Snow sports are a stress to wildlife

Scientists have concluded that popular winter sports like snowboarding, off-piste skiing and trekking are putting Alpine wildlife under stress.

Researchers found that in certain areas of the Alps which are often used for snow sports, black grouse produce copious amounts of a hormone--corticosterone--which indicates stress. This is just the latest disturbance for these animals, as climate change is affecting their lives quite severely as well. During the winter animals like these make burrows in the snow, but rising temperatures are making these hiding places harder and harder to find on lower slopes. The study began with the research team tagging three of the black grouse for identification purposes. The birds were then put under stressful conditions for several days in a manner which mimicked conditions black grouse face now in areas which are used heavily for snow sports. In the second part of the study, scientists collected the birds' feces, some in areas heavily used for recreational purposes and some from unused parts of the Alps. Naturally, the birds closer to human recreation sites produced higher levels of corticosterone. The scientists wrote of the study: "Only the creation of suitable protected wintering refuges will enable the Alpine fauna to endure the growing pressure exerted by human activities on these vulnerable mountain ecosystems." Hopefully these animals will be protected. Humans need to be safer in regards to such manners, and limiting the areas where skiiers, snowboarders, etc can go in the Alps and other such locations would really help.