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More caribou comments
This SnoRiders reader added his voice to the caribou controversy
An added voice: Sledders speak out about an important issue —Photo by Gary Keehn
I also think that the caribou issue is way out of line. Most people that oppose snowmobiles or any backcountry recreation seldom go out and experience it themselves. We ride in the interior of B.C. where 1 million areas have been secured for mountain caribou. I do not know the percentage but more than 50 per cent of that land set aside has not—and will not likely ever—have a caribou walk on it. We kill many animals on the highways and railways in B.C. but we do not close these routes down in the winter. Heli-skiing did not lose any usable land even though heli-skiers pack the snow down and disturb the caribou with the sound of the helicopter. As for the wolves, I have seen them run 25 kilometres per hour in two feet of fresh snow. So if they want caribou for supper they will find them. Mountain caribou for the most part stay in a herd. Much safer than the lonely moose who wander around by themselves or with a calf. I would like the government to be more honest about the whole situation. People caught or reported to be harassing animals on recreation vehicles should be disciplined, not the whole group of recreational riders.
Thanks for the work that you do
—Darren King
