Some of the noises coming from stuff the forest no longer belong to the local wildlife and that has some environmentalists and other nature-lovers upset. All-terrain vehicles, trucks and dune buggies are becoming a nuisance in the eyes of some, and forestry officials are trying to get a handle on the problem.
Some hunters say noise from vehicles disrupts the quiet needed for successful hunting.
Others worry about the impact on the environment. More than 200 people attended one of those meetings last week at the Umatilla Civic Center. Rains said with the exception of Croom Recreation Area in Hernando County, most public state land in Florida has been closed to users of ATVs and other vehicles. He said he didn't think the vehicles ridden by members of his club cause damage to the forest. Any human active in the forest will disturb the ground, but it will repair itself.