In search of untracked powder, backcountry recreationists may unwittingly disturb winter wildlife habitat. This winter, recreationists in Idaho, Wyoming and Montana have had to search a little farther for a stash of powder. Throughout the western Rocky Mountains, snowpack is about 50 percent lower than average. Backcountry fans may be desperate to play in the snow, but skiing or snowmobiling in wildlife closure areas is not the way to do it, conservation groups say. Many of the violations are not intentional and could be avoided if people knew where the closure areas are located.
Elk are among the animals that conservationists are trying to protect with closure boundaries.
After a long winter on a spartan diet, many large ungulates, including elk, deer and moose, are running on reserve. Their precious fat reserves are tapped out by early spring. The exertion caused by dodging dogs, snowmobiles or skiers can lower fat supplies to dangerous levels. To help animals conserve energy, certain backcountry areas are closed to the public from Dec. 1 to April 1. The U.S. Forest Service warns that if your presence causes an animal to move away from you, you are too close.