November/December 2001, Volume 6 #6

The impacts of railroads on wildlife and wildlife habitats are not much different from those caused by roads. Loss of habitat, mortality due to collisions, barrier effect and reduction in habitat quality are the main impacts of habitat fragmentation by railroads. This may cause reduced population viability or threaten a speciesø survival. On a local scale, trains affect wildlife habitats through the introduction of exotic plant species (e.g. seeds), emission of toxic contaminants like heavy metals, or management (e.g. herbicides). Death between the tracks

What is the distribution and intensity of OHV use on the landscape, and what are the impacts? The fact is, no one really knows. Yet many government agencies, scientists, conservationists and recreationists need to answer this critical question in order to manage lands well.