How to stop snowmobiles from trespassing

We all like to share the beauty of life with others. That’s why stuff like barbeques, friendships and coordinated raids against the rich are a thing. They exist to bring us closer, to unite us. But there are things out there that separate us as a species, things that keep us from colonizing the observable universe. Trespassers. Those guys are a bad bunch. And the snowmobilers are the worst type. So, how to stop snowmobiles from trespassing?

Why is trespassing bad?

Imagine this: you sit in front of your computer on a chilly winter morning in your backcountry farm. Your land is huge. You stumble over this site and see that there are many articles meant to guide snowmobilers. You almost spit your hot cocoa, knowing what will come. You pray that nobody read any of those articles, but it is too late. In the distance, you can already hear the rumbling of engines.

You run outside with your pitchfork or shotgun, whatever; just don’t make too much of a mess. You gaze in horror as snowmobiles beyond number fill the horizon and speed towards your land. Before you could react, they are already upon your property. Their fun trampled and destroyed a good chunk of the land you have tilted and seeded for the coming spring.

But before you can react, they are already gone beyond the horizon, their rampaging leaving you struck with anger and despair. You fall on your knees and raise your hands towards the sky. And with a mighty primal roar of fury you scream at the top of your lungs: DAMN YOU MEDDLING KIDS!

”What can I do to prevent this?” you ask. Well, fear not, for I am here once again. But this time, however, not to teach you how to have fun, but how to keep others from enjoying it.

Reasons why trespassing is bad:

• Trespassing: First of all, the reason sits in the name. It is your property and disregarding its size, trespassing is bad in more ways than one.

Humans are territorial. We need our private space for many reasons. People also tend to disregard the property of others, leading to legal problems and most importantly, property damage.

Unless you are ok with it or allow it, in which case you should still read this article.

• Property damage: the main reason why you shouldn’t allow people to track their sled through your land unless they are your friends. And if they assure you that they will not bring any harm to your land.

As you have seen in the introduction, there already lies the greatest threat of trespassing. Namely, the damage brought upon the vegetation, crops and the land in general. Snowmobiles are heavy things, and their locomotion is achieved by a mini serrated tank tread and a powerful engine. And this thing will bring the hurt upon anything under it: small bushes, trees, crops, etc. For those who don’t know how farming works, most farmers plant their seeds during autumn. When the snows melt in spring, they will provide an abundant supply of water to feed the growing crops. When snowmobiles track over tilted lands, they will displace the seeds underground and ruin that portion of the crop. Same with any tree saplings. Any sprites passed over by a sled will be as dead as a rock.

What is the main problem here?

With each passing year, snowmobilers lose more and more ground. Not due to laws being implemented and not because of climate change, but because of their own actions.

Many follow the same model: they buy a sled, they don’t have a place where to ride it so they trespass. This leads to problems, which ultimately culminate into people cutting access to former ”widely used” snowmobile trails. This ultimately infuriates them to no end and they trespass even more because the designated trails are too boring.

Rinse and repeat, until nothing good is left of their reputation.

How to ward off the invaders?

Unless you can afford to install a fully automated kill zone with laser defenses and minefields, here is what you should do:

Install a fence:

The most obvious solution. You merely raise a fence and all your problems are gone. Well, this might not always be the case. If your land is small, this solution is indeed the best and cheapest one. Moreover, if it is small indeed and if your money allows, a strong, sturdy metal fence will be the best. But most backcountry estates or farms maintain large swaths of land. This might get a bit tricky.

And don’t think that a large fence will automatically protect you from trespassers and damage. There are accounts out there of snowmobilers outright tearing down fences in order to get through.  On one account, the riders simply told the owner: ”if you want to keep us off, build a fence we couldn’t get through”[1]. Cheeky little bastards, aren’t they?

Install a video surveillance system:

In most cases, in order to legally ride a snowmobile, the rider will have to attach a sticker on the side. Those stickers are there to show the registration number and other vital information. Be on alert for those little things, including any other stickers, color, shape, etc. If you manage to snap a clear picture of them or to film them, take them to the local police for identification. Even if you don’t get quality footage of the sled and the rider, this evidence can be used to identify the rider/s. And once identified, you can simply press charges before the prosecutor.

One way is to install trail cams in the area. Trail cameras for security come in many shapes and configurations. Most models are capable of taking both pictures and videos. Some are even able to work in the darkness with no visible flash. There are even trail cameras specifically made to catch plate numbers and moving vehicles in low light. And if you already read my previous article, no snowmobile can go out there without visible identification plates. They are motorized vehicles after all.

The most popular trail cameras out there will send pictures to your phone or to the local police station if configured properly. This will be done either by image text or through email.

As for pricing, the better quality ones will obviously demand a steeper investment. They will range, on sites like eBay or on specialized sites from 30$ to 500$. On average, the most popular ones come at around 120$ (good price-quality ratio).  It will ultimately depend on you how much you want to invest. And be assured that those things will survey not only the trespassers but also thieves and wild animals.

Ask the law to help you:

By law, your land doesn’t need to be posted in order for the trespassing to be considered illegal. This, however, can differ from country to country, but all in all, it is the common ground for most of them.

Read on your national laws regarding trespassing. Most countries incriminate trespassing riders for breach of property and if proven, for damage of property also. This will hold them accountable for any proven damages and will force them to pay you reparations.

Use the information you have gathered through video surveillance and by other means: pictures, eyewitnesses, markings, anything you can. Depending on the temperatures outside, snowmobile tracks will be there to stay for quite some time. This, combined with any manner of proof will allow them to easily identify the dissidents.

After that, it will be up to you whether you would press charges against them or simply talk. There are a few bad apples out there, yes, but most people are understanding and will get the idea by simply communicating. Ask them nicely to stop going through your land and many, if not most, will no longer bother you. Either out of respect for you and your property or because they fear the consequences.

Usually, the law will be there to aid you. But take my advice: try to make its job as easy as possible. If you were to ask them to investigate without providing any proof, authorities might even let the case slip. There have been many accounts of authorities simply ignoring such cases on the basis of ”it’s too costly, no evidence, bla bla”. Provide as much information as you can in order to compel them to act swiftly and without incurring high costs.

Improvise:

At times, law enforcement doesn’t do much in order to prevent such things. And if it is in the backcountry, finding the rider is like searching for the needle in the hay cart. At times, you must take initiative.

But whatever you do, do not harm the riders or damage their sleds…directly. Let them do it themselves. Otherwise, you will be held accountable and will be forced to pay for any reparations. And you want it to be the other way around, don’t you?

If the law cannot help, you should help yourself. Keep in mind what I said above, but also fight dirty if no one does it for you.

One way would be to install cinder blocks along the possible routes. Call them ”improvised minefields”. Make sure to bring up heavy duty cinder blocks, so that nobody could remove them.

And don’t mistake them for booby traps. Those latter things are illegal and are characterized by the fact that they are hidden. Booby traps are also illegal, even if they lay on your own property. This solution is different, as the blocks are there for everybody to see.

Make sure to highlight it as well as you can. Place warning signs about your field of destruction at any junction, so that none may deny that they haven’t been warned. It is their problem now. And if they will drag you to court, just prove the following and you will be in the clear:

• They were on your property;
• They did not receive any permission to be there (trespassing);
• They were warned about they cinderblocks (make sure to have pictures ready to prove this, as they might tear them down);

All in all, you should be good to go. This, however, should be the last option available if possible.

Conclusion

Regardless of what you do, make sure to follow a few basic principles:

• Always uphold the law;
• Never harm people;
• Avoid causing damage to their stuff as much as you can;
• Keep your coolness;
• Be diplomatic and advocate for talking instead of harsh, immediate consequences;
• Don’t be a jerk;
• Always have proof to defend yourself.

Have a good one!