lifefliesandtrout

I’m picky, but I believe that we should leave no trace of ourselves in the wild. When I am out in nature, I want to see nature and not evidence of people. Granted that I live in Wisconsin and not some remote wilderness or national forest, but when I venture out to lands designated for natural areas by the Department of Natural Resources, I like it to be natural.

I see so much waste out in the wild. I understand that the spring melt water has more than the usual debris, but it was a mild winter this year and there is still plenty of it. There’s the bait fisherman who leave the their bait container at the side of their fishing hole. The empty bottles and cans on the ground and the bottom of the stream bed. Once I fished a deep pocket with a submerged kiddy pool. Yesterday, I saw a rain gutter from a house on the side of the creek, and there is always fishing line within easy reach. Of course the hike to the river is never without evidence either. Gun shells, used condoms, one sandal, food wrappers, the milk crate in the middle of nowhere and you name it are always to be found.

I always say that humans are the worst beavers for their ability to take down all the trees and mess up a perfectly good area. I was taught to pick up after myself if you make a mess. This should be even more evident in nature.

That’s my gripe. Most of us get this, but the ones know don’t really stain that nature’s beauty moment.

Feel free to post your worst human beaver sign in the comments to share with everyone.