Litter in Bragg Creek
Let’s keep it clean in Beautiful Bragg Creek!
Help Bragg Creek Ladies’ Auxiliary on Saturday June 26th
Karen Marsh & Sally Beetham Tilley
Close to home we’ve recently seen a huge increase in litter discarded in Bragg Creek Provincial Park, in the hamlet of Bragg Creek, and along the sides of local roads. Of course, the litter not only looks unsightly, but also attracts wildlife in search of easy pickings. This is potentially dangerous for both us and our wildlife neighbours.
One problem is the habituation of large fauna, which may then become a nuisance and need to be euthanized. Another problem is the more direct threat to animal health of the garbage itself.
Many animals will eat anything in search for food, and if they find food in plastic bags or containers, they will often end up eating some of the plastic, too. Because they can’t digest it, their stomachs may get obstructed, and eventually they may die a slow, agonising death.
Other injuries can be caused by litter and plastics, as well. For instance, if plastic bags and beer can rings are found in litter, animals and birds can end up ensnared in them. When animals get body parts stuck inside a drinks can or plastic container, they may suffocate or starve to death.
And of course these days the COVID masks that people discard in parking lots when they return to their vehicles are an added problem. Sometimes these masks take sail, blown into trees and shrubs. The ties on them can trap birds and animals around their bodies and feet/talons. Once ensnared, they may have difficulty hunting, digesting food and breathing. Cutting the ties before sensibly discarding them in the trash can avoid this.
Ideally, every visitor would take all their litter home with them. The next best thing is to put it in a secure wildlife proof bins. Unfortunately, the amount of litter found on the ground and in amongst the trees has increased enormously in the last year or so. People are clearly not dealing conscientiously with their litter.
Here is what was collected within one hour at Bragg Creek Provincial Park on June 2nd 2021. Various paper and plastic items, cutlery, cups, used tea bags, empty drinks containers, plastic straws, tied plastic bags with left over take out, candy wrappers, tissues, electrical car parts, fireworks.......
Volunteers are always needed to help clean up our streets and parks to protect wildlife.
The Bragg Creek Ladies Auxiliary are organising a clean up on June 26th. Follow this link to find out how you can get involved.
https://braggcreekca.com/2021/06/01/bragg-creek-comes-up-roses-on-june-26th/
