Two Prince George residents received a written warning after snowmobiling in a protected area.
On March 17, a Prince George Conservation Officer and regional environmental biologist conducted a helicopter patrol of the Hart Mountain range after complaints of snowmobiling in the No-Snowmobile Closures.
A group of caribou with calves were spotted by the patrol in the alpine above the location where the two riders were headed. Three other riders were seen by the patrol just entering the closure when they were turned around by the previously warned riders.
At issue is the tendency of caribou to flee and abandon areas of high sled use. This can be hard on calves and may result in more fatalities, which leads to population decline. According to the Conservation Officer Service (COS), caribou rely on the deep powder to keep a buffer between themselves and predators. Ploughed roads and other trails can make it easier for wolves to enter caribou habitat.
The COS reminds snowmobilers that is a violation of the Wildlife Act to ride in closed areas and can result in tickets or significant court-imposed fines and seizures of equipment. Severe penalties can be sought against those found chasing or harassing caribou.
Since 2009, the provincial government has closed areas to snowmobile use across the Mountain caribou range to support population recovery as part of the 2007 Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan.
Included among those government commitments were: protecting 2.2 million hectares from logging and road building, managing recreation to reduce human disturbance in Mountain caribou habitat and increasing caribou subpopulations by transplanting animals from large to small herd areas.
Based on 2010 data, about one-third of the province's Mountain caribou population live in the Hart range.
Anyone witnessing snowmobile infractions or other prohibited activities in closed areas is asked to report it anonymously to the Conservation Officer Service's 24-hour line at 1-877-952-7277.
