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Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus) are relatively undisturbed on the Mackenzie Delta, but the Delta is now a center of exploration for underlying fossil fuels. A major oil spill will be a continuous threat for years to come, and perhaps more important, human and mechanical disturbance on an unprecedented scale is a virtual certainty. There is safety in the isolation of the Arctic Coast but for one new development--the skidoo or snowmobile. The sale of skidoos is being pushed hard and Eskimos have taken to them enthusiastically. Snowmobiles make it possible to cover long distances along the coast, and tundra swans make a large and tempting target for their users.