{"id":5148,"date":"2022-09-13T11:14:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T18:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-azgfd-main.pantheonsite.io\/?page_id=5148"},"modified":"2025-07-01T00:03:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T07:03:52","slug":"habitat-protection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.azgfd.com\/off-highway-vehicle\/habitat-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"Habitat Protection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Help Protect Arizona’s Habitats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Habitat varies from species to species, but it encompasses all of the needs of that species. It is the total environment upon which a species depends. There are four basic elements: food, water, shelter and adequate space. Also included is the arrangement of the basic elements to one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An often overlooked need is \u201csolitude\u201d (or lack of disturbance). Many species of wildlife have negative (flight or fight) reactions to approaching noises, including from off-highway vehicles (OHVs). You can minimize impacts on wildlife by staying on designated roads and trails or in special-use areas. Never chase wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survival of animals is often precarious, and disturbances by humans can result in death. Animals survive winter by eating summer plants and building critical fat reserves. OHVs can destroy critical foraging spaces, turning meadows into mud bogs and reducing survivability, this means staying on designated roads and trails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Streams are exceptionally fragile. Take extra precautions where trails ford streams. Traveling along banks or through stream beds causes stream sedimentation, a process where the stream fills with silt, soil and gravel. The pools that once contained fish and other aquatic species become nothing but moist sand. Go directly from an established trail to the trail on the opposite bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help minimize the impacts of OHV use, like those shown in these photos, by staying on designated roads and trails.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The impact of OHVs: What are the issues?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The use of OHVs during hunting season has dramatically increased. While OHVs have made access to some backcountry areas and big game retrieval easier for some hunters, the increased use has created new challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Off-trail use. Operating an OHV off-trail is illegal. Illegal off-trail operation of OHVs can cause soil erosion and damage fish and wildlife habitat. Illegal OHV operation threatens the future of OHV recreation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proliferation of roads. Cross-country travel has led to the creation of tens of thousands of illegal roads across the state. A new road can be created with just two or three passes of a vehicle. If you see tire tracks leading somewhere, do not follow them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can be done to reduce the impact?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n