In 1992, more
than 100 heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the first international
Earth Summit convened to address urgent problems of environmental protection
and socio-economic development. The assembled leaders signed the Convention
on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, endorsed
the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles, and adopted Agenda 21, a
300 page plan for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century.
ENVIRONMENTAL LINKS
Environment
Canada's Green Lane
The Environment Agency
Care2 Be Green?
The
Environmental Protection Agency
United
Nations Environment Programme
The
EnviroLink Network
EcoNet
The
Environmental Defense Fund
Friends
of the Earth
Greenpeace
The
Nature Conservancy
Rainforest
Action Network
Boy
Scouts of America
The
Sierra Club
The
Smithsonian Conservation & Research Centre
Surfrider
Foundation
Earth
911
The
David Suzuki Foundation
ENVIRONMENTAL
& CONSUMER TIPS
(from The
Global Stewards's site)
FIRST!: Reduce
The critical first step
of pollution PREVENTION has been overshadowed by a focus on end-of-line
waste management (i.e., recycling). Of course, pollution prevention is
not as profitable for those who want to sell us all of their products because
it forces us to question whether or not we even need the product in the
first place.
Simplify your life as
much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular
basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally
purchase less/create less waste in the future.
Switch from disposable
to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing
pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.
As much as possible,
create a tree-free home:
Replace paper napkins
with cloth napkins, replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins
- store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash
and reuse purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest
post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum).
if you print documents,
print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest
post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper,
if you can afford it), create and use note pads from once-used paper, leave
messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board, make
your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper.
if you will be doing
construction on your house, search out alternatives to using newly cut
wood:
straw bale
bamboo
true linoleum
previously used wood
cob
composite decking
etc.
Encourage your city
or town to look into the EPA's Pay-As-You-Throw trash disposal program
and Nova Scotia's visionary waste reduction strategy.
In general, think before
you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of
this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there
be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)?
When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait
30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make
your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
Avoid products that
are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and
dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products
to your own reusable containers.
Instead of buying these
items new, save and reuse all: bags (plastic and paper), rubber bands,
twisties, boxes, and packaging material.
Buy products in bulk
to save on packaging. Many health food stores have bulk bins where they
sell everything from grains to cereal to cleaning products.
How to Shop for
Future Generations
Avoid creating trash
wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary
plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance specifically not to be given
these items - it may (I have found many times it DOES) make the store clerk/owner
think twice about giving these items out freely in the future), buy ice
cream in a cone instead of a cup, don't accept "free" promotional products,
buy products with the least amount of packaging, etc. Every little bit
of trash avoided does make a difference!
While shopping, if you
only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring
your own.
Here are some sad facts
about how wasteful junk mail is. For ideas on how to reduce junk mail:
Reduce Personal and
Business Junk Mail
Do-it-yourself: Stop
junk mail, email and phone calls
Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
Carry a mug with you
wherever you go for take out beverages.
Second: Reuse
The media has done a
wonderful job of selling us on the attractiveness and benefits of buying
"new", "improved", "special", etc. products. However, we already collectively
own so much that we could all survive for quite a while on the existing
products - if we just reused them a few times!
Shop at and hold garage
sales - this is a great way to reuse products.
Donate your old clothes
and other products to charity.
Donate your old computer
equipment.
Donate your old eyeglasses
to Lions Club, For-Eyes, Pearle, or Lenscrafters.
Organize a community
swap program (i.e., designate a place where people can leave unwanted items
for others to use).
Buy products that will
last and take care of them.
Teach your children
the value of thrift.
Be creative about how
to reuse products (i.e., give your extra hangers to your local dry cleaners,
donate your unused paint, etc.)
Use both sides of each
piece of paper -- for note taking or printing documents from your computer
(at home or work). Create note pads by stapling together once-used paper.
Recycler's World is
one (of many) web sites that facilitates buying and selling used products
(for home and work).
Pick up books from your
local library or used book store. The library is also many times a great
place for finding magazines, CDs, books-on-tape, and videos.
Join in with neighbors
to purchase infrequently used products such as lawn mowers, ladders, etc.
If you use them, donate
your old cellular phones to Donate A Wireless Phone.
Buy refurbished computers
for less (with warranties):
IBM
Apple
Third: Recycle
Create designated holding
"bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations
in your home/garage
Create a fact sheet
on recycling centers in your area for yourself and interested neighbors.
Find out where you can
recycle newspapers, glass, styrofoam, corrugated paper, plastic, aluminum,
paper, cardboard, tin cans, scrap metal, junk mail, and alkaline batteries.
In general, try to buy
products/containers made from recycled material as often as possible to
support the recycled product market. When purchasing paper products (toilet
paper, etc,), look for paper that has been recycled using a minimum of
50% post-consumer waste. Also, purchase from companies that do not use
chlorine to bleach their paper products (which creates dioxin waste).
Tell your local retailers
you want them to stock more products made from recycled materials
Leave grass clippings
on the lawn as fertilizer.
Start a compost pile
with yard trimmings and food scraps.
Purchase rechargeable
batteries and a battery recharger (some battery rechargers will also recharge
regular alkaline batteries).
When you buy new tires,
ask if your old tires will be recycled - if not find out if there is a
tire recycling center in your area.
If you are travelling
and no recycle bins are available, pack your recyclables home with you
whenever possible.
In the U.S., recycle
your printer's (small) ink cartridges through a U.S. Postal Service program.
Stop by your local post office to pick up shipping envelopes (where available).
Your Food
Buy food (and drinking
water) from local companies whenever possible. Support your area's Farmer's
Market. If possible, grow your own fruits and vegetables using organic
gardening practices.
There are many organizations
that are fighting to protect our food supply from genetically engineered
produce. Please get involved in any way you can.
Eat unprocessed/unpackaged
food whenever possible.
If you purchase seafood,
consult the SeaSense Database to select from the most sustainable fisheries.
Only purchase tuna labeled
"dolphin safe".
Buy shade-grown coffee
to protect desperately needed migratory bird habitats. Many "fair trade
certified" coffees are shade-grown. In the U.S., locate a supplier near
you on the TransFair Retail Outlets listing.
Consider becoming a
lacto-ovo vegetarian (no meat but some eggs and dairy products) or vegan
(no animal products).
If you eat meat, buy
"free-range" raised animals. According to the EPA, "there are approximately
450,000 AFOs (Animal feeding operations - livestock-raising operations,
such as hog, cattle and poultry farms, that confine and concentrate animal
populations) in the United States. About 6,600 of these operations fall
into the largest category and are referred to as Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations (CAFOs)."
Conserve Energy
It is becoming clearer
that not only is global warming a growing problem but we humans are having
a direct impact on this trend. The implications of global warming are alarming.
Please do not wait to start conserving as much energy as you can! And please
ask your elected representatives to push for strong legislation to move
toward overall reduced energy usage and increased alternative energy production.
Reduce your energy
consumption
Set energy reduction
goals (car usage, electricity usage, gas usage, etc.) -- for example, use
an average of 20% less per month
Get ready -- calculate
a baseline to start reducing from -- for example, for your car: the average
number of miles driven on your car per month from purchase date or average
gallons purchased per month; for your home: gas "therms" and/or electric
kilowatts per hour (KWH) used in the same month last year.
Get set -- buy energy
saving products where needed, get your family involved, read the Sustainable
Transportation page for ideas on reducing mileage/increasing mileage efficiency,
etc. and GO!!!!
If possible, choose
a utility company focused on renewable energy. If you live in a deregulated
state, Green-e provides information about certified "clean electricity"
providers for your state. Now you can sign up for clean energy online!
In hot areas, if you
have west-facing windows use window tints, blinds, deciduous trees or trellises
to help keep out heat from the summer sun. In general, you will lower your
summer air-conditioning bill by planting trees and bushes along the west
side of your house.
Paint your home a light
color if you live in a warm climate and a dark color if you live in a cold
climate.
Insulate your hot water
heater, as well as hot water pipes and ducts located in unheated areas.
Reduce "standby power"
(the energy used while an appliance is switched off or not performing)
at home and at work. The easiest way is to unplug appliances that are not
being used. You can also plug your appliances into power surge protector
strips (with multiple electrical outlets) and turn the power off at the
strip.
Kitchen Unplugged
-- ways to conserve energy in the kitchen
Whenever possible, keep
lights off during the day. Consider installing a skylight if more light
is needed.
Choose a place to live
that reduces the need to drive.
Consider using a solar
cooker.
When turning on a water
faucet, unless you need warm water choose the coolest water setting.
If possible, generate
your own electricity! Buying energy from a utility is the same as renting
-- at the end of twenty years you don't own anything.
Conserve Water
Freshwater degradation
is a looming crisis that we must face head on with strong and effective
actions. Please do your part to protect this precious resource and call
upon your elected representatives to take action today to protect not just
future generations but our own future. Only 3% of the earth's water is
freshwater - we must protect this critical resource.
Reduce your water
consumption
Set a water reduction
goal (i.e., use an average of 20% less per month)
Get ready -- calculate
a baseline to start reducing from -- for example, the number of gallons
used in the same month last year
Get set -- buy water
saving products where needed, get your family involved, etc.
and GO!!!!
Each time you turn on
a water faucet use the lowest pressure necessary. Keep the water turned
on only while it is needed.
One of the best ways
to conserve water is to switch to low flow toilets.
Install flow restrictor
aerators inside all faucets for a savings of 3 to 4 gallons per minute.
Always run full loads
of laundry and dishes. Choose the short cycle at low water levels whenever
possible.
Fill your yard with
native plants. This will cut down significantly on watering requirements
and, in the process, provide much needed food and shelter to local wildlife.
If you have house plants,
whenever possible water them with leftover water from drinking and cooking.
Find out if creating
a greywater/waste water system would work for you.
Protect our water supply
by following the steps outlined in How to Clean Up Our Water: 12 simple
actions to help stem the tide of polluted runoff.
The World Wildlife Fund
is encouraging individuals to drink tap water instead of bottled water.
The other reason to stick to tap water is to avoid damaging ecosystems
when spring water is tapped for bottling.
In the U.S., learn more
about your drinking water at EPA's Ground Water and Drinking Water site.
Your Home
Create a non-toxic,
safe home for your family and pets. Gather up all products in your house
or garage that contain unsafe chemicals and work with your local hazardous
waste, recycling, or environmental agency to properly dispose of them.
Switch to the safer alternatives listed below. If you are trying to avoid
products containing animal ingredients, check out Animal Ingredients and
Their Alternatives and Companies That Don't Test on Animals. When available,
buy products in containers that are made of recycled material and/or can
be recycled. Take the Get the Toxics Out! challange!
Cleaning Products
Suggested cleaning product
list:
Borax or Washing Soda
(use instead of laundry bleach and as a general purpose cleaner). Hydrogen
peroxide-based bleach is also available.
Phosphate-free, chlorine-free
and certified biodegradable laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, and
dishwashing liquid
Bon Ami Cleaning Powder
Table salt (for scouring)
Vinegar (for glass cleaner
(mix with water) and general purpose cleaner)
Baking Soda (freshener
and general purpose cleaner)
Cornstarch (add 1 tablespoon
to 1 pint cold water for spray starch)
Lemon juice (stain remover)
Use cleaning recipes
provided on product containers and/or read through the following web pages
for ideas on how best to use these products (plus learn more about health
hazards from products currently in your home):
Make Your Own Nontoxic
Cleaning Kit
Fact Sheet: Safe Substitutes
at Home: Non-toxic Household Products
The Healthy Home
Petroleum ("organic"
chemicals)
Natural Cleansers and
Insecticides
Chemical Industry Archives
Dispose of the following
products at a hazardous waste facility:
Building Materials -
paint , varnish, paint thinner, solvents, rust remover, wood preservatives
and driveway sealer
Automotive products
- gasoline, transmission oil, brake fluid, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid,
power steering fluid, used motor oil,used oil filters, used antifreeze
Household cleaners -
spot removers, rug cleaners, metal cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaner,
drain cleaner
Pesticides - insect
killers, weed killers, flea products, moth crystals, fertilizers with weed
killer
Miscellaneous - photographic
chemicals, acids and corrosive chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent light
bulbs, Ni-Cd batteries
Afraid to switch to
low flow toilets? Visit Terry Love's consumer toilets report for a great
review on available low flow toilets.
When available in your
area, take your dry cleaning to shops that use new, safer "wet cleaning"
methods. You can also use nontoxic "dry cleaning" products such as Dry
Cleaner's Secret to clean your less soiled clothes using your dryer.
Whenever possible, buy
clothing made from organic cotton and/or hemp. Locate a store that sells
organic cotton products through the International Organic Cotton Directory.
Learn more in the article Fashionably Natural.
Learn about the top
10 plants for removing toxics from the air in your home in the article:
How Houseplants Help Clean Pollutants from the Air in Your Home.
Learn about the importance
of disposing of your mercury thermometer at a hazardous waste facility
and replacing it with a non-mercury thermometer at Healthcare Without Harm
(click on Mercury). It is also very important to dispose of your compact
flourescent bulbs at hazardous waste facilities, as they also contain mercury.
Natural Body Products
Head over to your local
natural food store to pick up the following 100% natural, cruelty-free
body products:
soap
deodorant (try buying
a clay and baking soda based natural deodorant and then dipping it into
a box of baking soda
(get a light dusting) before applying - it works amazingly well, even for
athletes!)
toothpaste
shampoo and conditioner
(some stores offer bulk products or bars)
lotion (some stores
offer bulk products)
shaving cream (some
stores offer bars - aloe vera works well)
cosmetics (consider
minimizing or eliminating your use of cosmetics)
etc., etc., etc.!
Supplies for the Home
Responsible Shopper
- "a tool to help you make smarter purchasing decisions".
Buy a reusable coffee
filter
Buy reusable containers
for storing food
Purchase rechargeable
household batteries and a solar battery recharger (search on the Internet
under the keywords "solar powered battery recharger" for a list of manufacturers)
If painting your home,
purchase water-based paint rather than oil-based paint. Donate your excess
paint.
Building or Remodeling
Your Home
If you are considering
building a new home, seek out a location that has already been built on
in the past (vs. building on "pristine" land).
The U.S. Department
of Energy has kicked off the Million Solar Roofs Initiative which will
help businesses and communities install solar systems on one million rooftops
across the United States by 2010.
Find a building contractor
who will follow the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Homes
Program.
Find a "green building"
professional through the Green Building Professional Directory.
Access the Sustainable
Building Sourcebook, greendesign.net, and/or Green Building Concepts for
information about creating an environmentally-friendly home.
You can find a tremendous
amount of information about green buildings through the U.S. Department
of Energy's Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development site.
Building material ideas:
straw bale
bamboo
true linoleum
previously used wood
cob
greenroofs
composite decking
sustainably harvested
wood
Your Garden
Create a Backyard Wildlife
Habitat
As people take over
more and more of the land, we need to provide food, water, and shelter
to the animals that are now relying on us for their survival.
A backyard wildlife
habitat or "naturescape" can be created in your own backyard. A miniature
version can even be created on your patio or deck. Basic elements include
fresh water (i.e., a bird bath and, if in a yard, water low to the ground);
plants and feeders that provide nourishment for birds, insects, etc.; and
rocks, trees, bushes and/or bird houses for shelter and nesting. Purchase
plants that are native to your area. The National Wildlife Federation has
an excellent program: The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program which provides
some helpful, detailed examples.
Learn how to attract:
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds and Butterflies
Butterflies
Birds
Dawn of a New Lawn
provides inspiration and information on switching to native plants.
Gardening Tips
Go organic!!
Learn about worm composting.
Mulching mowers are
available which will convert cut grass into a natural fertilizer.
Work off your carbon
dioxide "debt" by planting trees! Find out how much you need to work off
with the Climate Change Calculator.
Your Work
Resources for defining
your company's environmental policy:
Source Reduction
Waste Prevention and
Management
Waste Prevention World
Environmentally-Friendly
Packaging Material
Donating Computer Equipment
Recycled Plastic Products
(U.S. and Canada)
Reducing Business Junk
Mail
Purchasing environmentally-friendly
building products - free software package.
Encourage the office/purchasing
manager to purchase products containing recycled material (paper, plastic,
etc.)
Schedule an energy audit
to determine how to reduce energy use.
Encourage your company
to look into building or leasing space in a "green" building. The EPA can
provide information through their Energy Star Buildings program.
If your company uses
pallets to ship boxes stabilized with stretch wrap, strapping, or corner
boards, look into switching to more environmentally-friendly unitizing
systems such as Lock n' Pop (no endorsement intended).
Buy refurbished computers
for less (with warranties):
IBM
Apple
If a recycling program
has not already been started at your company, start one yourself (or improve
the program already in place).
Pack a Waste-Free
Lunch
Ask co-workers to bring
their unwanted cups, mugs, plates, cloth napkins, and silverware to work
to replace disposable items in the break room.
Use both sides of each
piece of paper -- for note taking or printing documents from your computer
(at home or work). Create notepads by stapling together once-used paper.
Replace your Newspaper
and Magazines with Online News
If you enjoy reading
newspapers and/or magazines offline better, consider visiting a local library.
If they don't carry a magazine you like, find out if you can buy a subscription
for the library.
Out in Nature
When you are out hiking,
pick up trash along the way.
Leave No Trace, Outdoor
Ethics - provides guidance for campers, climbers, and hikers.
Organize a community
group to clean up a local stream, highway, park, or beach.
Form a tree-planting
group with family and/or friends: commit to planting and maintaining an
agreed-upon number of trees over your life times. Plan regular gatherings
for tree-planting and watering.
Visit and help support
local parks. In the U.S., reserve a campsite at a National Park through
the U.S. National Park Service Reservation Center or Reserve America (includes
some state parks).
In the USA, help to
track frog and toad populations through Frogwatch USA.
In North America, help
to track bird populations through Citizen Science.
Never release balloons
outdoors. They frequently find their way to open water (even from 100's
of miles away) and can harm or kill turtles, whales, and other marine mammals.
Give Eco Gifts
Offer/ask for gifts
that don't involve buying anything. For example, time together, a back
rub, babysitting, donation to charity, etc.
Purchase tickets to
an event (musical, lecture series, play, movies, concert, etc.)
Ask for/give the gift
that keeps on growing -- a tree!.
If you have a big family/lots
of friends, come up with a plan to reduce the overall number of gifts given.
One way is to randomly assign to each person only one other family member/friend
to buy an eco gift for. Another (fun) example is for each person to buy
and wrap one nice eco gift and then hold a party where everyone takes turns
selecting their gift from the unselected (and already selected) gifts.
Purchase gifts from
companies focused on providing products which use renewable energy sources
(i.e., solar powered radio or outdoor lighting).
Eco-Artware promotes
gifts made from reused and natural materials and ideas for making your
own eco gifts.
For someone you no longer
want to exchange gifts with, print out and send them the Gift Exemption
Voucher.
As an alternative to
standard greeting cards, look into sending electronic greeting cards or
making your own from waste paper.
As a gift for yourself,
consider asking for a donation to be made in your name to your favorite
organization.
If you are a school
teacher, consider asking your students to donate to your/their favorite
charity instead of purchasing gifts.
WILDLIFE AWARENESS
There was an ad on
TV asking 'Why Are We Here?' It seems like a big question these days,
but I liked the way they explained it. Some animals are put on earth
to supply food for other animals, without them we wouldn't be here because
they supply food in turn for plants and other organisms. We, on the
other hand, are the only ones who the ability to protect every living creature
on earth and to ensure that they survive - that's why we're here.
I love that ad - if anyone can remember the name of the organization that
puts it out - let me know, please. I believe Donald Sutherland narrated
it.
WILDLIFE
PROTECTION LINKS & EXTINCTION LISTS
A
Partial List of Endangered Species at WWF
EE-Link's
Endangered Species List
The
National Audubon Society
The
World Wildlife Fund
Defenders
of Wildlife
International
Wildlife Coalition
Earthtrust
Artic
National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife
Heritage Foundation
The
Jane Goodall Institute
The
Humane Society of The United States
People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Animals are
attracted to an area for two reasons: food and shelter. The first step
in reducing conflicts is prevention -- limiting access and removing attractants.
Remedies can be as simple as moving pet food inside, repairing holes in
outside walls, or capping the chimney. More complex remedies include natural
spray repellents and scare devices.
If these techniques
fail, it may be possible to humanely trap and relocate animals. However,
this usually does not solve the conflict and may actually make it worse.
Frequently animals will return or other animals may move in and take their
place.
Having wildlife around
your home has many benefits. Opossums, skunks, and coyotes help keep roadways
and neighborhoods clean by scavenging carrion. Bats, birds, opossums, and
skunks consume millions of insects each year. Foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls,
and raccoons are excellent at rodent control. Often we enjoy the aesthetics
of observing the grace of deer, the antics of a squirrel, or the devotion
of a pair of birds feeding their young.
As the human population
progressively encroaches on wildlife habitat, conflicts between wildlife
and people are bound to increase. This brochure is designed to help you
enjoy the wildlife around your home by providing suggestions for humane
ways to deal with conflicts.
Bats
Situation:
Bats are attracted to
warm dark areas to roost, so they sometimes find their way into buildings.
While bats generally do not cause any real damage, they may frighten house
occupants and leave offensive droppings.
Solution:
Wait until bat leaves
at nightfall, then seal holes and cracks through which the bat may have
entered (bats can squeeze through openings as small as th of an inch).
Clear bats from an occupied
space by brightly lighting the area day and night (this is annoying to
nocturnal animals).
Use fans to cool areas
such as attics to make the temperature unsuitable for bats.
Attach bird netting
or flexible plastic strips above the opening leaving the bottom loose to
create a one-way exit so that bats can leave but not re-enter.
Capture a trapped bat
with a net, jar, plastic tub, thick towel, or leather work gloves and release
in a safe place outside.
After excluding bats
from the home, provide alternate roosting sites such as bat houses to continue
to benefit from their insect control. (Little brown bats can eat up to
600 mosquitos per hour.)
Note: The species of
bat that inhabits houses tends not to be the one that is implicated in
bat-to-human transmission of rabies and, overall, the rate of rabies in
bats is very low. However, care should always be taken when handling bats.
Birds
Situation:
The problems encountered
with birds vary depending on the type of bird. Songbirds may fly into windows,
build nests in undesirable places such as chimneys, and attack people or
pets. Pigeons roost on buildings leaving unsightly droppings. Crows may
disturb gardens, and woodpeckers "drum" on houses creating holes.
Solution:
Cap the chimney.
To frighten birds away
from areas, use a scare device, such as reflective scare tape, balloons
or model owls.
Use netting to exclude
birds from virtually any type of structure and to protect garden vegetables
and fruit trees.
Fasten a piece of wood
or metal at a 60 or greater angle on ledges to prevent pigeons from perching
(they prefer a flat surface).
To keep birds from landing
on ledges, a variety of bird wires may be installed, ranging from single
strand wires placed 3 to 4 inches above the rail of ledge to a more complex
wire coil that is wound around a railing or fixed on a ledge.
To discourage drumming,
modify the chosen site by covering it with fabric or foam.
Raccoons
and Skunks
Situation:
Skunks and raccoons
provide a service by eating insects and rodents. However, these animals
are famous for getting into garbage cans and digging in yards. They may
also nest in inappropriate areas such as chimneys, window wells, basements,
or attics. Occasionally they may kill chickens or get into confrontations
with dogs and cats. Raccoons have also been known to eat fish out of garden
ponds.
Solution:
Secure garbage cans
by fastening lids with rope, bungee cords, or chains and tying the handle
to a stake driven into the ground.
Don't leave dog or cat
food outside.
Fence off garden areas
with the fence buried under the ground or attached to a board.
Use repellents such
as capsaicin (hot sauce) to make plants unpalatable.
"Milky Spore" (available
at most garden stores) is a natural bacteria that gets rid of grubs in
the yard which attract skunks and raccoons.
Close chickens in at
night and surround coop with fencing that extends 6 to 8 inches underground.
Make sure your dogs
and cats are current on their rabies and distemper shots and occasionally
check their stool for roundworms.
Protect fish by creating
shelters for them by stacking cinder blocks or rocks in the middle of the
pond or stringing electric fencing around the pond 4 to 8 inches off the
ground.
Gophers
and Moles
Situation:
While the burrows that
these animals make benefit the soil by aerating it, homeowners are often
put off by the mounds of dirt pushed up in the yard or the collapsing of
soil in gardens. Gophers eat the roots of plants and trunks of young trees.
Moles, on the other hand, eat insect larvae in the soil, so removing moles
may result in an insect problem.
Solution:
Make soil unsuitable
for burrowing by frequent watering. Very moist soil is undesirable to burrowing
animals.
Place wire mesh around
bulbs and the roots of ornamental plants or bury the mesh a foot beneath
the topsoil of yards or gardens.
Wrap tree trunks in
commercial tree wrap.
Rotate crops each season
and plant different crops in alternating rows.
Apply a mole repellent
such as "Mole-Med" which is environmentally friendly and can be found at
most hardware and garden stores.
Supply artificial perches
for raptors and tolerate natural predators such as foxes and coyotes.
Note: All these solutions
will reduce, but not eliminate, the situation; however, the same is true
of lethal control methods.
Rabbits,
Squirrels, Rats and Mice
Situation:
While many homeowners
tolerate, and even enjoy, the presence of these animals, others perceive
them as nuisances. Rabbits eat garden plants; squirrels nest in chimneys
and attics and raid bird feeders, and rats and mice take up residence in
homes and barns.
Solution:
To exclude rabbits,
fence in garden areas with 1-inch wire mesh ("chicken wire"). Make sure
it is at least 3 feet high and buried 1 foot below the ground.
Protect trees from rabbits
with commercial tree tape or by surrounding tree base with wire mesh.
Hang garlic in mesh
bags, or puree it, add water and use as a spray to deter rabbits in gardens.
(Commercial repellent sprays are also available.)
Cap the chimney, block
entrances to the attic, and repair loose siding to keep squirrels out.
(Make sure squirrels and/or young are out before blocking.)
Use a variety of squirrel-proof
bird feeders and "bafflers" available at garden stores and specialty bird
shops. (Do not use hot sauce or repellents on bird feeders).
Block holes and fill
cracks in the house to exclude rats and mice. Remove food sources by cleaning
up spilled food and storing food in glass, metal, or plastic containers.
Trap rats and mice using
a live trap (check trap often) and release far away from homes.
ENVIRONMENTAL
AWARENESS
