Environmental Impact of Snowmobiles

Discussion of
"Sound and Environment." American Counsil of Snowmobile Associations. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Jan 2011.

Written by Michael Simons

This article is all about providing solid evidence to the public that snowmobiles don’t have the impact on the environment that many people believe. Decibels for snowmobiles have been reduced 94% since they were first on the market. The Society of Automotive Engineers and the Snowmobile Safety and Certification Committee has thoroughly tested the decibel levels of snowmobiles to make sure that modern day snowmobiles have decibel levels lower than 78 DB’s at 50 feet instead of the first snowmobiles that had up to 102 DB’s. I have personally noticed the decrease in the sound levels of snowmobiles through the years as I have owned sleds from 1990 up to 2001 and with comparable motor sizes I no longer have ringing in my ears after a long days ride with the newer models. The article also provides examples of decibel levels we may come across in our everyday life for easy comparison. For example an orchestra at 130 DB’s, lawn mower at 85 DB’s and a refrigerator at 40 DB’s are all things we are exposed to. These items are all measured at close range compared to the snowmobiles that are measured at 50 ft but you can make the comparisons pretty easily. In many cases the aftermarket parts is what gives the public the wrong impression. With a relatively small amount of money one can modify a snowmobile to well exceed the decibel standards. The American Counsel of Snowmobile Associations feels it is their responsibility to help eliminate these actions to show the public that snowmobilers are outdoor enthusiasts and appreciate the land that is set aside for them to ride on.

Snowmobilers also are proven to have minimal effects on wildlife. A three year study conducted by wildlife scientists concluded that snowmobilers have minimal effect on whitetail deer. It was noted that fresh tracks were repeatedly seen on snowmobile trails after the riders have passed through. Many times one notices that while riding past wildlife they don’t seem to be frightened as much as they would if you were just walking by. This quote relates to this and is interesting to have experienced it firsthand. “The tendency of deer is to run with the approach of a human on foot, in contrast to their tendency to stay in sight when approached by a snowmobiler, suggests that the deer responded to the machine and not to the person riding it.” The association works hard to get people informed about the effects of compaction as a result of snowmobiling. Snowmobiling is not much different than someone riding down a bicycle trail or hikers compacting leaves and vegetation on a trail. In most cases the pounds of pressure from a snowmobile are less than other forms of travel. For example a four-wheel drive vehicle at 30 lbs of pressure, a man at 8 lbs of pressure and even a four-wheeler at 1.5 lbs of pressure are all less than a snowmobile at 0.5 lbs of pressure. What interests me as I grew up on a farm is the study done by the University of Wisconsin by J. W. Pendleton that concluded non-forest vegetation by snowmobiles is non-existent. “Snowmobile traffic had no effect on grain yield of winter wheat, alfalfa, red clover plots or grass legume.” The article concluded that the association feels it is their responsibility to “present the true positive image of snowmobilers as the environmentalists we are.”