Travel has always been part of human life and exploring new places brings us joy and thrills. Since pandemic there are many hurdles to travel and people flock to their local parks and natural spaces for some fresh air and exercise. Many of us wouldn’t have paid attention to what is in our backyard and the beauty that surrounds Alberta in absence of this lockdown.
Like all things good and bad there is a dangerous side effect of increased human visits to the national parks and recreational areas. The free moving wildlife are surrounded by constant vehicular traffic and human activities and the untouched, clean zones turn to upsetting trash zones.
Icefield Parkway is deemed as one of the most scenic drives in the world and it leaves me speechless every time I visit but mostly in a good way; except for this one time I saw a raven digging through plastic wrapper for food at this epic viewpoint at Big Hill and Big Bend. In early summer I was so saddened by this sight as we stopped for a quick break on the way to Jasper. At least 5-10 cars came and went by and most people didn’t litter. There are few ignorant individuals that maybe risking the natural environment due to lack of knowledge and proper etiquettes to explore outdoors. I had to take few images to document this in hopes I can pass the message and help spread some awareness about littering.
A raven digging through a twix candy wrapper for scraps at Icefield Parkway June 2021
Please be aware of your non-degradable materials and trash as you head out to the mountains. Your trash doesn’t belong in the claws of these innocent birds and animals. Pack in what you pack out and dispose off all garbage in the designated bins.
We may think littering is no big deal, someone might come by and pick it up but that isn’t always true for free flying garbage. These areas receive heavy snowfall and winds, there are essential rivers and waterbodies nearby that will be covered in trash if we don’t do our part.
Every small effort counts, please make sure you don’t toss out garbage in these beautiful places of our backyard. Respect your surroundings and the animals & birds that share this land with you. Make sure to spread the message among your friends, tourists and fellow visitors to pack in and pack out. Leave nature cleaner than you found it.