Yet Another Reason for “Leave No Trace”
by Kara DiCamillo, Newport, Rhode Island on 05. 4.06
Many of us know the drill for “leave no trace,” “pack in pack out,” however you want to preface it. But would you believe there are still people that don’t practice these important measures? Found on Yahoo’s homepage is a video of a bear in Slovakia who’s head was stuck in a plastic container for 10 days, which means no drinking and no eating for this little guy. Finally, a local mountain volunteer decided to help and was able to pull the container off, stating that there was a small hole in the end of it from which the young bear was able to breathe. View the video here. Via ::Yahoo! News ::Reuters
I did this for a cat once. It's head got stuck in a can. It seemed to understand what I was trying to do and cooperated with me.
I did something similar for a wild fox that had a section of orange plastic retainer fence wrapped around its neck strangling it. For my trouble, I received two bites on my hand which required a rabies vac, and a wildlife officer threatened to fine me for both catching and releasing non-game wildlife.
Next time I know to wear gloves, and strangle the wildlife officer as soon as I see him.
This is just awful. Kudos to the park ranger for having the courage to get the container off the bear cub's head, and there is a special place in hell reserved for the person that tossed that container away.
First of all, bravo to the volunteer. That is a gutsy thing to do, for sure.
However, who is to say that the bear did not go into some person's camp and take the container? Or perhaps the bear went into towne and snatched it?
This does not seem like much of a 'leave-no-trace' issue. Heck, that may have been a "bear-proof" container that was snagged off a camper's line.
Just sayin'
I once found one of our yard bunnies with a big thick broccoli-holder rubber band around its neck. It had apparently gotten it out of the compost heap.
I have also seen ducks eating styro peanuts in a stream.
It really makes a strong case for keeping our trash to a minimum and recycling whenever we can.
Its likely that the container was brought in by one of the nearby rivers during a flood, and probably less likely to have been brought in by campers.. who brings something that big when camping?
Oh, and one time I pulled a splinter from a lion's paw.
The leave no trace issue cuts to the core of our American wasteful and disrespectful ways. How many times have I mountain biked in state parks only to find the various stop or outlook areas filled with bottles, cans, food, crack vials. Seems these friggin savages take all the time and effort to hike in, then just drop a load of trash before hiking out.
I'm hoping for some company to produce the following:
cheap, solar powered, weatherproof, wi-fi cameras that can be placed up high in key areas. Use directional antennas to boost the range (a la 10 mile Pringles can trick). Publish pics of the offenders in the local papers like vice does with Johns. I know it sucks to have to do this, but there is not the funding for constant policing, and that would be more intrusive than a few cameras. I think offenders that are caught should be subject to some more public humiliation: trash pickup with the orange suit brigade for a long period of time.