Soil compacted ORV trail leading into a stream environment. Some species seem able to habituate to ORV activity, reducing the impact of ORVs. However, when wildlife do not flee the sound or approach of ORVs, there may be reasons that have nothing to do with habituation. Furthermore, habituation generally seems to take place only when ORV activities occur along a predictable path and at predictable times. As long as ORV use occurs off designated routes, habituation may be unlikely for much of the affected wildlife, or wildlife may stop using large areas of important habitat.
Winter presents a special set of problems for wildlife.
Most of the disturbance concerns described above take on particular urgency during the winter months. Snow compaction makes digging through snow much more difficult, a serious issue for small mammals that survive in the spaces beneath the snow, and for deer, elk, and other ungulates that must dig through snow to reach critical forage. Snow compaction can be a serious issue for small carnivores, such as pine marten, which rely on the space under the snow for protection from winter conditions, protection from predators, and access to the small mammals which form their prey base. Snowmobile use can also pose a serious threat to species like grizzly bear and wolverine, because, for instance, snowmobile disturbance can lead them to the abandon their dens. Many wildlife species rely heavily on their ability to hear for survival.