Blog Archives for ORVs

By Thomas R Petersen - March 10, 2010    Canadian conservationists called for limiting off-road vehicle use in grizzly bear habitat, in an article referencing the province of Alberta's recently released report on grizzly bear numbers. The province's report called the the area south of Highway 16 (connecting Edmonton to Jasper) a "population sink," for grizzlies, which could support a sustainable population if human caused mortality — the report highlights motorized access — is reduced.

By Bethanie Walder - February 23, 2010   New Study Points to Off-Road Vehicle Activity as Primary Source of Air Pollution at Nipomo Mesa, California The San Luis Obispo Air Control Board released a study yesterday (Feb 22) on the impacts of off-road vehicle use at the Oceano Dunes and the resultant air pollution at the nearby Nipomo Mesa.  The study was initially slated for release in December 2009, but was postponed until this week.

By Adam Rissien - February 19, 2010    Today we joined with the Pryors Coalition in challenging the Custer National Forest's Beartooth Travel Plan. In the Pryor Mountains, the Forest Service designated 124 miles (99%) of roads and trails for motorized use, and less than one and a half miles (1%) for those who rely on a quiet setting to enjoy traditional Montana activities.  There are eight designated motorized routes up the south and west slopes of Big Pryor Mountain and no quiet trails.

By Bethanie Walder - February 11, 2010    Eastmans’ Hunting Journal recently posted a poll to their readers about ATV violations and penalties.  While it’s not a scientific poll, and they didn’t list how many people responded to the poll, the hunters who did respond overwhelmingly supported stronger penalties for ATV violations.  The results were released in the February/March 2010 issue of the journal. Here are just a few of the quotes from respondents that Eastmans highlighted:

By Adam Rissien - February 2, 2010    The Ravalli Republic ran a story about how a four wheeler drove around gates closing the Forest Service roads to motor vehicles in the Como Lake area on the Bitterroot National Forest.

By Adam Rissien - January 26, 2010    A few days ago I blogged about our friends at ORV Watch Kern Co. who sent us a couple of You Tube videos documenting illegal motorcycle use on the Pacific Crest Trail. Well it seems that the perpetrators didn't like being caught in the act so they complained to You Tube management about their images appearing online and changes had to be made "to protect THEM."

By Bethanie Walder - January 20, 2010    Maybe it’s because I live in Montana and the small town of Libby has been declared a federal superfund site due to asbestos contamination from a nearby vermiculite mine.  With extremely disturbing stories about the Libby, MT asbestos situation a mainstay of state and even national news for practically a decade, Montanans tend to take asbestos seriously.  And one of the prime questions about Libby relates to responsibility…  when did the W.R.

By Adam Rissien - January 15, 2010    Sentencing happened yesterday for a Livingston, MT man who illegally created an off-road vehicle route back in 2006: see Livingston man admits making illegal trail in forest. Francis Leroy McLain ,60, originally was indicted on a felony and faced a maximum one year in prison and $100,000 fine. After the ususal plea-bargaining his sentence was reduced to five months in federal prison, a $2,000 fine and $25,000 in restitution for damage.

By Sarah Peters - December 23, 2009    Today Judge Molloy signed a settlement agreement between Wildlands CPR, Friends of the Bitterroot, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest that removes authorization for snowmobile grooming in the northern half of the West Pioneers Wilderness Study Area for the 2009-2010 season, and terminates the authorization entirely after the present season. 

By Bethanie Walder - December 22, 2009    I was intrigued and pleased to see an article in the Spokane, WA Spokesman-Review the other day highlighting potential snowmobile closures as a result of illegal activity.  Since beginning to research off-road vehicle enforcement issues nearly 5 years ago, Wildlands CPR is always on the lookout for off-road vehicle enforcement changes that impose real consequences for bad behavior.  In our Six Strategies for Success Enforcement Report, f