An interesting little article came across my “virutal desk” today. A group of European scientists measured the concentration of a certain chemical in Black Grouse droppings to determine the amount of stress the birds go through when they come in contact with human recreational activity. Here is a snippet of what they did,
Using a non-invasive technique, we evaluated the physiological stress response induced by free-riding snow sports on a declining bird species of Alpine ecosystems. The results of a field experiment in which radiomonitored black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) were actively flushed from their snow burrows once a day during four consecutive days showed an increase in the concentration of faecal stress hormone (corticosterone) metabolites after disturbance. Entire Article Here.
Anyway, if you read the article you can only conclude that black grouse (not all animals)that were flushed out from their winter roosts (by human scientists)once a day (with radi0-tracking devices) had an increase of corticosterone in their poop. That’s it.
The birds were not flushed out by human trail riders, trail skiers, trail walkers. They were flushed out once a day by scientists who knew where there roosts were. This apparently proved that birds are over-stressed when humans come close to their roosts. What about bears, foxes, wolves, martins, weasels, coyotes, and other large animals that may come close to their roosts? This should initiate the same response in their poops. The study was done in winter. By nature of the season it is more stressful on wildlife. Were tests done in other seasons to compare results? Were the roosts near trails that were frequented by humans?
The reason I am skeptical about this (I don’t mean to discredit the reseachers -they may have taken the above into consideration – the article does not say) is where the ‘apparent’ conclusion of this could go. Certain anti-anything groups could jump on the bandwagon and say snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, skiing, logging stress wildlife and hence these activities should be banned from the outdoors becaus it stresses wildlife. Stress from a variety of sources is a reality of the cruel ‘real’ world.
I have also seen many animals adapt to their surroundings. I have seen deer stand and stare at the snowmobiles that zip past them in our bush. Yet, when a human approaches via their own human feet the same deer flee.
The experiment has painted a big stroke from a narrow conclusion. Let’s see more work done with some of the variables that I mentioned above, then make another conclusion.
That’s my opinion I guess and it does not mean I am right.
Bill Anderson – Muskoka Outdoors
