Take Nothing But Photos, Leave Nothing But Footprints
Each living being has an impact on the environment, be it a human, plant, or animal. All who breathe are a part of a delicate and intricate balance affecting all the organisms in the ecosystem.
Humans, however, while technically a part of nature, tend to have a disruptive and artificial effect on that balance, whether intentionally or inadvertently. Because we live on this planet in such masses now, it behooves us to strive to mitigate this interference. Getting outdoors is good, but we should consider that even seemingly minor activities can have a significant impact when many people are doing the same thing. Looking for a lizard by removing the bark of one fallen tree may seem low-impact, but it doesn’t take many people doing so before the skinks in the area will have a challenging time finding shelter.
While something as fundamental as not littering would seem to go without saying, we have all seen refuse in otherwise pristine locales. In waterways, we often see copious amounts of discarded detritus. Wildlife rehabilitators are routinely called upon to disentangle animals from these items, many of which persist in the environment almost interminably. Resolve never to contribute to this issue and join in with community clean-up efforts when possible. Especially conscientious hikers even make a habit of tossing the refuse they…