Stop Snowmobiles in Their Tracks - Keep Them Out of Yellowstone

Yellowstone is a magical place. Bison wander the meadows, elk, moose and deer browse the forest’s edge, and wolves and bears raise their young within the deep stillness of the wilderness.

But each winter snowmobiles in Yellowstone frighten wildlife, shatter the park’s quiet, and cause air pollution so severe that park employees sometimes don gasmasks to go to work.

The Bush Administration wants to allow snowmobile use to continue, often at higher levels than before! Please take action today and tell the Administration to keep snowmobiles out of Yellowstone! You can customize the letter we've provided, or click on Tell Me More to learn how to add impact to your message.

And please sign up for WildAlert, our free, weekly email alerts that keep you apprised of the latest assaults on our national lands and wilderness.

Thanks for helping us return Yellowstone to its natural quiet!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: No Snowmobiles in Yellowstone!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to you opposing snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

I cannot understand why the Park Service would publish this rule. It goes against Park Service and EPA's science. Its implementation would threaten the health of employees, visitors and wildlife within the park. This misguided rule will destroy the experiences that most Americans expect to find in two of America's premier parks.

This rule falls so far below the standards of an agency that has a proud history of conservation that I must conclude the rule is nothing more than politics.

I vigorously oppose snowmobile use in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. As your agency has already stated, park resources, visitor experience and public health are in jeopardy if snowmobile use continues in Yellowstone.

The Organic Act directs your agency to:

"conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

The snowmobile rule clearly impairs park resources and visitor experience. Therefore, the snowmobile rule is illegal. Kindly withdraw it.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 19, 2003

Background Information

Tell Me More

Please cut and paste one of the paragraphs below into **the top** of the letter we've provided on our action page, then click "Send the Message."

Park Service studies have shown that replacing snowmobiles with snowcoaches is the most cost effective way to allow winter use and protect public resources. The Park Service must phase out snowmobile use, which has never been an appropriate use of the park, and which puts at risk public health and park resources.

I may only pay a winter visit to Yellowstone once in my life. I don't want that one experience ruined by the sights, smells and sounds of snowmobiles. Those folks have other places they can ride. Yellowstone should be off-limits to snowmobiles.

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned that snowmobile use in Yellowstone can perpetuate haze and health problems for employees and visitors. Please don't ignore science for a small special interest group. Snowmobilers have other places they can ride. Snowmobiles have no place in Yellowstone National Park.

Our first national park, and one that draws visitors from all over the world should be protected from a single use that destroys the experience for so many others.

Park Service regulations require the agency to preserve the best possible air quality and natural soundscapes to the greatest extent possible. This rule does not. It must be withdrawn.