Why Should I Avoid Feeding Wildlife?

Since leaving Boulder a few weeks ago, we have been asked numerous times a common question: "Is it really that big of a deal if I toss a banana peel out the car window, or leave my orange peels under a rock while on a hike?" As an organization, we strongly recommend avoiding these behaviors. Besides the danger of wildlife coming too close to the road or highway in search of food, here are more reasons to keep human food away from animals highlighted in our FAQ section of the website:

Most items though of as biodegradable, such as apples and apple cores, orange peels, banana peels, nuts, candy, etc., aren't native to most natural environments, and generally aren’t thought of as suitable food for wildlife. Anything that we carry into the woods should come out of the woods with us. Otherwise it's simply trash. One apple core will not completely disrupt the local ecosystem, but litter is litter.

The biggest problem with improperly disposing of food waste, e.g. tossing apple cores into the woods, it that it is ultimately harmful to wildlife. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters their natural behaviors and exposes them to predators and other dangers. News headlines are often made when wildlife is attracted to human food. Bears, more than any other animal, get the most press for tearing into tents, raiding food caches, coolers and cars in search of a meal. Generally, however, campers and hikers have to deal with less threatening, but often more annoying, rodents, raccoons, birds, etc., looking for a handout. These animals are a nuisance and can be vectors for disease, not to mention that their dependence on human food is a detriment to their own well being. Human foods are harmful to wildlife because animals would otherwise forage and eat a nutritious diet derived from their natural environment.

Ask yourself this question: Would this [insert biodegradable item] be here if I weren’t?

Pack it in, Pack it out...Kate & Tracy

Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge Week

On Saturday, we spent the day at Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge on Chincoteague Island in Virginia.  We were one of many exhibitors there to celebrate the wildlife that lives in the park.  The refuge is here to protect the native and migratory species of wildlife and their habitat.   Local artists, wildlife and marine organizations, and wildlife enthusiasts gathered at the visitor center for a day of exploration and fun.  There were activities, exhibits, and speakers to enlighten visitors of the abundant wildlife on the island.  We were excited to be there to share with folks ways to Leave No Trace while watching the wildlife at the park.  We reminded them to never feed, follow, or chase wildlife and to observe all wildlife from a distance.  

If you are ever on the eastern shore of Virginia, be sure to check out Chincoteague Island!  

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week: Chipmunks Unite for Leave No Trace

We caught this little guy checking out the graphics on the Subaru after our presentation at Camp Perkins near Stanley, Idaho.

Celebrate Wildlife...Grand Canyon Style!

We spent Saturday at the second annual Celebrate Wildlife festivities at Grand Canyon National Park.  The event also honored the work of biologist Eric York, who dedicated his life to the study of wildlife in Grand Canyon and National Park and around the world.  We encouraged park visitors to let us know how they Respect Wildlife.  There were some very thoughtful responses that ranged from "carry out your trash please" to "don't chase them" to "take pictures from far away".  We also saw some creative answers like "veggies are better" and "keep your coins, don't throw them in the canyon".   But one of the most insightful ideas came from a teenager who very seriously wrote "wildlife is our past and our future, we've got to preserve it!"   There are many ways to Respect Wildlife, so we pose the question to you :

                                               HOW DO YOU RESPECT WILDLIFE? 

Safe Travels...Kate and Tracy

Winter Wonderland

 

This weekend was a fun filled winter sports extravaganza!

On Saturday, we were part of Winter Trails Day in Estes Park, Colorado. This event, now in its fourteenth year, offers entire families or groups of friends, regardless of age, an opportunity to get outside in the winter and enjoy a day of snowshoeing or cross country skiing. Many visitors were excited to chat about Leave No Trace before they hit the trails. Although deep snow is a durable surface, it is important to think about our impacts on winter terrain. Wildlife impacts were a common topic of conversation throughout the day. Winter is a great season for wildlife viewing. Chances are parks will be less populated, which lends itself to observing many different species. If you are lucky enough to encounter wildlife, enjoy them from a distance. Be careful not to feed, follow, or chase animals so that you can truly experience them in their natural habitat.

Part two of our extravaganza was spent at Arapahoe Basin for the Subaru Master the Mountain event. This was a great opportunity to work the folks at Subaru that generously sponsor our Traveling Trainer program. This event, celebrating its fourteenth season, is a series of winter events held at beautiful resorts across the country. There are plenty of FREE ski and snowboarding lessons, as well as demos of sports equipment. The Subaru crew will be making plenty of stops throughout the rest of this winter. Check out the website, www.subaru.com, to see if they will be visiting your favorite mountain resort. A huge thank-you goes out to Subaru for enabling TEN years of Education in Motion.

We are off to New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment!

Safe Travels……..Kate and Tracy