Crowdog
03-09-2002, 08:13 PM
ABC LYNX INTERVIEW OF DAVE HURWITZ -- Snowmobiler in the Wenatchee Forest of Washington State
March 4, 2002
by Dave Hurwitz
On February 1st I met with Neal Karlinsky from ABC Nightly News with Peter Jennings. They contacted Washington State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) because they wanted a snowmobilers perspective regarding the recent news that Canadian Lynx hairs were planted by federal forest service and Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WSDFW) employees in several forests in the state of Washington, including Wenatchee National Forest
I met Neal Karlinsky, and his film crew at 29 pines snow-park northeast of Cle Elum in the Teanaway river valley on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. The day could not have been better to promote snowmobiling in our national forests.
What follows is a short summary of my interview.
Neal: How does what occurred with the lynx study in Wenatchee National Forest impact snowmobilers? Dave: We've got 40 percent of this forest already closed as wilderness. We (snowmobilers) can't go in the wilderness. We don't want to see another area closed to snowmobilers for lynx or any other reason.
Neal: Do you believe that the biologists that are accused of planting lynx hair in Wenatchee National Forest were attempting to place lynx where they do not exist? Dave: Yes. I don't know that there's any proof at all that there's lynx in the areas where we snowmobile in Wenatchee National Forest. From what I have read, lynx habitat is mostly at the 5000 foot elevation and above, 95% of our groomed trails here are below that elevation.
Neil: What do you think their (WSDFW biologists) motivation was? Dave: Well, to close down land to motorized recreation.
Neil: So do you think these people had some sort of agenda? Dave: Yes. There are some people in government agencies that have an agenda. We will not know whether the biologists that planted the lynx hair in Wenatchee National Forest were attempting to commit fraud, or just trying to test the lab, as they claim. Until the Inspector General completes their investigation, we won't know fore sure. But either way, what they did was against the rules. Although some studies allow blind samples, the lynx study did not.
Neil: Does the questions surrounding the lynx study affect other Endangered Species Act designations? Dave: You have to question the other studies if these people got caught doing this with the lynx study.
Neil: People in rural areas are more affected then most regarding ESA listings. Do you believe that most people are aware of the consequences of ESA listings? Dave: No. Most people in the city aren't aware of the impacts of ESA listings, because it does not directly affect them.
Neil: What do you feel is the reason environmentalist push for some of the ESA listings? Dave: They want it (the forests) all closed down. They say so that future generations can enjoy the forests, but if you close it all down and you can only look at it on your TV screen, I don't know what kind of enjoyment that will be.
After my 10 minute interview with Neil, we geared up for a short ride. Neal was on my Polaris 700. Jim Watt (video) and Kelly Watt (audio) rode the Arctic Cat, with Kelly in the drivers seat and Jim filming from the rear. Howard rode his Yamaha and I led with my wife's 2002 Polaris 700. I should point out that neither Neil, Jim or Kelly had ever ridden a snowmobile before.
We rode along the North Fork Teanaway river where Jim set up his tripod and filmed the four snowmobiles as they passed by the meandering river with snow covered rocks and trees with the Stuart mountains in the background. It was a perfect day for the shoot.
I had pointed out earlier to Neil how much snowmobile technology had improved in the last few years. Compared to my 1999 Polaris 700, the Arctic Cat virtually made no noise at all. With the other sleds running near by, you could hardly tell the Arctic Cat was even running.
Although the TV crew was short on time and we only rode a few miles, it was apparent by the smiles on their faces that everyone enjoyed their time snowmobiling in Wenatchee National Forest. You would have thought that Kelly was a seasoned snowmobiler by the way she handled the Arctic Cat. I wouldn't be surprised if she convinces Jim that they should purchase a sled or two after this ride.
After our ride, we left Neil with several documents that promote snowmobiling in Washington State. Thanks to Wayne Mohler, I was able to provide Neil with a copy of the 2000 Survey of Registered Snowmobile Owners in Washington State. I also provided a fact sheet regarding the lynx fraud. Howard provided a package that had been put together for the All Trails to Olympia day (snowmobilers visit to Washington State lawmakers) that occurred the day before.
I would like to thank Arctic Cat for loaning this great snowmobile to WSSA for the winter of 2002. I would also like to thank Glenn and Aileen Warren for making sure the Arctic Cat was available to me, which allowed the media to see the direction snowmobiles are heading. Also a big thank you to Howard for taking time away from his busy schedule to prep and delivery the Arctic Cat to the shoot.
Stay tuned to ABC World News tonight with Peter Jennings and you may see the lynx story as seen by a snowmobiler from Washington State.
Take care,
Dave Hurwitz
March 4, 2002
by Dave Hurwitz
On February 1st I met with Neal Karlinsky from ABC Nightly News with Peter Jennings. They contacted Washington State Snowmobile Association (WSSA) because they wanted a snowmobilers perspective regarding the recent news that Canadian Lynx hairs were planted by federal forest service and Washington State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (WSDFW) employees in several forests in the state of Washington, including Wenatchee National Forest
I met Neal Karlinsky, and his film crew at 29 pines snow-park northeast of Cle Elum in the Teanaway river valley on a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon. The day could not have been better to promote snowmobiling in our national forests.
What follows is a short summary of my interview.
Neal: How does what occurred with the lynx study in Wenatchee National Forest impact snowmobilers? Dave: We've got 40 percent of this forest already closed as wilderness. We (snowmobilers) can't go in the wilderness. We don't want to see another area closed to snowmobilers for lynx or any other reason.
Neal: Do you believe that the biologists that are accused of planting lynx hair in Wenatchee National Forest were attempting to place lynx where they do not exist? Dave: Yes. I don't know that there's any proof at all that there's lynx in the areas where we snowmobile in Wenatchee National Forest. From what I have read, lynx habitat is mostly at the 5000 foot elevation and above, 95% of our groomed trails here are below that elevation.
Neil: What do you think their (WSDFW biologists) motivation was? Dave: Well, to close down land to motorized recreation.
Neil: So do you think these people had some sort of agenda? Dave: Yes. There are some people in government agencies that have an agenda. We will not know whether the biologists that planted the lynx hair in Wenatchee National Forest were attempting to commit fraud, or just trying to test the lab, as they claim. Until the Inspector General completes their investigation, we won't know fore sure. But either way, what they did was against the rules. Although some studies allow blind samples, the lynx study did not.
Neil: Does the questions surrounding the lynx study affect other Endangered Species Act designations? Dave: You have to question the other studies if these people got caught doing this with the lynx study.
Neil: People in rural areas are more affected then most regarding ESA listings. Do you believe that most people are aware of the consequences of ESA listings? Dave: No. Most people in the city aren't aware of the impacts of ESA listings, because it does not directly affect them.
Neil: What do you feel is the reason environmentalist push for some of the ESA listings? Dave: They want it (the forests) all closed down. They say so that future generations can enjoy the forests, but if you close it all down and you can only look at it on your TV screen, I don't know what kind of enjoyment that will be.
After my 10 minute interview with Neil, we geared up for a short ride. Neal was on my Polaris 700. Jim Watt (video) and Kelly Watt (audio) rode the Arctic Cat, with Kelly in the drivers seat and Jim filming from the rear. Howard rode his Yamaha and I led with my wife's 2002 Polaris 700. I should point out that neither Neil, Jim or Kelly had ever ridden a snowmobile before.
We rode along the North Fork Teanaway river where Jim set up his tripod and filmed the four snowmobiles as they passed by the meandering river with snow covered rocks and trees with the Stuart mountains in the background. It was a perfect day for the shoot.
I had pointed out earlier to Neil how much snowmobile technology had improved in the last few years. Compared to my 1999 Polaris 700, the Arctic Cat virtually made no noise at all. With the other sleds running near by, you could hardly tell the Arctic Cat was even running.
Although the TV crew was short on time and we only rode a few miles, it was apparent by the smiles on their faces that everyone enjoyed their time snowmobiling in Wenatchee National Forest. You would have thought that Kelly was a seasoned snowmobiler by the way she handled the Arctic Cat. I wouldn't be surprised if she convinces Jim that they should purchase a sled or two after this ride.
After our ride, we left Neil with several documents that promote snowmobiling in Washington State. Thanks to Wayne Mohler, I was able to provide Neil with a copy of the 2000 Survey of Registered Snowmobile Owners in Washington State. I also provided a fact sheet regarding the lynx fraud. Howard provided a package that had been put together for the All Trails to Olympia day (snowmobilers visit to Washington State lawmakers) that occurred the day before.
I would like to thank Arctic Cat for loaning this great snowmobile to WSSA for the winter of 2002. I would also like to thank Glenn and Aileen Warren for making sure the Arctic Cat was available to me, which allowed the media to see the direction snowmobiles are heading. Also a big thank you to Howard for taking time away from his busy schedule to prep and delivery the Arctic Cat to the shoot.
Stay tuned to ABC World News tonight with Peter Jennings and you may see the lynx story as seen by a snowmobiler from Washington State.
Take care,
Dave Hurwitz