ARCTIC The Controlled Traffic System and Associated in Denali National Park
ABSTRACT. Wildlife observability and responses and visitor a titudes were sampled after a mandatory visitor shuttle bus transportation system was in operation for 10 years in Denali National Park, Alaska. Visitor approval of the park transportation policy increased from 80 % to 89 % from 1972 to 198...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1985
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.550.5352 http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic39-3-195.pdf |
| Summary: | ABSTRACT. Wildlife observability and responses and visitor a titudes were sampled after a mandatory visitor shuttle bus transportation system was in operation for 10 years in Denali National Park, Alaska. Visitor approval of the park transportation policy increased from 80 % to 89 % from 1972 to 1982-83. Vehicles per day increased 50 % from 1973-74 to 1982-83. Moose ightings per trip declined 7296, grizzly bear sightings declined 32%, while Dall sheep and caribou sightings remained constant over the same period. Allowing unlimited private vehicle access during the falls of 1982 and 1983 had little influence upon the numbers of wildlife seen. However, more wildlife were put to flight, flight distances increased, more grizzlies were thwarted from crossing the road, and visitors stopped near and approached wildlife afoot more often. Wildlife responses were significantly influenced by pre-stimulus wildlife behavior for all four species, the type of human behavior for moose and grizzlies, sex/age class for moose and caribou, group size for caribou, number of vehicles present for grizzlies, and the presence or absence of vegetation screening for moose and grizzlies (pc0.05). Moose were alert four times as often (32?21%) when close to the park road than when>1 km away (4.8?5.1%), and when close to the road they were alerted to 37221 % of all road stimuli, while caribou were alerted to only 21?11 % (p<0.03) of road stimuli. Key words: wildlife viewing, visitor attitudes, wildlife response to traffic, Denali National Park, moose (Alces alces), Dall sheep (Ovis dulli) , grizzly bear (Ursus arcfos), caribou (Rangifer turundus) RÉSUMÉ. Les possibilités d’observation de la faune, les réactions de la faune et les attitudes des visiteurs furent échantillonnées aprbs la dixibme année d’opération d’un service de navette obligatoire par autobus pour les visiteurs dans le parc Denali en Alaska. Entre 1972 et 1982-83, le pourcentage de visiteurs en faveur de la politique de transport augmenta de 80 % à 89%. Le nombre de ... |
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