Even if one could convince a local reporter and his/her editor to pursue the story, it’s doubtful that any coverage would occur. After all, what happened last week with the local highway project is more important. And so are the latest complaints from the local political candidate. Hah, hah, hah.
I first visted the Valmont Industrial Park cranberry bog nearly 10 years ago. Took Ann Rhoads of Pennsylvania’s famous Morris Arboretum there. The Cranberry mat was just one of the big finds. There were also state-listed orchids and and a rare little butterfly closely tied to native cranberry plants. Ah, but almost nightly since then, the local all-terrain vehicle crowd has made a playground out of this natural, botanical hotspot.,
“One night of destructive fun is all it takes to alter the course of nature in this otherwise peaceful place. Local wildlife watchers say it is the most egregious act of nature destruction” they’ve ever seen by off-road vehicles.
That’s bad press for a movement whose members claim to be responsible users of the land. Vehicles and their riders have trashed natural streams feeding the bog mat, rerouting the creek and damaging the little rivulets that give the bog its life-sustaininng water. Because of their power and speed, off-road vehicles can be wildly destructive to natural areas if their owners ride off-trail. Dirt bikers and ATV riders say routinely say they prefer to ride off established trails. Off-road use has been risin steadily across Luzerne County and natural areas take the hit. The evidence is everywhere in the county: rutted public roads, the spread of noxious weeds and alien plants, and the safety of children and of other trail users compromised.
A depressing tale. The bog copper is a long time favorite butterfly of mine. Has the population persisited in the face of the damage?
This bog copper populaion is in a steady decline. The changes in water flow are killing cranberry mat in places. Thre is another smaller colony of coppers about one mile upstream (Black Creek) which is also in a decline; again because of unregulated ATV traffic. The other regional colonies are dong better, including those in the Poconos and at Nuangola lake near Wilkes-Barre.
We have a HUGE problem with ATV riders tearing up the land on our farm. They’re hard to catch, so very hard to prosecute.
You are a crank, Alan, and it’s good to have you back pointing out how we’re screwing up our nest.
Can we please declare open season on ATV riders? I don’t own a gun, but that might push me into joining the NRA.
Open season? You bet. Like acual enforcement of “no off-road vehicle” prohibition boundaries. I have seen a lot of special wild places ripped and torn up by ATVers and other off-road cowboys and cowgirlettes.
I believe that those who buy ATVs and dirt bikes should have to prove that they own the land on which they intend to ride them. I think that would solve the problem quickly.