AVOID RUNOFF IN OUR WATERS
Every living thing requires a little H-2-0, including you and me. Natural waters, including rivers, wetlands, ponds and the ocean, are vital to the survival of everything occurring in and around them, which means they need lots of attention and protection to keep them working for us. Let’s keep our wetlands and waterways free of foreign objects because they can cause serious problems. For additional reading, see epa.gov/one-health/water. One example is lead. Since 1991 lead shot has been illegal in the U.S. for waterfowl hunting. Waterfowl accidentally ingest lead pellets found on the bottom of wetlands thinking they’re seeds. The result is lead poisoning and certain death. Similar threats to birds and other creatures occur when we spray or spread certain chemicals in or adjacent to water. For instance, some weed killers that run off into ponds can make your tadpoles sick and vulnerable to predation which then impacts your local frogs. Farther north where salt is used on icy roads, that salt runoff has polluted nearby wetlands by dramatically changing the salinity levels of those wetlands and everything that depends on them. Spreading agricultural fertilizers that run off into nearby wetlands can lead to an excess of nutrients and low oxygen levels in natural waters, impacting the conditions for fish, frogs, and other wildlife. Next time you’re broadcasting chemicals – whether it’s herbicides, fertilizers, or something else, keep them far from your wetlands and waterways, and read the label to make sure you’re not applying too much. Do it for the owls.