Along the Auburn Trail in Victor, between Railroad Mills and Fisher Roads, birds and butterflies dart in and out of the meadowy brush and turtles bask in the sun. For many animals, the area is home. For others, it's a place to breed or nest.

A plan to widen the trail threatens all that, say members of a coalition of nature and environmental groups.

"It's a rich area, considering it's only two-thirds of a mile," says Steve Daniel, a nearby resident and a coalition spokesman.

The town of Victor plans to widen to eight feet most of the two-mile section of the Auburn Trail from Fishers Road to Powder Mills Park in Perinton. The stretch between Railroad Mills and Fishers is the exception. There the path will be six-feet wide, says Brian Emelson, Victor's Parks and Recreation director, to lessen the impact on habitat. Coalition members want a three-foot wide path and aren't satisfied with the conciliation.

"It has this really wild natural feel and if you put in this wide prepared surface, it won't look natural anymore," says Carol Hinkelman, a member of Burroughs Audubon Nature Club.

Six feet may be the narrowest the town can go. It received a $619,500 federal transportation grant for the work. Attached to the money is a condition: the path must be passable in both directions by bikes and pedestrians. At six feet wide, it's already snug, Emelson says.

As far as the habitat goes, he expects little impact.

"The birds and the butterflies will continue to flourish in the area," Emelson says.