Snow Sports Persuasive Essay
Anna Hill
Mr. Haney
English & 201
May 25, 2015
Snow Sports Encroachment on Wildlife in the Western United States and Canada
The world of snow sports has become a popular following these days from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The issue that many will argue against these sports is their affect on the environment. With the ever-growing industry, regulars are finding a new need to go out of bounds and discover what they would like to consider the “unknown”, or “gems of life”. Research shows that these various snow sports can take a hugs toll on the wildlife. Particularly with the recent climate change, causing wildlife to migrate up into the mountains, participants of snow sports need to be more aware of the impact …show more content…
You wouldn’t think that making tracks in the snow would harm animals because they tend to be creatures of habit and once a new snowfall hits, one would assume those tracks would be covered and cleared once again. The journal written by two students at the university of Wyoming showed through their studies that by the use of snow sports compacted trails, “animals reduce their sink depth and therefore also their cost of travel by selecting for harder snow surfaces” (Whiteman 156). The issue is that these tracks are making a lasting impression on wildlife and the environment. There is also the fact that with our low levels of snowfall in the west, these tracks aren’t getting covered up. The major effect of the tracks that these major sports are making is in the path it makes. Many animals will pick a path or a scent to follow and in certain times of the year such as fall and spring when the wildlife is migrating, the packed out trails are making the trip tens times easier and faster in the path. This may not come off as a huge concern to many however wildlife biologists are watching as animals are tracking too far out that they either can’t return back to where they started later in the year or they simply get
Mr. Haney
English & 201
May 25, 2015
Snow Sports Encroachment on Wildlife in the Western United States and Canada
The world of snow sports has become a popular following these days from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The issue that many will argue against these sports is their affect on the environment. With the ever-growing industry, regulars are finding a new need to go out of bounds and discover what they would like to consider the “unknown”, or “gems of life”. Research shows that these various snow sports can take a hugs toll on the wildlife. Particularly with the recent climate change, causing wildlife to migrate up into the mountains, participants of snow sports need to be more aware of the impact …show more content…
You wouldn’t think that making tracks in the snow would harm animals because they tend to be creatures of habit and once a new snowfall hits, one would assume those tracks would be covered and cleared once again. The journal written by two students at the university of Wyoming showed through their studies that by the use of snow sports compacted trails, “animals reduce their sink depth and therefore also their cost of travel by selecting for harder snow surfaces” (Whiteman 156). The issue is that these tracks are making a lasting impression on wildlife and the environment. There is also the fact that with our low levels of snowfall in the west, these tracks aren’t getting covered up. The major effect of the tracks that these major sports are making is in the path it makes. Many animals will pick a path or a scent to follow and in certain times of the year such as fall and spring when the wildlife is migrating, the packed out trails are making the trip tens times easier and faster in the path. This may not come off as a huge concern to many however wildlife biologists are watching as animals are tracking too far out that they either can’t return back to where they started later in the year or they simply get