-Pines-golf-course/1">http://www.digbycour=
ier.ca/News/Local/2016-01-14/article-4404267/Snow-job%3A-Vandals-tear-up-Dig=
by-Pines-golf-course/1</a></span><br></div><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-s=
pan" style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webk=
it-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-compositio=
n-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><br></span></div><div><span c=
lass=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26,=
 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469=
); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgb