Help Wildlife

Simple steps you take can make a big impact. Here are a few issues impacting the planet and ways you can make a difference.

The earth’s surface is 71% water but less than 1% of freshwater is drinkable; making access to fresh drinking water is a huge challenge in many parts of the world. The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day. Meanwhile, millions of people around the globe are forced to live on fewer than 5 gallons per day. Clearly we are using more than our fair share. Here are ways to cut back:

Plastic does not break down easily. It’s estimated that more than 8 million tons of plastic trash enter our oceans each year. Of that, the most common single-use plastic trash found in the water are plastic cigarette butts, food wrappers, beverage bottles and caps, straws and stirrers.

What actions can you take to prevent more marine animals and birds from getting tangled up in plastic bags and debris or mistaking these items for food? Here are a few simple steps:

Keep our Coasts Clean

Prevent plastic from entering our lakes and oceans by volunteering for a beach cleanup. The Aquarium’s Splash Fund organizes Adopt-A-Beach cleanups with the Alliance for the Great Lakes every summer.

Skip the Straw

500 million plastic straws are used every day in the United States. If you absolutely need one, bring along your own stainless steel or glass straw instead of a single-use plastic version.

Recycle

A whopping 1 trillion plastic bags are thrown out each year. And, of the 1 million bottles purchased every minute around the globe, less than half will ever be recycled. Recycle whatever you can whenever you can.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife lists the spotted turtle as a threatened species that should be “vigorously protected.” Why are spotted turtles in trouble?

• Land development and climate change are shrinking the wetlands they call home.
• Their brightly colored shells make them valuable in the illegal pet trade.
• They are sensitive to pollutants and toxic chemicals.
• Raccoons, their main predator, are everywhere.

Want to ensure all turtles thrive? Here are ways to improve their odds:

Know your Pet Supplier

If you really, really must have a turtle as a pet, insist on getting it from a supplier who sells only captive-bred animals.

Be a Turtle Superhero

If you see a turtle crossing the street, you can carefully help it get to the other side. (But don’t take it home, let it remain with the wild population.)

Rainforests are cleared for cattle ranching, cropland, the lumber industry and the development of roads and other infrastructure. Deforestation leads to species decline and possible extinction. It also releases greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to climate change.

It is estimated that about 150 acres of rainforest are lost every minute of every day. That’s a lot of area; picture 13 football fields. If the current rate of deforestation continues, all the rainforests will be destroyed in just 100 years.

What can you do to help save trees that are critical for our planet’s health and are home to so many animals?