A Little Litter Lives a Long Time

Have you ever wondered how a gum wrapper dropped on a street in Fenton, Missouri, ends up in the ocean?

In the town of Fenton, right here in Missouri, there is a creek called Saline Creek that catches the storm water from many of the creeks in town.  It runs through many back yards and right behind some commercial buildings and even a school.  I used to walk through the creek all the time for fun when I was a little boy. 

There goes our gum wrapper--beginning it's trip to the ocean in a drainage ditch that empties into our creek

Amidst all of the rocks and pools of water were countless pieces of trash, among them our innocuous little gum wrapper.  Other larger items would include anything from plastic bottles to old mattresses to old exercise machines to lawn mowers and even cars.  Yeah, there were lots of cars.    Saline Creek empties out into the Meramec River, which is another place one can find a multitude of old tires and pieces of garbage, plus our little gum wrapper.  The Meramec drains into the Mississippi.  The Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico.  Well, you get the picture--in the end, most items in Saline Creek will eventually find their way into the ocean.

Saline Creek isn’t the only creek that has waters destined for the great big blue.  Most, if not all, creeks do, and many creeks are full of trash.

 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

In the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between Hawaii and San Francisco, California, is a multi million ton swirling, floating pile of trash--mostly plastic—better known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  You can read all about it at www.greatgarbagepatch.org, or if you like mockumentaries you can be entertained and learn about it if you Youtube “the majestic plastic bag.”  Reading and seeing these things would be a great follow-up to this blog.

So why am I rambling on about the flow of trash through our waterways?  Because, as we speak, wildlife and nature all around us is being choked and poisoned by our mess.

Plastic is a HUGE problem since it never biodegrades.  In the oceans it continually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces and is eaten by fish, birds, mammals and all other types of animals.  Fish can detoxify it in their bodies but everyone else is out of luck.  Animals have starved because they eat pieces of plastic, thinking it’s food, and then they get nothing out of it.  They can’t digest it so it just stays in their bodies.  Of course this doesn’t only happen with plastics.  At the Grand Canyon National Park people have been dropping (or throwing) quarters onto the rocks by the viewing areas and birds like the California Condors have been eating them.  In no way can these quarters be helpful to the condors.

 

These may seem to be extreme examples, but they are also pretty common occurrences.  I hope that by now the point has gotten across that our stray trash is a major problem for nature.  So… what are we going to do about it?

 

We can start by making sure we throw our trash in the trashcans and our recycling gets into the recycling bins.  Even more importantly, we can minimize the amount of waste we use.  Use re-useable water bottles and dishes.  Cut out those paper plates that are so popular.  Use small sheets of paper for small memos.  Minimizing waste is effective for a lot of reasons—even when we use those trashcans.  Often times even when we throw our trash in a trashcan it will fall out somehow, even if it’s already on its way to the trash dump.

Some more pro-active and direct ways of maintaining a clean environment are by physically cleaning up litter-infested areas.  There are some great organizations here in Missouri that put together big events dedicated to the clean-up of rivers and parks.  Missouri Stream Team is the basis of most of those activities.  Check out this website: www.mostreamteam.org.  There is also the Missouri “adopt-a-highway” program that you can see signs for along highways throughout Missouri.  If you live in another state do an internet search for similar organizations where you live.

Here’s the twist though.  I get the feeling that if you’re reading this blog, chances are that you already know about these things and have acted on them before.  Acting on these issues is exactly what we need, so thank you!  If you are looking into what one can do about litter, I hope you’ve taken what I have said to heart and will start to act now.

 Something you can do that’s just as important is share enthusiasm for keeping our environment clean.  Get friends involved and make it a good time together.  Encourage any youngsters you may have contact with to take care of their environment by disposing of trash in the proper receptacles.  The more people that care, the less problems we have. 

Submitted by Nathan Thoele, World Bird Sanctuary Seasonal Staff Member

Effects on the Environment - #6

Following is #6 in the series of articles by World Bird Sanctuary volunteer Jennifer Jones, discussing the effects on the environment posed by modern day “improvements” and conveniences.

Styrofoam-Polystyrene

The biggest environmental health concern associated with polystyrene is the danger associated with Styrene.  Styrene is used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, rubber and resins.  Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain (Especially when heated in the microwave)

These products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource.

Polystyrene foam is often dumped into the environment as litter.  The material is known for breaking up into pieces that choke animals and clog their digestive systems.  At least part of the solution here is simple—don’t litter!  When venturing into the out of doors for a hike, a picnic, a float trip, etc., follow the cardinal rule of good outdoorsmanship—leave it cleaner than when you got there.  Carry out your trash and dispose of it properly.  An even better solution—don’t be part of the problem.  Don’t use styrofoam plates, cups or containers.  If you must use “disposables”, use paper plates instead of foam.  The same is true for coffee cups.  If possible use reusable, washable food containers instead of foam.

At Lake of the Ozarks here in Missouri foam dock floatation logs were used under every dock for years.  Due to wave action and normal deterioration these logs would break down over a period of time and shed pieces and particles of foam into the lake.  On a quiet morning the shorelines and coves were covered with foam.  These foam logs have now been outlawed on Lake of the Ozarks by Ameren UE.  As of January 1, 2008 all floatation under docks must now be encapsulated so that foam particles are no longer shed into the lake.  It is now rare to find floating foam debris on this beautiful lake.  This is an inspiring example of environmental responsibility on the part of AmerenUE Corporation, which issues dock permits and sets dock standards at the lake.

AmerenUE also sponsors an Adopt-the-Shoreline program, which organizes a shoreline clean-up program each Spring.  Volunteers patrol the shoreline, picking up trash and debris, and AmerenUE provides administrative support and pays for disposal of the trash and debris removed.  This is a great example of individuals and an environmentally responsible corporation working together to do something positive for the environment.

These are just a few examples of what we have done to and for our environment and ourselves.

I know as I write this it makes me stop and think about what I can do better for not only our wildlife but for our lives as well.  It’s the only planet we have and we need to start treating it with more respect.  We need to clean up the mess we’ve made, and within that process not only will we see improvement within our wildlife and our habitats, but also improvement in our health as well.  Extinction is forever!  Our planet must be saved, for our sake as well as wildlife. It starts with one voice and one act of kindness.  As Robert Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Submitted by Jennifer Jones, World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer

Effects on the Environment - #5

In article #1 of this series World Bird Sanctuary volunteer, Jennifer Jones, talked about one specific pesticide—rodent poison.  Here she discusses pesticides in a more general overview.

Pesticides cause significant bird mortality each year. Of the five billion pounds of pesticides that are applied worldwide every year, 20% are used in the United States (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA], 2004). Approximately 40 pesticides still used in the U.S. are documented to have caused bird die-offs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the U.S. government agency responsible for regulating pesticides) has recorded more than 1,700 incidents of bird kills - many including hundreds of individual birds - attributable to pesticide use.

 Pesticide effects may be lethal, sublethal, acute, chronic, habitat related, or there may be no effect at all. A sub lethal effect is usually from a repeated exposure to some pesticides and though it does not kill the bird it affects it in other ways.  These effects are hard to detect but nevertheless can produce dramatic species declines over time.  Other effects of sublethal are weakening and behavorial.

An acute effect is a sudden, short exposure to high levels of pesticides.  Responses of birds to acute exposure can vary significantly.  Acute exposure to organophospates often leads to death of the bird within 30 minutes after symptoms of feather fluffing, labored breathing, muscle tremors and convulsions. Effects from acute exposure can be immediate or delayed. 

Chronic effects are defined as long-term exposures.  The problem with these exposures is that because the poisoning takes place over a prolonged period birds are more likely to become scattered over a wider geographical area and may never be seen.  If they are recovered it is much harder to correlate the death with specific pesticide applications.  Chronic exposure produces delayed effects.  One such effect is the decrease in breeding success, such as we saw with the pesticide DDT.

Habitat Related effects include loss of seed set or berry production in vegetation if bees are killed by pesticides.  Also, runoff into wetlands reduces the number of aquatic insects essential to the growth and development of aquatic birds.  The use of insecticides on lawns reduces the number of earthworms, which affects the American Robins in particular.

In general, insecticides are more toxic to fish and wildlife than herbicides or fungicides; though some herbicides may harm wildlife by damaging the habitat in which it is found.

Insecticides work by interfering with the central nervous system of insects.  The central nervous systems of fish and wildlife that ingest tainted insects may also be affected.

Wildlife can be exposed to pesticides directly by eating contaminated food or water, breathing pesticides or by skin absorption.  Young birds that are fed infected insects are at great risk of suffering lethal pesticide exposure effects.

One such chemical was banned back in 1972; it was the reason why the Bald Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon were on the endangered species list.  The chemical called DDT caused the eggs that were laid to have eggshells so thin that when the eggs were incubated, they were crushed by the weight of the parent bird.   Since the ban of DDT both the Bald Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon have made a comeback and are no longer on the endangered species list.  This is a prime example that we can right what we have done wrong.

When you purchase any pesticide, be sure to read the label to determine whether it is considered toxic to humans and wildlife.  Most chemicals are now required to state this on the label.

Submitted by Jennifer Jones, World Bird Sanctuary volunteer

Effects on the Environment #3- Plastic Bags

Following is #3 in the series by World Bird Sanctuary volunteer Jennifer Jones

Plastic Bags

The Environmental Stewardship has, in the past, offered a couple of plastic bag recycling opportunities and here are some of the reasons why.

Plastic bags are mistaken for food by marine animals (particularly sea turtles). So why is it harmful to sea turtles?  Plastic bags clog their digestive systems, and the turtles die because their digestive systems cannot function correctly.  Plastic bags look like one of their favorite foods--Jellyfish.  A study showed that out of 400 necropsy reports of sea turtles, one-third of them had plastic in their digestive system.

Plastic bags are made of petroleum, a nonrenewable resource.  They are a serious litter problem due to their light weight, and are difficult to contain.  They are also a major part of the waste in our landfills. Plastic bags are one of the most numerous items of litter along with cigarette butts and Styrofoam.  How often have you seen plastic bags caught in trees and bushes along the roadside as you travel our highways?

Even though plastic bag recycling is on the rise, the EPA has estimated that 90 billion plastic bags used in the U.S. each year are not recycled and find their way into landfills.

The simple solution is clear on this.  Reusable shopping bags!  Keep them in your car and have them at the ready.  If you must accept your merchandise in plastic bags, be sure to take them to a recycling center.  Most supermarkets these days have a plastic bag recycling bin.  What could be easier than dropping off your old plastic bags on your way into the supermarket?

Submitted by Jennifer Jones, World Bird Sanctuary volunteer

Effects on the Environment - #2 in a Series

In her first article World Bird Sanctuary volunteer Jennifer Jones talked about the negative impact pesticides have on our raptor population.  Here is the second in her series.

The second thing I want to speak about, that impacts many birds of prey and some other wildlife, can be found in our landfills. 

Landfills contain organic matter, and the biodegradation of that matter produces landfill gases.  These gases are composed mostly of methane.  Landfills dispose of this gas by using Methane Burners; these are typically tall round structures, or smokestacks, which protrude from the ground. 

A hawk whose flight and tail feathers have been singed off by the ignition of a landfill methane burner

Birds of prey hang around landfills because of the abundance, or smorgasbord, of food.  However, due to the lack of trees to perch on, these birds sit on top of the stacks.  The stacks have igniters that cause a sudden flame when the gas reaches a certain concentration.  When the igniter sparks the birds have no warning.  The noise startles it enough to outstretch its wings to fly, but by then it is too late, and the bird’s wings, feet, and face get burned or, worse yet, it causes death.  It is believed that only a low percentage of raptors are rescued due to low traffic volume in a landfill area.  They are just not found in time.

Birds that do survive have to wait until they molt, which could be up to a year, and in that time their muscles will atrophy due to lack of use.  So when their new feathers come in they still need rehab to build those muscles again.

 It will be many months before this bird is able to fly again, if ever

So what can be done?  Write to your local landfill operator and ask them to install structures that deny perching, and provide alternative, higher perches.

Landfills can also be a disaster for wildlife because of:

·      Six Pack rings which can cause strangulation. (We can do our part by cutting the rings before putting them in our trash)

·      Plastic wrap that can cause fatal intestinal blockage (wad it up into a ball and put it in a container before placing it in your trash).

•     Discarded fishing line that can get wrapped around various body parts and cut off circulation, often leading to amputation or death.  Because of thoughtless fishermen, fishing line is also found around our lakes, ponds, streams and oceans.  Fishing line is why WBS received one of its permanently injured pelicans (cut discarded fishing line into small pieces to avoid this).

Submitted by Jennifer Jones, World Bird Sanctuary volunteer

The Effects We Have on the Environment - #1 in a Series

World Bird Sanctuary Volunteer Jennifer Jones has written an article about how some of the things we take for granted in our everyday lives can negatively impact wildlife, and gives us some alternatives that we can easily implement.  Following is the first in a series of Jennifer’s suggestions.

In today’s modern world we find many new ways to try to improve on our daily lives and activities. However, these improvements can sometimes have a negative impact on not only our health, but our environment as well.  I would like to give you a few examples of these in this and subsequent articles, and then some suggestions on how we can improve ourselves to save not only our lives but those in the wild as well.

In my experience as a volunteer with the World Bird Sanctuary, I have come to know of at least 3 things that affect our birds of prey alone.  I will talk about 2 of those in this series.

The first is how we kill rodents.  How many of you use poisons to kill mice?  These poisons are not good.  They are not only inhumane but they also cause accidental secondary poisoning.  Mice or rats that have been poisoned can take up to 72 hours to die.  So these mice or rats are the ones that are easily caught by owls or hawks, since  they are the ones that are moving the slowest.  It takes only one poisoned mouse to kill a barn owl.  One wrong choice and that bird is gone! 

Estimates vary as to how many rodents a Barn Owl consumes in a year’s time.  Several  University of California studies indicated that an adult Barn Owl can consume 1 to 2 rodents per night.  Using this number, that would put rodent consumption at close to 6000 mice per year for a Barn Owl family consisting of 2 adults and 5 or 6 young. This study was conducted in the Berkely, California area.  Studies by other organizations in other parts of the country indicate that the number of rodents consumed in any given area was determined by the abundance and type of available prey. 

Many of you do not live in areas where barn owls are found though.  So, what is the best trap to use instead of poisons? The good old-fashioned snap trap, which is a much more humane method.  A snap trap usually kills the mice instantly, or within a few seconds, instead of hours or days. Or—if you can’t bear the thought of killing even a rodent, perhaps a live trap would be a better solution for you. Take them far away from the house and set them free.  The birds will love you for it. 

The Barn Owl was just taken off the endangered list in the state of MO.  Let’s keep it off that list.  The Barn Owl is still endangered in many other states.

Submitted by Jennifer Jones, World Bird Sanctuary volunteer.