Don't Squeeze the Chipmunks

by John Bullaro

From my observations, it appears that residents fortunate to live in the Central Coast area of California generally think of themselves as environmentally conscientious people. Many recycle, don't dump trash in the woods, drive fuel efficient cars, and when outside, believe in the mantra, "Take pictures and leave only footprints."

Therefore I ask the question, are we benign interlopers when we leave "only footprints?" Unfortunately the answer to that question is NO. Our mere presence in nature—on beaches, mountains, or deserts—whether alone or in a small group, impacts the land and the animals that reside there. 

I am not arguing we should abandon all outdoor activity in order to be good stewards of the environment. I am saying we all need to be aware that our passage through the woods, along the beaches, or on the water, however slight, is recorded by nature.

Since the beginning of time, human activity has to some extent altered the landscape—sometimes in a small way, as in subsistence hunting, or in massive ways like mining and deforestation. "Well," you may argue, "I don't operate a mine or cut down trees." That's good. However, on a recent visit to Bend, Oregon, I visited a Native American Museum. In the lobby of the museum I saw an environmental display that made me think about how I impact the environment even when I am "just passing through."

The museum massage was direct: "Hiking alone or with a group on a trail one creates a zone of disturbance 600 feet on either side of the trail."  This idea of "zone of disturbance" gave me an unsettling feeling. My internal voice said, "Who? Me? No way." For those who take short-cuts off the trail, the zone of disturbance is far greater than 600 feet, and doing so encourages others to do the same. This "sheep effect" happens with one hiker or fifteen.

Many of us engage in our recreation in groups. A large group of hikers and campers create a zone of disturbance far greater than 600 feet. Disturbance means here, affecting native wildlife, plants, and soil conditions. Horses and mountain bikes (which I confess is my preferred mode of mountain travel) have a greater impact on the environment than a solo hiker, yet we should be aware that all activity is accumulative and changes the environment.

One more point the museum message makes, "Every passage by a user leaves a scent which may impact local animals in some way." (Using Ivory soap doesn't change the fact.)

This next statement could result in my demise. So here goes, off-road vehicles are the biggest source of environmental destruction we find in nature (aside from deep water oil drilling and human land development). Consider this. One off-road motorcycle, with an altered exhaust system (usually the norm to get more speed), can tear up the flora, panic the fauna, and shatter the peace and quiet of all hikers and campers in a twenty square mile area. These vehicles are an abomination that belong on a race track not on our beaches or mountain trails. Enough said. I best leave this topic before I'm lynched by the ever vigilant off-road posse.

The ability of wildlife to tolerate disturbance varies across seasons. Generally, winter and spring are the most sensitive season. Thinks snow mobiles in Yellowstone or jet skies along the coast. Land animals are short of food in winter and running away from intruders can exacerbate their plight.           

In spring, animals are highly sensitive because they are nesting, fawning, calving, and courting. (It's best not to interfere with romance).

You may be like me, in that the need for outdoor experiences is as important as food, sleep, or companionship. Being in nature, looking at its beauty, sensing its grandeur, and swimming in its waters, are sure anecdotes for the ubiquitous depressing news we read in our daily news papers. Listening to the media purveyors of anti-intellectual insults pits citizens against one another for no other reason than they belong to a different political party and have a different notion of democracy. Throw into this mix of bad news, global warming, news about our fragile economy, the cost of rebuilding Iraqi, and a war we were shoved into, nature become the last refuge of sanity.

So, go forth and soak up the beauty we have in nature. Be a steward of the environment, as most of you have always been, but keep in mind that there is no such thing as a benign passage in the outdoors. Every passage and activity has an impact. And if footprints are all you leave, then I say, "Well done."               

Wolf Image on Banner by Don Joseph