Re: Motorcyclists damage Yosemite toad habitat

From Yubanet

Sonora, Calif., July 01, 2009 - Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Susan Skalski announced today that scientists discovered serious damage to a high elevation meadow undergoing a five year study which included monitoring the habitat of the Yosemite Toad. Upon arriving at Groundhog Meadow near Herring Creek on June 24, Forest Service researchers saw a blue pickup truck being loaded with motorcycles and making a hasty retreat. The team entered the meadow on foot to find it terribly scarred with deep wheel ruts from spins and zigzags across the meadow.

This illegal and irresponsible type of activity damages habitat and causes serious harm to the amphibian wildlife in meadows. The deep cuts drain the shallow layer of water off the meadow, stranding the eggs and tadpoles living there.

"At this stage there is very little we can do to save them. By the time restoration work is complete the meadow will be dry and the fledgling life is lost," said Kimberly Peterson, biological team crew leader. "It is just horrible, the damage done to the sensitive ecosystem at Groundhog Meadow, not to mention the research completed over the last three years of a five year study is severely compromised."

The article listed above has pictures of the damage.

I keep my motorcycle on established dirt roads or dry washes in Nevada (no green sticker needed).

I found the location of this meadow on Google Earth. (38.2608N, 119.8706W) It appears the area is heavily used by off-roaders, campers and hikers alike as well as scientists.

The meadow is next to (as in a few yards from) a dirt road designated for 4X4s. Apparently wires to keep people out weren't completed and what was in the way was cut. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, gives us legitimate off-roaders a really bad name. Of course, there will be screaming to ban all off-road vehicles, but that's a radical opinion.

I hope they catch who's responsible, though a case against them would be very difficult to prove.

Here's another article that was previously posted.

http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,15105

There's an off road vehicle use area just up the road on SR-108. Although most off road vehicle users are considerate and stay out of areas they are not allowed into, there have always been some that really dislike limitations on where they can go and could care less about ripping up sensitive areas as long as they don't get caught while leaving their calling cards of empty beer cans. Thus it is up to the rest of us to make sure enough of such cretins are identified then hung up as public examples as a warning to others that have similar thoughts.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2009 09:22PM by DavidSenesac.