[Ron Fontaine]

In my area there are plenty of streams and lakes, which of course attract a common species of outdoorsman called the fisherman.

Inevitably at popular fishing places, I find alot of cast off fishing line and old fishooks. These materials are deadly to wildlife for obvious reasons. Hooks impale, and fishing line entangles and cuts the animal.

I once found a live duck suspended by its tongue from a tree branch stretched over an embankment. It was flapping around, only its feet touching the water.

Closer inspection showed that a fisherman had cast his fishing line, got it caught in the branch, and then cut it. The duck had reached up from the water to get the worm that was on the hook dangling from the tree branch.

What a horrible death that animal faced. All I could do what reach out over the water and cut the fishing line, watching the duck swim away with a hook and line still embedded in its tongue.

In turn, when the duck dies, a raccoon or other scavenger may ingest this hook as it eats the carcass.

This is the cycle of mayhem one individual can set into the world through his actions. Everybody has heard the saying "what goes around comes around". We can see this on a large scale in the effects we are having on the world at large and the resulting negative consequences to human survival.

[heysmithy]

Originally Posted by Ron Fontaine

In my area there are plenty of streams and lakes, which of course attract a common species of outdoorsman called the fisherman.

Inevitably at popular fishing places, I find alot of cast off fishing line and old fishooks. These materials are deadly to wildlife for obvious reasons. Hooks impale, and fishing line entangles and cuts the animal.

I once found a live duck suspended by its tongue from a tree branch stretched over an embankment. It was flapping around, only its feet touching the water.

Closer inspection showed that a fisherman had cast his fishing line, got it caught in the branch, and then cut it. The duck had reached up from the water to get the worm that was on the hook dangling from the tree branch.

What a horrible death that animal faced. All I could do what reach out over the water and cut the fishing line, watching the duck swim away with a hook and line still embedded in its tongue.

In turn, when the duck dies, a raccoon or other scavenger may ingest this hook as it eats the carcass.

This is the cycle of mayhem one individual can set into the world through his actions. Everybody has heard the saying "what goes around comes around". We can see this on a large scale in the effects we are having on the world at large and the resulting negative consequences to human survival.

Wow.. I thought I was pretty good at cleaning up after myself but actually I am guilty of this one. Ive cut my fishing line and left hooks/lures in trees and brush before. Only whenever unhooking it would actually require me to wade/swim through the water to get my lure. I'll remember this post in the future.

[AlpineZone]

Ron,

Yeah I see alot of that around this area of NH also. Even rivers and streams right next to the road.

I've always applied the "Take only pictures leave only footprints" to all of my outoor excursions including fishing. Never considered myself a tree hugger but if you won't carry it out then don't carry it in. Thats my philosophy.

[carolina168181]

Any time I'm hiking or kayaking and I find fishing line,I take it with me-it's still a hazard to animals and people.Case in point, I was taking a hike around these two lakes,got BOTH feet tangled up a fishing line.I could not move,so I pulled out my knife and cut myself out of the mess.


Pack it in,pack it out

[Celticwarrior]

There are some eco-alternatives that have started to become available to help with this terrible problem. Hopefully, enough concerned sportsmen will start buying this stuff and get the trend started. Too many times, the line has to be cut, and the lure is unrecoverable, and as noted, that is just a horrible death for some animal or another waiting to happen.

Bioline Fishing - Biodegradable Biofilament Fishing Line

Biobait... Biodegradable Plastic Fishing Lures.

Toray biodegradable fishing line & lure : TreeHugger

[TapDuncan]

I think we've all seen some crappy stuff in the bush. I want to thank all of you for having SENSE!!! I have even found cell phones in a creek 15 miles from town, in 1 foot of water!!!??? So here's an attaboy for all of you, (and the girls, too!) Attagirl!!!

[earth2res]

I never leave trash behind. I chase after anything that blows out of my van when I open the doors in the store parking lot. I was raised better than to leave trash behind. My son is being raised the same way.

[mscureman]

I do exactly the same thing, earth2res. My wife used to look at me like I was an idiot (ok, she still does sometimes. Ok, quite a lot. Pay attention to the story!), but she's gotten used to my quirks by now.

[dukman]

Working for Wal-Mart I see first hand how lazy and destructive some people are....

I have seen someone sit in their car and wait for a car to load up and go, when there was an empty spot RIGHT NEXT TO IT!

I have seen empty bags of chicken wings and other deli foods left throughout the store. I am sure they were never paid for either.

I have seen people take someone else's items out of a cart and put it on the floor just because they didn't grab their own cart on the way in.

I have seen tobacco chew spit on the floor and on shelves, sometimes even on product.

I have seen some people "test" fishing poles to their limit and break them. A 10# test pole isn't meant to hold the 40# of force being applied to it And then of course they laugh about it and leave it on the counter.

Just the way they treat the store, I can only imagine the way they treat the outdoors....

I have to say, I am not perfect either. I have lost quite a few lures this year trying to learn how to fish

I do believe in open shooting pits, and I usually bring home a lot more trash then I bring in. It is only a small dent I make, but a dent nonetheless. Yesterday I shot 28 shells off. I filled a 12x12x16" box with empty shells and a Wal-Mart bag with flattened empty boxes. Looking at the pit, you couldn't tell

[sypher96792]

i agree with everyone on this and i try to live by not leaving aman behind and not leaving a trace....litter pissesme off and cleaning up after others though irritating shows the fortitude "we" have and the lengths "we" go to to ensure the wild stays wild not littered or disrespected.Hawaiians called it "aloha aina"......some people say malama which means to care for but aloha aina literally translated means "love that which feeds"