Seagull Stabbed by BBQ Skewer

Last week, I decided to pick up fruit off the beach.  I picked up about 6 orange rinds and 1 full orange, a dozen apples, some banana peels and got to wondering how Good-Bad is this for the beach? After reading about a Seagull who swallowed an ear of corn with a stick still in and a friend of mine posted a picture of a Seagull with a wood BBQ Skewer through it’s chest.. I am sickened,

Last year in the UK, there was a post about a seagull swallowing an ear of corn in which a wooden spit was sticking out of it’s throat.

The beach is littered with all types of food.. watermelon, banana skins, corn, orange peels, plastic bags of carrots and celery, bones from BBQ’s and of course the food wrapping…. Seriously. who really wants to see that?

Along with the food is the accessory items.. such as knives and skewers, both metal and wood, even pots and pans have been found. These supplies can harm both humans and animals.

Leaving behind food is just another example of littering, whether biodegradable or not. Leaving anything behind sets up bad habits and encourages others to litter. In fact in the last Coastal Cleanup there were 1.7 million food wrappers picked up.

Littering increases littering mentality. A littered space only tells people that they can litter too.

4.) Food left lying around is breeding grounds for vermin, such as flies and rats.

5.) Not all food is safe for animals to eat. For instance corn, while great for composting can get stuck in an animals throat.

6.) It trains seagulls to feed from humans rather than the sea.

All of that said and as people start vacationing at beaches around the world.. just remember any of these expressions:

• Leave no trace
• Leave only a footprint
• Pack it in, pack it out.

Resources

Metro: Beachgoers blasted for causing Seagull to Choke on Corn