Humans create a racket in America’s wilderness

[Rex Sanders]

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[Rex Sanders]

Even in the wilderness, humans are creating noise pollution that poses a threat to wildlife and natural serenity, according to a first-of-its-kind study by scientists at Colorado State University and the U.S. National Park Service.

The scientists found that manmade sounds created noise levels that were twice as high as background natural sounds in almost two-thirds of the nation’s parks and protected areas.

There was a 10-fold or more increase in noise pollution in a fifth of these areas because of manmade sounds …

More here:

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/04/humans-create-a-racket-in-nations-parks/

— Rex

[Valerie E]

At Muir Woods in Marin County, where noise levels were becoming unacceptable for most visitors, park officials have created a “quiet zone,” asking people to lower their voices and turn off music.

Seriously, the mere fact that someone had to create “quiet zones” in a wilderness area depresses the hell out of me…but I’m also a curmudgeon who thinks using a speaker to listen to music on a hiking trail is thoughtless, selfish, and rude (when you have the easy option of using earbuds, which don’t disturb anyone but YOU).  There, I said it.  Again.  I’ve been excoriated for saying it before on BPL, but I am as entitled to my view as others are to their views.  Yes, it may be your “right” to blare music (debatable!), but it doesn’t reflect well on you to blithely trample on other peoples’ rights.  Sad.

[Lester Moore]

As much as I dislike the idea of more rules, having some “sound” science backing the negative consequences of noise on the wilderness ecosystem could lead to more quiet zones or more public awareness of this issue. There are already signs at some heavily used trailheads warning to “don’t walk on the tundra”, “keep your dog on a leash” to help protect the wilderness. So maybe it’s time for “keep your voice down to protect wildlife” signs? It seems like a good idea in wilderness areas hit hardest by noise (busy national parks and the like). How do you educate first-time or clueless hikers on LNT principles if the main learning mechanism is trailhead signage?

[Gary Dunckel]

In 2012 (I think) I happened to find myself having my sandwich on a park bench visiting with the chief landscaping engineer working on the re-build of the Going-to-the-Sun road through Glacier N. P. I asked him about the noise levels of the heavy equipment, and how it affected the wildlife near where they were working. He said that it did mess with the critters a bit, but that it was nothing compared to the noise that all of the un-muffled Harleys created. I firmly suggested that the Park consider outlawing un-muffled Harleys in GNP altogether (it is by far my most annoying pet peeve). He just replied, “Yes, well, I do agree, but…”

I have had several bad encounters with Harleys messing up a perfect wilderness experience. The most memorable was while camped at the head of Yellowstone’s Pebble Creek near the high cirque. The valley was separated from the highway to the NE entrance and on to Cook City by a long parallel ridge that rose 1000 feet above the road. There is little traffic on that road after dark, so it was very quiet (the cars made zero noise). That is, until I heard a pack of wolves howling above me (the alpha male and female must have just returned to the pack after hunting or something, and the young ones went bonkers). The howling went on for maybe 10 minutes, and a pack of coyotes a mile or two down the valley even chimed in with the wolves. Every critter likes a good howl. Then here came a Harley, roaring down the highway, and all of the howling stopped abruptly. I was totally pissed.

So, yeah, people selfishly making noise in the wilderness. The worst for me are those damned Harleys, and also the gun guys that have to shoot their firearms within 300 yards of my favorite truck campsite, ALL AFTERNOON LONG!

I’ve made a pest of myself at the local Forest Service office in Boulder about these things. I’ve complained to the head ranger, and also to the FS law enforcement chief, and they both essentially said, “Yes, well, I do agree, but…”

So when I finally become the King, I’m going to make wilderness great again!

[Jeffs Eleven]

I was hoping to read about back country tennis

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