Helicopter Patrol Nets Two Inside ‘No Snowmobile’ Zone
Prince George, BC – As part of an ongoing effort to support population recovery of the mountain caribou, the Prince George Conservation Officer Service handed out written warnings to two snowmobilers found within a ‘No Snowmobile’ zone in the Hart Mountain range, northeast of Prince George.
Responding to complaints of riding within the closed area, Conservation Officer Todd Hunter says the pair was ticketed during a recent helicopter patrol. The two Prince George residents were found operating their machines in the Captain Creek no-snowmobile closure, near Otter Lake.
Hunter says a group of caribou with calves were spotted by the patrol in the alpine just above the location where the riders were heading. He says, "Three other riders were seen by the patrol just entering the closure when they were turned around by the previously warned parties."
Hunter says the Conservation Officer Service is reminding snowmobilers that it’s an offence under the Wildlife Act to operate their machines in closed areas – with penalties ranging from violation tickets to significant court imposed fines and even the seizure of equipment. Since 2009, the government has closed areas across the Mountain Caribou range to snowmobile use in a bid to bolster the caribou population.
Based on 2010 data, the estimated population in the Haert range was 560, out of a total estimate of 1681 in the province. A Regional Environmental biologist was on-board for the recent helicopter patrol. There are currently census flights occurring in the ranges and, once complete, the population figures will be updated.
Further information on closures and downloadable maps are available at:
Comments
i wonder how much the helicopter flying around the closed area bothered the cariboo?
Are the hikers kept out also?
I am pleased that it was just a warning as I have not seen any postings and it is sometime hard to tell the boundaries. Most people follow the rules if they know them.
How much did that cost us?
There are lots of other places for the boys to play with their toys.
Typical, they should have strung the machines to the chopper and made them walk out! Way way too soft on those people that insist on endangering these caribou, they should throw the book at them! IMO
What, were they chasing and herding caribou? or just riding in a no go zone?
I’d bet that a whirlybird could scare the bejesus out of a herd of Caribou.
Still, the sledders should be better informed.
metalman.
sorry Jack but I don’t agree or we wouldn’t have sleders involved in avalanchies.
the cost of the chopper should be applied to the fine.
if a hunter or fisherman breaks the law then he is punished so why not a sleder?
hadenuf what about skiers involved in avalanches? I say again what about hikers and skiers disturbing the wildlife?
hikers and skiers don’t have noisy motors attached to them.
Thats engine not motor. My direct experience hikers, are a disturbance to wildlife.
Thats engine not motor. My direct experience hikers, are a disturbance to wildlife.
Sledders are forbidden to go into these areas but heli ski operations are not.
Comment Posted by: hadenuf on March 24 2012 9:58 PM
sorry Jack but I don’t agree or we wouldn’t have sleders involved in avalanchies.
the cost of the chopper should be applied to the fine.
if a hunter or fisherman breaks the law then he is punished so why not a sleder?
Perhaps they have a hard time spelling can’t read very well and don’t have computors.
What category are you in?
Responsible people know the rules for the recreation they enjoy. Mountain Caribou closed areas are very well advertised and are also repeated to everyone in the many snowmobiling forums online. The only reason snowmobilers don’t know the rules would be because they don’t have a computor or don’t know anyone in their riding group that does or they don’t give a crap about rules. Most sledders do in fact care about the rules.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/snowmobile-closures/
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