Sharing the Snow: How to Respect Wildlife in the Winter Backcountry

Sharing the Snow: How to Respect Wildlife in the Winter Backcountry

Conservation Northwest / Feb 13, 2025 / Public Lands, Recreation

By Kurt Hellmann, Wildlife-Recreation Coexistence Sr. Coordinator

Winter in the backcountry is pure magic—untouched powder, crisp alpine air, and the serenity of snow-covered landscapes. But as we snowshoe, ski, or snowmobile it’s important to remember that we’re stepping into the homes of wildlife, who rely on conserving energy to survive the winter season. With more people venturing into snowy terrain, we must be mindful of our impact and take steps to protect delicate winter ecosystems.

Winter Is Hard On Wildlife

The Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative helps elevate the need to respect wintering wildlife while enjoying the backcountry. Check out their website for more information!

Winter is a season of scarcity for wildlife. Food is limited, temperatures are extreme, and animals operate on razor-thin energy reserves for survival. Many species, like wolverine, lynx, and mountain goat, have adapted to these conditions, but even small disturbances from humans can have outsized consequences. If an animal is repeatedly forced to flee or physically stressed, it expends precious energy it may not be able to replace, increasing the risk of starvation or failed reproduction.1

Additionally, human activity can displace wildlife from crucial habitat areas, pushing them into less suitable environments where survival is even more difficult.2 With climate change already adding stress to these fragile ecosystems, it’s more important than ever that we’re conscientious when choosing to recreate in the winter backcountry.

How You Can Reduce Your Impact

The good news? Small, mindful changes in how we explore the backcountry can help lower our impact on wildlife. Here are some key practices to keep in mind: 

Stay Alert for Signs of Wildlife

Keep an eye out for tracks, scat, and other signs of wildlife. Noticing these clues can help you avoid sensitive areas where animals may be sheltering. Looking for wildlife sign can also add another layer of appreciation for the natural world.

Give Animals Space

If you encounter wildlife, PAUSE. Do not approach. Wait for the animal to move away on its own, and if necessary, reconsider your route to avoid disturbing the animal further.

Respect Seasonal Closures

Land managers may establish seasonal or temporary closures to protect wildlife and critical habitat. Check local land management websites before heading out and respect any posted signs at trailheads. For example, the Methow Wildlife Area has partial seasonal closures to protect winter habitat for mule deer.

Stick to Established Routes or Areas

Wildlife can be particularly sensitive to unpredictable human activity in remote or undisturbed areas. Where possible, follow established skin tracks, ski runs, or trails rather than venturing into untouched terrain.

Pack It Out

Everything you bring into the backcountry should come back with you. Food scraps or garbage can attract animals and disrupt their natural behavior. Pack It Out also applies to human waste in the wintertime. Be prepared to carry out your poop if nature calls unexpectedly!

Keep Pets Under Control

Everything you bring into the backcountry should come back with you. Food scraps or garbage can attract animals and disrupt their natural behavior. Pack It Out also applies to human waste in the wintertime. Be prepared to carry out your poop if nature calls unexpectedly!

Wolverines favor remote, rugged, snowy landscapes, often in alpine and subalpine areas. They are closely tied to persistent deep snowpack for the late winter and early spring months. Female wolverines are known to be sensitive to human disturbance, especially while denning. Learn to identify wolverine sign and submit any observations on the Cascades Wolverine Project website. Photo by David Moskowitz.

Mountain goats typically reside in higher elevation terrain during the winter. If you see a mountain goat in the winter and early spring, give them space, consider your Plan B, and avoid following any fresh tracks.

Fewer than 50 Canada lynx occupy high-elevation forests in the North Cascades. Studies have shown that these cats have a threshold at which they avoid areas entirely due to recreation intensity.2 If you see this critter, report your observation on WDFW’s website.

Be Open

As we strive to be the best stewards of wildlands, we need to be open to novel and creative management policies meant to keep visitor use sustainable for our landscapes. Remember to use your voice in public processes to help shape new visitor management systems.

Learn About Wildlife

Take the opportunity to learn about the wildlife that call our favorite backcountry spots home. Understanding what species we share the landscape with can help foster a deeper respect and connection to these places. Are you traveling past the bedroom of a black bear? Or the living room of a wolverine? Martens, weasels, snowshoe hare, Canada lynx and so many more critters thrive in some of our favorite snowscapes.

  • Check out the Cascades Wolverine Project to learn about the elusive and charismatic wolverine—a critter that shares our love of snow and mountainous terrain.
  • The Snoqualmie Tribe’s Ancestral Lands Movement is also a great way to deepen your knowledge of ancestral lands, wildlife, and deepen your mindfulness while outside.
  • The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has helpful species facts sheets for select mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
  • The Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative works with organizations, government, businesses, and the recreating public to educate winter recreationalists about wintering wildlife and how to reduce our impacts.

Graphics are courtesy of our partners at the Wintering Wildlife Conservation Initiative.

As winter recreationalists, we have a unique opportunity to set an example of responsible stewardship. By being mindful of our impact and making small adjustments to how we move through the backcountry, we help ensure that these wild places—and the critters that call them home—remain vibrant for generations to come.

Happy and responsible adventuring!

1 Eisen, H., Morgan, D., Paul, K., and Boyd, K., 2021, Environmental Impacts of Winter Recreation. Winter Wildlands Alliance.  
https://winterwildlands.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Winter_Rec_Science_2021_EmailWeb.pdf

2 Machowicz, A., Vanbianchi, C., and Windell, R. 2022. Recreation and Wildlife in Washington: Considerations for Conservation. Home Range Wildlife Research.   
https://conservationnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Recreation-and-wildlife-in-Washington-Considerations-for-conservation_FINALreduced.pdf

Learn more about Wildlife-Recreation Coexistence on our program’s webpage.