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#91
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On 28 Jul 2008 20:13:02 -0700, Bob Berger
wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 25 Jul 2008 09:20:07 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 24 Jul 2008 21:19:56 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:06:35 -0700 (PDT), Siskuwihane wrote: On Jul 23, 9:14*am, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:40:48 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w wrote: On Jul 22, 8:45*pm, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:16:44 -0700 wrote: A bicycle is an inanimate object. *Its use by humans is subject to laws written my humans. And the wildlife, whose home it is, have no say whatsoever! Bikes don't belong in natural areas, no matter what the law says. Natural areas? *If they were natural areas, human beings wouldn't have cleared the vegetation, put up signs. What do you think trails are? Destroyed habitat! Like animal trails? No. Wildlife have adapted to each other's trails. Human-made trails are quite different. But of course, you already knew that, and chose to pretend ignorance. Oh? Exactly how are human-made trails different? No one can possibly be as dumb as you are pretending to be, so it must be deliberate. Whst's the difference between bulldozing and walking?! Ask your mommy to explain it to you. 1. Do critters care how a trail came into existance once it's there? No, it's too late. Roads and man-made trails are extremely harmful to wildlife. Is it then your assertion that it is not possible for wildlife to benefit in any way from any human-made trail? They're ALL harmful in every aspect to wildlife? I didn't say "in every aspect". the NET effect is harmful. 2. What percentage of human-made trails in the U.S. are made with bulldozers? Most, these days. But your question is irrelevant. The result is the same, whether they are made by bulldozer or shovel. DUH! I can't think of a single human-made trail around here constructed in the last ten years with bulldozers. Maybe the Pacific Northwest is different than the Bay Area. They may use small bulldozers, with a different name. But it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same: destroyed habitat. Or maybe our definitions of trail differ. To me, any path cut with a bulldozer is a road, whether motorized vehicles use it or not. For the most part, the human-made trails around here that are not fire trails or under government control (as in such places as parks) appear to be the result of human foot traffic. So they are illegal? Why, in your opinion, do wildlife not adapt to them? How will animals and plants adapt to being run over and killed? Maybe after a million years, they will develop tire-puncturing appendages. DUH! 1. Wildlife and plants can't be run over and killed on critter-made trails? No, there are no bikes or other vehicles there. DUH! Only if by your personal definitions an animal-made trail instantaneously becomes a man-made trail as soon as the first vehicle ventures over it. So you have a lot of illegal vehicle use there? 2. Are you implying that vehicles are used on all man-made trails? Just about. I haven't found a "NO BIKES" trail yet without bike tracks on it. Mountain bikers have no morals whatsoever. Mountain bikes and those who use them are of no interest (as a group) to me. But, "No morals whatsoever"? Please provide data to back that claim. I have yet to meet a mountain biker who doesn't lie. That's THOUSANDS of examples. How, for example, does the rate of tree spikings compare between mountain bikers, and say "environmentalists"? Mountain bikers just cut the tree down, to make their structures. Google "colonade seattle". Isn't it more a question of how a trail is used and less one of how it was constructed? No. Bulldozing kills wildlife. DUH! Are you REALLY THIS DUMB? Again you assume bulldozers. And no, I'm not so dumb as to buy your claims about the percentage of bulldozer use on what I consider to be trails in this area. How are your trails built? Only with HAND TOOLS? I doubt it. What about game trails that humans make use of? When that happens, do such trails become "Destroyed habitat"? Response? Of course. Why? Are you seriously claiming that if I happen to walk on a new deer trail, I automatically cause it to become "Destroyed habitat"? If you do it enough, of course. If, as you imply above, wildlife don't adapt to human-made trails, why do so much of the Yellowstone's wildlife make such extensive use of the human-made trails (and even roads) there? Response? Bad decision. Why? Am I correct that you're aware of, for example, the use Yellowstone's bison make of the road from Fountain Flats to Madison Junction, and consider that to be a bad decision on their part, especially in the winter? If they get hit by vehicles, or shot by the Forest Service, yes. And, closer to where I live (a bit west of Spokane Washington), if wildlife don't readily adapt to human-made trails that serve their needs, why is it that within a week of its construction this May the local wildlife began using a dirt maintenance road one of the power companies built up the wall of the coulee about 6 miles west of Spokane on SH 291? That road, while steeper, is about a fifth the length of the old game trail, which wildlife have been using for hundreds of years probably. Now they've almost completely abandoned their old trail in favor of the human-made one. FYI: This afternoon, I checked the base of that old game trail, and since the last rain (about a month ago), there are very few new deer tracks, and no new cougar, bob-cat, or bear tracks that I could find. You are implying that they are BENEFITTING from this. In fact, due to being hit by vehicles, it may be the worst decision of their lives. Yes I am implying that they are benefitting from this, just as many of Yellowstone's critters benefit from the roads and mand-made trails there. You haven't a clue about biology. There is not a one to one correspondence between disagreeing with your position and not having a clue about biology. My position is even based in part on actual field work and observation. That's not science. You need to assess the NET effect. A simple obbservation isn't enough. Do you do any wildlife biology field work? I do. I don't know. Define it. And for the example I gave, to what vehicles are you referring? It's a maintenance road closed to the public. So there are maintenance vehicles on it. How many? How often? Moving at what speed? Remember, this is a dirt road cut at (I'd estimate) a 25% grade up an almost bare canyon wall put there to service two power poles. Hell, a turtle could outrun any of the maintenance vehicles I've seen on it. Obviously, it's possible a critter could get run over there, but I maintain the likelihood is statistically insignificant. Disagree? You need to assess the NET impact. You obviously haven't done your homework. I suggest reading a book on Road Ecology. Then maybe your opinion on this might be worth something. It is also well known (by people with a clue) that roads fragment wildlife habitat, because many animals are afraid to be exposed to predators, and won't cross a road. Which animals in this area might that be? If you'd like, I can post a partial list of the wildlife living in or near the neighborhood. Forest-adapted birds, for example. Do your homework. Ah, I recognize that example from your 1997 piece on the need for "pure habitat". (I have several questions and observations on that topic, but they can wait for another thread at another time). I have done my homework. Have you? To what species living in this neighborhood are you referring? I have no idea what your neighborhood is, but if it includes dense forest, then it probably includes species (e.g. birds) adapted to dense forest that are afraid to cross a road. See my website or the book on the ecology of roads by Forman. I'll try a Google search first. I found a copy of Forman's book. One part that caught my eye right off is that on wildlife over/underpasses. One of these (an underpass) was tried along US 191 in Yellowstone in the mid 90s; and, I'm happy to say, was rather successful as soon as the critters figured out its advantages. Now there's a bit of road (US 191) *I'D* like to see removed. Not only is the vehicle/critter incident rate out of sight there, so is the poaching rate along it. There's hope for you after all! Not that you are actually open to information.... And your reason for that statement is? You ask the dumbest questions, indicating that you aren't listening. I'm surprised that someone with your background in computer science and data processing doesn't recognize the systems analyst's technique of asking lots "dumb" questions in order to piece together what someone is actually trying to say about a system;... in this case trails. I ask dumb questions, but only if I run out of smart questions. You will note that in the example I gave above, I went out checked the old game trail for signs of use before responding to your post. That's called research, and is considered by some to indicate an interest in gaining information. Why are you so hostile to those who question your assertions? Because you haven't made the least effort to do your homework first. I DID. This kind of information isn't hard to find. It's all over my web page, for example. You want me to educate you, without lifting a finger yourself. Again you conflate disagreeing with your position with not having done one's homework. No, I don't. I don't see any EVIDENCE that you have done your homework. E.g. you haven't read Forman's book or Reed Noss's work. I'm afraid you and I have a basic disagreement relative to man's relationship to the planet's other species. This I illustrate by your assertion in your 2002 piece "What is Homo Sapiens' Place in Nature, From an Objective (Biocentric) Point of View?", that in order for man to no longer be an invasive/exotic species in an area, the preexisting species must undergo (millions of years of) adaptive genetic evolution. I disagree. You can disagree, but I think that you have to agree that we don't become native the day we arrive. It takes a long time. And your absolute "genetic evolution" requirement is definitely a "value judgment"; one not held by any of the evolutionary and/or wildlife biologists I've asked about it, except perhaps in the case of "primitive" species not able to learn from experience and pass knowledge on to offspring. Biologists are not known for honesty when it comes to discussing humans! The topic of whether humans are an exotic species is CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT from their books and journals. My definition is a proposal. Critters are a lot smarter than you appear to give them credit for. Go to this website & read: http://www.wildlandscpr.org/. Yes, and?... They, like you, don't like roads. They recommend removing/restoring to natural conditions unneeded/abandoned roads. I agree. By the way, in your opinion, is it possible to remove a road and restore it to a natural condition? Approximately, yes. It's necessary to return the topsoil to where it was. From reading over the past couple years what you've written, I have the impression that you don't have much daily contact with a wide variety of wildlife. If that's so, it's unfortunate. They're great neighbors, and a lot can be learned from them. I do. There are even insects in my house. You can never really get away from wildlife. But I don't know why it must be "daily". I don't think that makes one any wiser. You've certainly proven that. You have missed the entire subject of road ecology. But I do sense that there is hope for you. A crack has been opened in your cocoon. Bob -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
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#92
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:51:47 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w
wrote: On Jul 28, 8:13*pm, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 25 Jul 2008 09:20:07 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... 2. What percentage of human-made trails in the U.S. are made with bulldozers? Most, these days. But your question is irrelevant. The result is the same, whether they are made by bulldozer or shovel. DUH! I can't think of a single human-made trail around here constructed in the last ten years with bulldozers. Maybe the Pacific Northwest is different than the Bay Area. Or maybe our definitions of trail differ. To me, any path cut with a bulldozer is a road, whether motorized vehicles use it or not. For the most part, the human-made trails around here that are not fire trails or under government control (as in such places as parks) appear to be the result of human foot traffic. The closest thing I can think of is the fire/maintenance roads here in the East Bay Regional Parks. Wildcat Creek Trail is an up to 20 ft wide in stretches, and the only motorized vehicles allowed are park service vehicles and cattle ranch equipment (they allow grazing). It's fine for mountain bikes. Of course the parks near my home (Tilden and Wildcat Canyon) have all sorts of man-made features, like culverts, bridges, etc. Doesn't stop the wildlife from existing nicely. There are always hawks, vulture, deer, squirrel, etc. I counted 8 wild turkeys in a group at Tilden (in the Berkeley Hills) yesterday. They were grazing right next to a trail/maintenance road and didn't seem to care when we went by them. There have even been a few mountain lion sightings on Wildcat Creek Trail. All other trails in my area are too narrow for anything but hand- built. I remember a couple of years ago I came across Wildcat Creek Trail after it had collapsed from 3-5 feet. It was fine the last time I went over that stretch. I assume that they brought in heavy equipment to make the repairs. Of course this is classically cattle grazing land, and there's still cattle grazing going on. My observations have been that the wildlife adapt nicely. To them, humans are just another strange creature to be wary of. There's not a whole lot of off-trail travel, so the critters have plenty of places to hide if they want to avoid the big bad humans. Casual observation is not science. To assess the effect of roads, you need to look at before-and-after populations etc. The existence of a turkey doesn't prove that they haven't been harmed. Isn't that common sense?! -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
#93
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On Jul 29, 8:48*pm, Mike Vandeman wrote:
On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:51:47 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w wrote: On Jul 28, 8:13*pm, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 25 Jul 2008 09:20:07 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... 2. What percentage of human-made trails in the U.S. are made with bulldozers? Most, these days. But your question is irrelevant. The result is the same, whether they are made by bulldozer or shovel. DUH! I can't think of a single human-made trail around here constructed in the last ten years with bulldozers. Maybe the Pacific Northwest is different than the Bay Area. Or maybe our definitions of trail differ. To me, any path cut with a bulldozer is a road, whether motorized vehicles use it or not. For the most part, the human-made trails around here that are not fire trails or under government control (as in such places as parks) appear to be the result of human foot traffic. The closest thing I can think of is the fire/maintenance roads here in the East Bay Regional Parks. *Wildcat Creek Trail is an up to 20 ft wide in stretches, and the only motorized vehicles allowed are park service vehicles and cattle ranch equipment (they allow grazing). It's fine for mountain bikes. *Of course the parks near my home (Tilden and Wildcat Canyon) have all sorts of man-made features, like culverts, bridges, etc. *Doesn't stop the wildlife from existing nicely. *There are always hawks, vulture, deer, squirrel, etc. *I counted 8 wild turkeys in a group at Tilden (in the Berkeley Hills) yesterday. *They were grazing right next to a trail/maintenance road and didn't seem to care when we went by them. *There have even been a few mountain lion sightings on Wildcat Creek Trail. All other trails in my area are too narrow for anything but hand- built. I remember a couple of years ago I came across Wildcat Creek Trail after it had collapsed from 3-5 feet. *It was fine the last time I went over that stretch. *I assume that they brought in heavy equipment to make the repairs. *Of course this is classically cattle grazing land, and there's still cattle grazing going on. *My observations have been that the wildlife adapt nicely. *To them, humans are just another strange creature to be wary of. *There's not a whole lot of off-trail travel, so the critters have plenty of places to hide if they want to avoid the big bad humans. Casual observation is not science. To assess the effect of roads, you need to look at before-and-after populations etc. The existence of a turkey doesn't prove that they haven't been harmed. Isn't that common sense?! You have no authority or background to make any conclusions, you are nothing more than an armchair enviromentalist. |
#94
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
Bob Berger wrote:
In article , Tom Sherman says... Bob Berger wrote: ... Mountain bikes and those who use them are of no interest (as a group) to me.... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? Well, as it turns out, I lied. My son informs me that the bikes we use when in Yellowstone are, in fact, mountain bikes. Hell, I thought they were WalMart bikes. However, I only use mine on the bike path between the OFVC and F&M in YNP's UGB.... Riding a bicycle off-road is great fun, even if you are not very good at it. Those who feel otherwise are incorrigible. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia “Mary had a little lamb / And when she saw it sicken / She shipped it off to Packingtown / And now it’s labeled chicken.” |
#95
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On Jul 29, 7:44*pm, Siskuwihane wrote:
On Jul 29, 8:48*pm, Mike Vandeman wrote: Casual observation is not science. To assess the effect of roads, you need to look at before-and-after populations etc. The existence of a turkey doesn't prove that they haven't been harmed. Isn't that common sense?! You have no authority or background to make any conclusions, you are nothing more than an armchair enviromentalist. Seriously though - those turkeys I saw probably wouldn't have been foraging for worms had the area not been set up as a protected area by people. It probably would have been pasture land like Wildcat Canyon was for over a 100 years. There would have either been a rancher who would have scared them off, or a homes built along with people who would have scared off the turkeys. My back yard is a haven for black-tailed deer. My simple observations were that they prefer to use the dirt paths rather than cross through the ivy or weeds. This is the same observation from hunters and wildlife biologists who know a heck of a lot more than Vandeman. They create their own trail networks and future generations use them. They don't know the difference between a human or animal created trail; they simply use what their instinct tells them is the path of least resistance. Animals have no problem using trails whether they're dirt or asphalt. I saw a coyote in Yosemite, and the rangers were telling me that that it was likely this single coyote that liked to be near the roads. I've seen coyotes in Grand Teton, and they prefer using the roads and paved (human) footpaths and dirt trails for basic travel. |
#96
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:57:36 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w
wrote: On Jul 29, 7:44*pm, Siskuwihane wrote: On Jul 29, 8:48*pm, Mike Vandeman wrote: Casual observation is not science. To assess the effect of roads, you need to look at before-and-after populations etc. The existence of a turkey doesn't prove that they haven't been harmed. Isn't that common sense?! You have no authority or background to make any conclusions, you are nothing more than an armchair enviromentalist. Seriously though - those turkeys I saw probably wouldn't have been foraging for worms had the area not been set up as a protected area by people. It probably would have been pasture land like Wildcat Canyon was for over a 100 years. There would have either been a rancher who would have scared them off, or a homes built along with people who would have scared off the turkeys. My back yard is a haven for black-tailed deer. My simple observations were that they prefer to use the dirt paths rather than cross through the ivy or weeds. This is the same observation from hunters and wildlife biologists who know a heck of a lot more than Vandeman. They create their own trail networks and future generations use them. They don't know the difference between a human or animal created trail; they simply use what their instinct tells them is the path of least resistance. Animals have no problem using trails whether they're dirt or asphalt. I saw a coyote in Yosemite, and the rangers were telling me that that it was likely this single coyote that liked to be near the roads. I've seen coyotes in Grand Teton, and they prefer using the roads and paved (human) footpaths and dirt trails for basic travel. Sure. A ring-neck snake decided to cross a fire road, and it was the last thing it ever did. It got run over and killed by an illegally-riding mountain biker. The fact that SOME species will use a road doesn't imply that the road is a net benefit to them. -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
#97
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:09:17 -0500, Tom Sherman
wrote: Bob Berger wrote: In article , Tom Sherman says... Bob Berger wrote: ... Mountain bikes and those who use them are of no interest (as a group) to me.... WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? Well, as it turns out, I lied. My son informs me that the bikes we use when in Yellowstone are, in fact, mountain bikes. Hell, I thought they were WalMart bikes. However, I only use mine on the bike path between the OFVC and F&M in YNP's UGB.... Riding a bicycle off-road is great fun, even if you are not very good at it. Those who feel otherwise are incorrigible. You need to study English more, before you open your mouth. You make no sense. Try sticking to words of one syl-la-ble. -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
#98
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
Sorry for the delay in responding. I spent last week in Seattle attending the
Seafair boat races... In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 28 Jul 2008 20:13:02 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 25 Jul 2008 09:20:07 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 24 Jul 2008 21:19:56 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:06:35 -0700 (PDT), Siskuwihane wrote: On Jul 23, 9:14 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:40:48 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w wrote: On Jul 22, 8:45 pm, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:16:44 -0700 wrote: A bicycle is an inanimate object. Its use by humans is subject to laws written my humans. And the wildlife, whose home it is, have no say whatsoever! Bikes don't belong in natural areas, no matter what the law says. Natural areas? If they were natural areas, human beings wouldn't have cleared the vegetation, put up signs. What do you think trails are? Destroyed habitat! Like animal trails? No. Wildlife have adapted to each other's trails. Human-made trails are quite different. But of course, you already knew that, and chose to pretend ignorance. Oh? Exactly how are human-made trails different? No one can possibly be as dumb as you are pretending to be, so it must be deliberate. Whst's the difference between bulldozing and walking?! Ask your mommy to explain it to you. 1. Do critters care how a trail came into existence once it's there? No, it's too late. Roads and man-made trails are extremely harmful to wildlife. Is it then your assertion that it is not possible for wildlife to benefit in any way from any human-made trail? They're ALL harmful in every aspect to wildlife? I didn't say "in every aspect". the NET effect is harmful. Good, I like the term: "Net effect". It implies a summation of good and bad effects. But, I'm not sure what you're saying. Is it your assertion that the net effect for each individual species using the trail is always harmful? Or, are you saying the net effect, when summed over all species using the trail, is always harmful? ALWAYS? 2. What percentage of human-made trails in the U.S. are made with bulldozers? Most, these days. But your question is irrelevant. The result is the same, whether they are made by bulldozer or shovel. DUH! I can't think of a single human-made trail around here constructed in the last ten years with bulldozers. Maybe the Pacific Northwest is different than the Bay Area. They may use small bulldozers, with a different name. But it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same: destroyed habitat. Your definition please of "destroyed habitat". Or maybe our definitions of trail differ. To me, any path cut with a bulldozer is a road, whether motorized vehicles use it or not. For the most part, the human-made trails around here that are not fire trails or under government control (as in such places as parks) appear to be the result of human foot traffic. So they are illegal? No, in this state, it's not illegal to walk over public lands (including federal lands) not closed to public access. But, maybe I misunderstood you. Who/what is the "they" you're referring to? Why, in your opinion, do wildlife not adapt to them? How will animals and plants adapt to being run over and killed? Maybe after a million years, they will develop tire-puncturing appendages. DUH! 1. Wildlife and plants can't be run over and killed on critter-made trails? No, there are no bikes or other vehicles there. DUH! Only if by your personal definitions an animal-made trail instantaneously becomes a man-made trail as soon as the first vehicle ventures over it. So you have a lot of illegal vehicle use there? Not that I'm aware of. In terms of actual damage to public lands, hikers are statistically a much greater cause than illegal vehicle users, if for no other reason than there are vastly more hikers. But there's a problem with what you said above. Is it not true that both wildlife and plants can also be run over and killed on critter-made trails by both hikers, and wildlife? In another post you used the example of a snake run over by a mountain bike. What about a snake on an animal-made trail run over by a moose? Does that not happen, or does that not count? Consider the following real life example. In the late spring of 2005 we had a strong wind storm here. It blew down lots of trees including a bunch that blocked the game trail to and from the lake. So, the critters re-routed that part of their trail... right trough the area's major quail nesting ground. This resulted in lots of crushed nests and broken eggs, forcing the quail to flee. And they've never returned. Not so much, I think, because of the ungulates passing through, but because of their egg and bird eating familiars that follow after them. No humans, including mountain bikers, involved. By your definition, does this qualify as "destroyed habitat"? 2. Are you implying that vehicles are used on all man-made trails? Just about. I haven't found a "NO BIKES" trail yet without bike tracks on it. Mountain bikers have no morals whatsoever. Mountain bikes and those who use them are of no interest (as a group) to me. But, "No morals whatsoever"? Please provide data to back that claim. I have yet to meet a mountain biker who doesn't lie. That's THOUSANDS of examples. Okay, according to you all mountain bikers are liars and have no morals. How, for example, does the rate of tree spikings compare between mountain bikers, and say "environmentalists"? Mountain bikers just cut the tree down, to make their structures. Google "colonade seattle". I did. Interesting example; see: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/propark...5openspace.htm It's a 7.5 acre combined mountain biking and off-leash pet trail in downtown Seattle built under an elevated section of the Interstate 5 freeway. See the following newspaper article on it: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getawa...lonnade29.html which reads in part: - - - - Mountain-bike club reclaims a wasteland By GREG JOHNSTON P-I REPORTER Week by week for the past 18 months, a band of local mountain bikers has turned a dark and scary concrete-covered urban dead zone -- where perhaps the most popular activities were shooting drugs or chugging cheap wine -- into a place where regular people actually might want to go... - - - - The project was approved by Seattle's Planning Commission, and its implementation supervised by the Seattle Parks Department and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The site, rather than a forest of trees, was/is a forest of reinforced concrete highway support pillars. But, I have to admit, it's definitely an example of "hobotat destruction". Isn't it more a question of how a trail is used and less one of how it was constructed? No. Bulldozing kills wildlife. DUH! Are you REALLY THIS DUMB? Again you assume bulldozers. And no, I'm not so dumb as to buy your claims about the percentage of bulldozer use on what I consider to be trails in this area. How are your trails built? Only with HAND TOOLS? I doubt it. Most of the trails around here aren't "built", in the sense of being planned and then constructed. They come into existence over time as the result humans and/or critters trying to get from point A to point B. Some, a very few, are then "improved" and the general public encouraged to use them. From what I've seen the most commonly used power tool used to do that is the chain saw. Bulldozer like equipment may be being employed; but if so, it's not attracting much attention among local "environmentalists". What about game trails that humans make use of? When that happens, do such trails become "Destroyed habitat"? Response? Of course. Why? Are you seriously claiming that if I happen to walk on a new deer trail, I automatically cause it to become "Destroyed habitat"? If you do it enough, of course. How much is enough? How exactly does my use cause it to become "destroyed"? Remember, I'm talking about walking, not vehicle riding. If, as you imply above, wildlife don't adapt to human-made trails, why do so much of the Yellowstone's wildlife make such extensive use of the human-made trails (and even roads) there? Response? Bad decision. Why? Am I correct that you're aware of, for example, the use Yellowstone's bison make of the road from Fountain Flats to Madison Junction, and consider that to be a bad decision on their part, especially in the winter? If they get hit by vehicles, or shot by the Forest Service, yes. Is the percentage hit by vehicles statistically significant in terms of the "net effect" on the bison population when compared to the percentage not killed or injured by avoiding their old trail along the Firehole River canyon? And by the way, wildlife management in Yellowstone is not under Forest Service jurisdiction. I'm disappointed to learn you didn't know our national parks, including Yellowstone (the world's first national park), are run by the National Park Service, a part of the US Department of the Interior; see: http://www.nps.gov/ The US Forest Service is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, and manages public lands in national forests and grasslands; see: http://www.fs.fed.us/ And, closer to where I live (a bit west of Spokane Washington), if wildlife don't readily adapt to human-made trails that serve their needs, why is it that within a week of its construction this May the local wildlife began using a dirt maintenance road one of the power companies built up the wall of the coulee about 6 miles west of Spokane on SH 291? That road, while steeper, is about a fifth the length of the old game trail, which wildlife have been using for hundreds of years probably. Now they've almost completely abandoned their old trail in favor of the human-made one. FYI: This afternoon, I checked the base of that old game trail, and since the last rain (about a month ago), there are very few new deer tracks, and no new cougar, bob-cat, or bear tracks that I could find. You are implying that they are BENEFITTING from this. In fact, due to being hit by vehicles, it may be the worst decision of their lives. Yes I am implying that they are benefiting from this, just as many of Yellowstone's critters benefit from the roads and made-made trails there. You haven't a clue about biology. There is not a one to one correspondence between disagreeing with your position and not having a clue about biology. My position is even based in part on actual field work and observation. That's not science. Data gathering is not science? You need to assess the NET effect. You... well, at least most of us, can't "assess the Net effect" until we've gathered sufficient data. A simple observation isn't enough. But it's a start and it's better than nothing or hear-say. Do you do any wildlife biology field work? I do. I don't know. Define it. Define what? Wildlife biology, or field work, or both? Wildlife biology: the scientific study of wildlife species and their habitats. Field work: systematic research and/or data gathering in the geographic settings where it (the data) exists. Now, as an FYI, I've done field work (research and data gathering in the field) in geology, paleontology, and wildlife biology. I've also done lab based research and data gathering in nuclear physics, solid state physics, and chemistry. At the moment, I'm involved in a study of a couple of the local osprey and bald eagle populations and the effects utility poles are having on their nest site selections. (Note: these populations are fairly well habituated to humans and their artifacts). So, I do know what science is and how to do it. And for the example I gave, to what vehicles are you referring? It's a maintenance road closed to the public. So there are maintenance vehicles on it. How many? How often? Moving at what speed? Remember, this is a dirt road cut at (I'd estimate) a 25% grade up an almost bare canyon wall put there to service two power poles. Hell, a turtle could outrun any of the maintenance vehicles I've seen on it. Obviously, it's possible a critter could get run over there, but I maintain the likelihood is statistically insignificant. Disagree? You need to assess the NET impact. You obviously haven't done your homework. I suggest reading a book on Road Ecology. Then maybe your opinion on this might be worth something. Okay, according to you, mountain bikers are immoral, and my opinion is worthless. The list is growing. But, are you saying statistical significance and NET impact are unrelated? Or are you saying that in my example I'm ignoring other statistically significant impacts? If so, for this real life example, which ones? It is also well known (by people with a clue) that roads fragment wildlife habitat, because many animals are afraid to be exposed to predators, and won't cross a road. Which animals in this area might that be? If you'd like, I can post a partial list of the wildlife living in or near the neighborhood. Forest-adapted birds, for example. Do your homework. Ah, I recognize that example from your 1997 piece on the need for "pure habitat". (I have several questions and observations on that topic, but they can wait for another thread at another time). I have done my homework. Have you? To what species living in this neighborhood are you referring? I have no idea what your neighborhood is, but if it includes dense forest, then it probably includes species (e.g. birds) adapted to dense forest that are afraid to cross a road. Actually, we don't have much dense forest locally. It's largely lodge pole pine that burns down every 50 years or so. :-) See my website or the book on the ecology of roads by Forman. I'll try a Google search first. I found a copy of Forman's book. One part that caught my eye right off is that on wildlife over/underpasses. One of these (an underpass) was tried along US 191 in Yellowstone in the mid 90s; and, I'm happy to say, was rather successful as soon as the critters figured out its advantages. Now there's a bit of road (US 191) *I'D* like to see removed. Not only is the vehicle/critter incident rate out of sight there, so is the poaching rate along it. There's hope for you after all! Not that you are actually open to information.... And your reason for that statement is? You ask the dumbest questions, indicating that you aren't listening. I'm surprised that someone with your background in computer science and data processing doesn't recognize the systems analyst's technique of asking lots "dumb" questions in order to piece together what someone is actually trying to say about a system;... in this case trails. I ask dumb questions, but only if I run out of smart questions. Not good technique. "Smart" sounding questions tend to make interviewees nervous and thus less likely to be open in their responses. For best results make the interviewee think he's smarter than you, something I have little trouble doing. :-) You will note that in the example I gave above, I went out checked the old game trail for signs of use before responding to your post. That's called research, and is considered by some to indicate an interest in gaining information. Why are you so hostile to those who question your assertions? Because you haven't made the least effort to do your homework first. I DID. This kind of information isn't hard to find. It's all over my web page, for example. You want me to educate you, without lifting a finger yourself. Again you conflate disagreeing with your position with not having done one's homework. No, I don't. I don't see any EVIDENCE that you have done your homework. E.g. you haven't read Forman's book or Reed Noss's work. Sorry Mike, you're not in a position to dictate what "home work" is required. I'm afraid you and I have a basic disagreement relative to man's relationship to the planet's other species. This I illustrate by your assertion in your 2002 piece "What is Homo Sapiens' Place in Nature, From an Objective (Biocentric) Point of View?", that in order for man to no longer be an invasive/exotic species in an area, the preexisting species must undergo (millions of years of) adaptive genetic evolution. I disagree. You can disagree, but I think that you have to agree that we don't become native the day we arrive. It takes a long time. Agree, depending on your definition of "a long time". And your absolute "genetic evolution" requirement is definitely a "value judgment"; one not held by any of the evolutionary and/or wildlife biologists I've asked about it, except perhaps in the case of "primitive" species not able to learn from experience and pass knowledge on to offspring. Biologists are not known for honesty when it comes to discussing humans! The topic of whether humans are an exotic species is CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT from their books and journals. My definition is a proposal. Okay, according to you, mountain bikers are immoral, my opinion is worthless, and biologists are dishonest. The list just keeps on growing. I suggest that you'll achieve more positive results with those reading your stuff if you don't paint everyone who disagrees with you as dumb, immoral, and/or dishonest. Critters are a lot smarter than you appear to give them credit for. Go to this website & read: http://www.wildlandscpr.org/. Yes, and?... They, like you, don't like roads. They recommend removing/restoring to natural conditions unneeded/abandoned roads. I agree. By the way, in your opinion, is it possible to remove a road and restore it to a natural condition? Approximately, yes. It's necessary to return the topsoil to where it was. From reading over the past couple years what you've written, I have the impression that you don't have much daily contact with a wide variety of wildlife. If that's so, it's unfortunate. They're great neighbors, and a lot can be learned from them. I do. There are even insects in my house. Mine too; and mice in the garage/shop that I feed in the winter. And how are your house critters impacted by man-made trails and mountain bikers there? You can never really get away from wildlife. But I don't know why it must be "daily". Would you be more comfortable with "frequent"? I don't think that makes one any wiser. You've certainly proven that. Possibly. But at least, for example, I know from personal study how grizzly bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles behave in proximity to humans. It seems you don't. On your website you quote from an ENN article on a study done by Steidl and Anthony on eagle reactions to humans. Unless the article misstates it, their data gathering technique is flawed. I'd be glad to discuss this with you. And, in your article on "pure habitat" you imply that grizzly bears, when they avoid contact with humans, are demonstrating a behavior pattern uniquely reserved for humans. If you'd had much first hand experience with grizzlies, you'd known that's how they (usually) react to most other species, and even to other grizzlies. I've seen a grizzly veer away at the sound of a beaver tail hitting the water. You have missed the entire subject of road ecology. I haven't missed it. I just don't believe everything I read. But I do sense that there is hope for you. A crack has been opened in your cocoon. Or maybe you've discovered that the union of the set of Mike's opinions (M) and set of Bob's opinions (B) is not null. (M^B) != {}. (This keyboard needs more symbols). Bob |
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
Bob Berger wrote:
... Okay, according to you, mountain bikers are immoral, my opinion is worthless, and biologists are dishonest. The list just keeps on growing. I suggest that you'll achieve more positive results with those reading your stuff if you don't paint everyone who disagrees with you as dumb, immoral, and/or dishonest.... butbutbut [1], Mikey V. has achieved positive results in encouraging more people to ride bicycles off road. [1] A gdanielsism. -- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia “Mary had a little lamb / And when she saw it sicken / She shipped it off to Packingtown / And now it’s labeled chicken.” |
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"Horses Should Not be Allowed on Footpaths"
On 4 Aug 2008 20:38:47 -0700, Bob Berger
wrote: Sorry for the delay in responding. I spent last week in Seattle attending the Seafair boat races... In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 28 Jul 2008 20:13:02 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 25 Jul 2008 09:20:07 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On 24 Jul 2008 21:19:56 -0700, Bob Berger wrote: In article , Mike Vandeman says... On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:06:35 -0700 (PDT), Siskuwihane wrote: On Jul 23, 9:14 am, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:40:48 -0700 (PDT), y_p_w wrote: On Jul 22, 8:45 pm, Mike Vandeman wrote: On Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:16:44 -0700 wrote: A bicycle is an inanimate object. Its use by humans is subject to laws written my humans. And the wildlife, whose home it is, have no say whatsoever! Bikes don't belong in natural areas, no matter what the law says. Natural areas? If they were natural areas, human beings wouldn't have cleared the vegetation, put up signs. What do you think trails are? Destroyed habitat! Like animal trails? No. Wildlife have adapted to each other's trails. Human-made trails are quite different. But of course, you already knew that, and chose to pretend ignorance. Oh? Exactly how are human-made trails different? No one can possibly be as dumb as you are pretending to be, so it must be deliberate. Whst's the difference between bulldozing and walking?! Ask your mommy to explain it to you. 1. Do critters care how a trail came into existence once it's there? No, it's too late. Roads and man-made trails are extremely harmful to wildlife. Is it then your assertion that it is not possible for wildlife to benefit in any way from any human-made trail? They're ALL harmful in every aspect to wildlife? I didn't say "in every aspect". the NET effect is harmful. Good, I like the term: "Net effect". It implies a summation of good and bad effects. But, I'm not sure what you're saying. Is it your assertion that the net effect for each individual species using the trail is always harmful? Yes. Wildlife didn't evolve with roads. Or, are you saying the net effect, when summed over all species using the trail, is always harmful? ALWAYS? 2. What percentage of human-made trails in the U.S. are made with bulldozers? Most, these days. But your question is irrelevant. The result is the same, whether they are made by bulldozer or shovel. DUH! I can't think of a single human-made trail around here constructed in the last ten years with bulldozers. Maybe the Pacific Northwest is different than the Bay Area. They may use small bulldozers, with a different name. But it doesn't matter, since the effect is the same: destroyed habitat. Your definition please of "destroyed habitat". That term speaks for itself. Or maybe our definitions of trail differ. To me, any path cut with a bulldozer is a road, whether motorized vehicles use it or not. For the most part, the human-made trails around here that are not fire trails or under government control (as in such places as parks) appear to be the result of human foot traffic. So they are illegal? No, in this state, it's not illegal to walk over public lands (including federal lands) not closed to public access. But, maybe I misunderstood you. Who/what is the "they" you're referring to? The bootleg trails. Why, in your opinion, do wildlife not adapt to them? How will animals and plants adapt to being run over and killed? Maybe after a million years, they will develop tire-puncturing appendages. DUH! 1. Wildlife and plants can't be run over and killed on critter-made trails? No, there are no bikes or other vehicles there. DUH! Only if by your personal definitions an animal-made trail instantaneously becomes a man-made trail as soon as the first vehicle ventures over it. So you have a lot of illegal vehicle use there? Not that I'm aware of. You just referred to vehicles on animal-made trails. That's illegal. In terms of actual damage to public lands, hikers are statistically a much greater cause than illegal vehicle users, if for no other reason than there are vastly more hikers. But there's a problem with what you said above. Is it not true that both wildlife and plants can also be run over and killed on critter-made trails by both hikers, and wildlife? No one is supposed to be on those trails. What animals do is not our concern. We don't control that. In another post you used the example of a snake run over by a mountain bike. What about a snake on an animal-made trail run over by a moose? Does that not happen, or does that not count? Irrelevant, since we aren't planning on micromanaging moose. Consider the following real life example. In the late spring of 2005 we had a strong wind storm here. It blew down lots of trees including a bunch that blocked the game trail to and from the lake. So, the critters re-routed that part of their trail... right trough the area's major quail nesting ground. This resulted in lots of crushed nests and broken eggs, forcing the quail to flee. And they've never returned. Not so much, I think, because of the ungulates passing through, but because of their egg and bird eating familiars that follow after them. No humans, including mountain bikers, involved. By your definition, does this qualify as "destroyed habitat"? It's irrelevant, since it wasn't caused by humans. 2. Are you implying that vehicles are used on all man-made trails? Just about. I haven't found a "NO BIKES" trail yet without bike tracks on it. Mountain bikers have no morals whatsoever. Mountain bikes and those who use them are of no interest (as a group) to me. But, "No morals whatsoever"? Please provide data to back that claim. I have yet to meet a mountain biker who doesn't lie. That's THOUSANDS of examples. Okay, according to you all mountain bikers are liars and have no morals. That's by direct observation, countless times. How, for example, does the rate of tree spikings compare between mountain bikers, and say "environmentalists"? Mountain bikers just cut the tree down, to make their structures. Google "colonade seattle". I did. Interesting example; see: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/propark...5openspace.htm It's a 7.5 acre combined mountain biking and off-leash pet trail in downtown Seattle built under an elevated section of the Interstate 5 freeway. See the following newspaper article on it: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getawa...lonnade29.html which reads in part: - - - - Mountain-bike club reclaims a wasteland By GREG JOHNSTON P-I REPORTER Week by week for the past 18 months, a band of local mountain bikers has turned a dark and scary concrete-covered urban dead zone -- where perhaps the most popular activities were shooting drugs or chugging cheap wine -- into a place where regular people actually might want to go... - - - - The project was approved by Seattle's Planning Commission, and its implementation supervised by the Seattle Parks Department and the Washington State Department of Transportation. The site, rather than a forest of trees, was/is a forest of reinforced concrete highway support pillars. You missed the point. Trees were cut down to build it. But, I have to admit, it's definitely an example of "hobotat destruction". Isn't it more a question of how a trail is used and less one of how it was constructed? No. Bulldozing kills wildlife. DUH! Are you REALLY THIS DUMB? Again you assume bulldozers. And no, I'm not so dumb as to buy your claims about the percentage of bulldozer use on what I consider to be trails in this area. How are your trails built? Only with HAND TOOLS? I doubt it. Most of the trails around here aren't "built", in the sense of being planned and then constructed. So they are illegal. They come into existence over time as the result humans and/or critters trying to get from point A to point B. Some, a very few, are then "improved" and the general public encouraged to use them. From what I've seen the most commonly used power tool used to do that is the chain saw. Bulldozer like equipment may be being employed; but if so, it's not attracting much attention among local "environmentalists". What about game trails that humans make use of? When that happens, do such trails become "Destroyed habitat"? Response? Of course. Why? Are you seriously claiming that if I happen to walk on a new deer trail, I automatically cause it to become "Destroyed habitat"? If you do it enough, of course. How much is enough? How exactly does my use cause it to become "destroyed"? Remember, I'm talking about walking, not vehicle riding. Directly (crushing plants & animals) & indirectly (by your presence). Is that so hard for you to understand. I think you need to take a biology course. If, as you imply above, wildlife don't adapt to human-made trails, why do so much of the Yellowstone's wildlife make such extensive use of the human-made trails (and even roads) there? Response? Bad decision. Why? Am I correct that you're aware of, for example, the use Yellowstone's bison make of the road from Fountain Flats to Madison Junction, and consider that to be a bad decision on their part, especially in the winter? If they get hit by vehicles, or shot by the Forest Service, yes. Is the percentage hit by vehicles statistically significant That phrase makes no sense in this context. EVERY death is significant. Isn' t YOUR death significant? in terms of the "net effect" on the bison population when compared to the percentage not killed or injured by avoiding their old trail along the Firehole River canyon? And by the way, wildlife management in Yellowstone is not under Forest Service jurisdiction. I'm disappointed to learn you didn't know our national parks, including Yellowstone (the world's first national park), are run by the National Park Service, a part of the US Department of the Interior; see: http://www.nps.gov/ The US Forest Service is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, and manages public lands in national forests and grasslands; see: http://www.fs.fed.us/ I'm not there, so I don't know if they were killed on NP land or NF land. I suspect the latter. Animals aren't killed in national parks. And, closer to where I live (a bit west of Spokane Washington), if wildlife don't readily adapt to human-made trails that serve their needs, why is it that within a week of its construction this May the local wildlife began using a dirt maintenance road one of the power companies built up the wall of the coulee about 6 miles west of Spokane on SH 291? That road, while steeper, is about a fifth the length of the old game trail, which wildlife have been using for hundreds of years probably. Now they've almost completely abandoned their old trail in favor of the human-made one. FYI: This afternoon, I checked the base of that old game trail, and since the last rain (about a month ago), there are very few new deer tracks, and no new cougar, bob-cat, or bear tracks that I could find. You are implying that they are BENEFITTING from this. In fact, due to being hit by vehicles, it may be the worst decision of their lives. Yes I am implying that they are benefiting from this, just as many of Yellowstone's critters benefit from the roads and made-made trails there. You haven't a clue about biology. There is not a one to one correspondence between disagreeing with your position and not having a clue about biology. My position is even based in part on actual field work and observation. That's not science. Data gathering is not science? It's only a part. You need to assess the NET effect. You... well, at least most of us, can't "assess the Net effect" until we've gathered sufficient data. A simple observation isn't enough. But it's a start and it's better than nothing or hear-say. Nonsense. Learn something about research. Do you do any wildlife biology field work? I do. I don't know. Define it. Define what? Wildlife biology, or field work, or both? Wildlife biology: the scientific study of wildlife species and their habitats. Field work: systematic research and/or data gathering in the geographic settings where it (the data) exists. Now, as an FYI, I've done field work (research and data gathering in the field) in geology, paleontology, and wildlife biology. I've also done lab based research and data gathering in nuclear physics, solid state physics, and chemistry. At the moment, I'm involved in a study of a couple of the local osprey and bald eagle populations and the effects utility poles are having on their nest site selections. (Note: these populations are fairly well habituated to humans and their artifacts). So, I do know what science is and how to do it. And for the example I gave, to what vehicles are you referring? It's a maintenance road closed to the public. So there are maintenance vehicles on it. How many? How often? Moving at what speed? Remember, this is a dirt road cut at (I'd estimate) a 25% grade up an almost bare canyon wall put there to service two power poles. Hell, a turtle could outrun any of the maintenance vehicles I've seen on it. Obviously, it's possible a critter could get run over there, but I maintain the likelihood is statistically insignificant. Disagree? You need to assess the NET impact. You obviously haven't done your homework. I suggest reading a book on Road Ecology. Then maybe your opinion on this might be worth something. Okay, according to you, mountain bikers are immoral, and my opinion is worthless. The list is growing. On this subject, it sure is. But, are you saying statistical significance and NET impact are unrelated? Or are you saying that in my example I'm ignoring other statistically significant impacts? If so, for this real life example, which ones? You don't know how to use the term " statistically significant". It is also well known (by people with a clue) that roads fragment wildlife habitat, because many animals are afraid to be exposed to predators, and won't cross a road. Which animals in this area might that be? If you'd like, I can post a partial list of the wildlife living in or near the neighborhood. Forest-adapted birds, for example. Do your homework. Ah, I recognize that example from your 1997 piece on the need for "pure habitat". (I have several questions and observations on that topic, but they can wait for another thread at another time). I have done my homework. Have you? To what species living in this neighborhood are you referring? I have no idea what your neighborhood is, but if it includes dense forest, then it probably includes species (e.g. birds) adapted to dense forest that are afraid to cross a road. Actually, we don't have much dense forest locally. It's largely lodge pole pine that burns down every 50 years or so. :-) Don't miss the point. See my website or the book on the ecology of roads by Forman. I'll try a Google search first. I found a copy of Forman's book. One part that caught my eye right off is that on wildlife over/underpasses. One of these (an underpass) was tried along US 191 in Yellowstone in the mid 90s; and, I'm happy to say, was rather successful as soon as the critters figured out its advantages. Now there's a bit of road (US 191) *I'D* like to see removed. Not only is the vehicle/critter incident rate out of sight there, so is the poaching rate along it. There's hope for you after all! Not that you are actually open to information.... And your reason for that statement is? You ask the dumbest questions, indicating that you aren't listening. I'm surprised that someone with your background in computer science and data processing doesn't recognize the systems analyst's technique of asking lots "dumb" questions in order to piece together what someone is actually trying to say about a system;... in this case trails. I ask dumb questions, but only if I run out of smart questions. Not good technique. "Smart" sounding questions tend to make interviewees nervous and thus less likely to be open in their responses. For best results make the interviewee think he's smarter than you, something I have little trouble doing. :-) You will note that in the example I gave above, I went out checked the old game trail for signs of use before responding to your post. That's called research, and is considered by some to indicate an interest in gaining information. Why are you so hostile to those who question your assertions? Because you haven't made the least effort to do your homework first. I DID. This kind of information isn't hard to find. It's all over my web page, for example. You want me to educate you, without lifting a finger yourself. Again you conflate disagreeing with your position with not having done one's homework. No, I don't. I don't see any EVIDENCE that you have done your homework. E.g. you haven't read Forman's book or Reed Noss's work. Sorry Mike, you're not in a position to dictate what "home work" is required. Yes, I am. I know a lot more about road ecology than you do. You apparently know nothing. I'm afraid you and I have a basic disagreement relative to man's relationship to the planet's other species. This I illustrate by your assertion in your 2002 piece "What is Homo Sapiens' Place in Nature, From an Objective (Biocentric) Point of View?", that in order for man to no longer be an invasive/exotic species in an area, the preexisting species must undergo (millions of years of) adaptive genetic evolution. I disagree. You can disagree, but I think that you have to agree that we don't become native the day we arrive. It takes a long time. Agree, depending on your definition of "a long time". And your absolute "genetic evolution" requirement is definitely a "value judgment"; one not held by any of the evolutionary and/or wildlife biologists I've asked about it, except perhaps in the case of "primitive" species not able to learn from experience and pass knowledge on to offspring. Biologists are not known for honesty when it comes to discussing humans! The topic of whether humans are an exotic species is CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT from their books and journals. My definition is a proposal. Okay, according to you, mountain bikers are immoral, my opinion is worthless, and biologists are dishonest. The list just keeps on growing. I suggest that you'll achieve more positive results with those reading your stuff if you don't paint everyone who disagrees with you as dumb, immoral, and/or dishonest. You always focus on the superficial (appearances). What if I'm RIGHT? Critters are a lot smarter than you appear to give them credit for. Go to this website & read: http://www.wildlandscpr.org/. Yes, and?... They, like you, don't like roads. They recommend removing/restoring to natural conditions unneeded/abandoned roads. I agree. By the way, in your opinion, is it possible to remove a road and restore it to a natural condition? Approximately, yes. It's necessary to return the topsoil to where it was. From reading over the past couple years what you've written, I have the impression that you don't have much daily contact with a wide variety of wildlife. If that's so, it's unfortunate. They're great neighbors, and a lot can be learned from them. I do. There are even insects in my house. Mine too; and mice in the garage/shop that I feed in the winter. And how are your house critters impacted by man-made trails and mountain bikers there? You can never really get away from wildlife. But I don't know why it must be "daily". Would you be more comfortable with "frequent"? I don't think that makes one any wiser. You've certainly proven that. Possibly. But at least, for example, I know from personal study how grizzly bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles behave in proximity to humans. It seems you don't. On your website you quote from an ENN article on a study done by Steidl and Anthony on eagle reactions to humans. Unless the article misstates it, their data gathering technique is flawed. I'd be glad to discuss this with you. And, in your article on "pure habitat" you imply that grizzly bears, when they avoid contact with humans, are demonstrating a behavior pattern uniquely reserved for humans. Now you are LYING. I never said any such thing. It is really a waste of time talking with a liar. If you'd had much first hand experience with grizzlies, you'd known that's how they (usually) react to most other species, and even to other grizzlies. I've seen a grizzly veer away at the sound of a beaver tail hitting the water. Irrelevant. You have missed the entire subject of road ecology. I haven't missed it. I just don't believe everything I read. Especially when it's inconvenient. But I do sense that there is hope for you. A crack has been opened in your cocoon. Or maybe you've discovered that the union of the set of Mike's opinions (M) and set of Bob's opinions (B) is not null. (M^B) != {}. (This keyboard needs more symbols). I think you meant "intersection"? Bob -- I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.) Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of! http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande |
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