When spring and summer are upon us, we often welcome the vacations, travel and carefree days ahead!  As you make fun and exciting plans, please remember to think about your actions and their impact on nature and wildlife.

It never hurts to remind folks to be very careful when using a campfire.  The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), found that "43%, or more than 3.5 million of the acres burned in 2000 were the result of human-caused fires with over 5% of that acreage being burned by escaped campfires."  To help prevent "escaped" campfires, only build a campfire where they are legally permitted and always be aware of the weather and wind conditions.  When the fire is no longer needed, properly douse the flame and sift through the ashes with water and any sort of rake to ensure that the remaining embers are totally out before you leave the campfire site. 

Weddings and other galas have become the scene for balloon releases in recent years, but unfortunately, the releases may bring harm to wildlife and pets.  If you have the opportunity, try and convince event attendees not to release helium or balloons into the air.  All balloons eventually will land in our waterways, trees, and other natural areas creating unnecessary and avoidable sources of pollution.  Also, the balloons can be deadly to mammals and fish if they are mistaken for food.  Help protect wildlife and their environments by keeping celebration balloons indoors--and even better--rather than release balloons for an event, throw birdseed instead!

Help children learn good environmental stewardship.  Encourage children not to litter, even with the smallest piece of trash.  Many wild critters will try to eat garbage and this is neither healthy nor safe for the animals.  Wildlife rehabilitators are constantly tasked with trying to help animals who only wanted what they thought was a special treat.  Skunks and raccoons suffocate and die when their heads become caught inside yogurt containers.  Soda six-pack rings are infamous for the thousands of animals they have killed as the rings slowly strangle the unfortunate victim.  Lead children by example and be responsible--properly dispose of trash even if it is not yours!

And finally, when it comes to enjoying wildlife and natural environments,

remember the wise old adage,

"Leave only footprints, and take only photographs."