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Greener snowmobiling

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How to reduce your environmental impact

Driving any type of vehicle and being environmentally responsible go hand in hand. So if snowmobiling is your passion, you should be looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint for the sake of generations to come. Whether it’s maintaining your sled properly for efficient fuel consumption or keeping a safe distance from wildlife, you can help green this recreational sport.

Purchasing your snowmobile

  • Avoid buying a sled that is bigger than you need. Keep in mind that the larger and more powerful your machine, the more impact you have on the environment.
  • When choosing your snowmobile, consider how you want to use it. For example, will you be climbing mountains or simply riding on flat trails? This will help you decide what type of sled you want to buy.
  • Check with the store where you plan to buy your sled about whether it meets environmental standards. Generally speaking, snowmobiles with a four-stroke engine are more environmentally-friendly than those with two-stroke engines.
     

Snowmobile maintenance

A well-maintained snowmobile reduces negative impact on the environment, largely because you burn less fuel and your sled makes less noise. Here are some basic pointers to follow:

  • Use high-grade oil, which burns clearer and breaks down into harmless particles.
  • Use a high-quality gasoline; they generally have fewer impurities and this results in a better running engine.
  • You can do some basic maintenance yourself, for example, changing your sparkplugs at least once a year.

However, it’s important to have your snowmobile inspected by a licensed snowmobile mechanic on a regular basis.
 

Responsible snowmobile driving

Follow these snowmobiling driving tips to reduce your environmental impact:

  • When you fill up your gasoline or oil tank, avoid spilling even a small drop. It only takes a little to contaminate groundwater, drinking water and surface water. Even if you spill on snow, it can still seep into water sources.
  • Avoid opening and closing your throttle when using your sled; this leads to inefficient burning of fuel.
  • Only drive a snowmobile when there is enough snow to prevent the track from digging into the ground cover.
  • Avoid riding over small trees or bushes which can be easily damaged by snowmobiles.
  • Stay on organized trails so you have less of an impact on forests and land cover.
  • Take courses from snowmobile driving instructors in order to improve your driving and burn less fuel.
  • Avoid littering; make sure you leave with what you bring.
     

Protecting wildlife

When you’re snowmobiling, you may encounter wildlife in its natural habitat. Keep these pointers in mind:

  • Keep a distance from any wildlife by staying on organized trails.
  • If you do encounter animals, give them time to move off the trail.
  • Don’t feed animals in their natural habitat.
  • Animals need their energy to survive; don’t frighten them into using energy unnecessarily.
  • Respect signs that have been identified by government agencies. For example, you may see a sign that indicates an endangered species or reforestation.
  • Avoid bringing oil and gasoline tanks over frozen lakes. Should there be a leak, you might endanger aquatic life.
     

Get involved in environmental groups

  • Share these environmental tips with your friends and colleagues and get involved in environmental groups.
  • Check with your municipality or snowmobile club for environmental groups in your region.
  • Recently, the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO) launched the first National Snowmobiling Environmental Month. According to the CCSO, today’s clean and high-tech snowmobiles run more efficiently, effectively and quietly than ever before; modern snowmobile engines produce 98% fewer hydrocarbons and 94% less sound than older sleds. Overall, snowmobiles account for only a small fraction of all the motor fuel burned annually in Canada.
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