Easy ways to help animal conservation at home

Reusable Water Bottles

Don't use disposable water bottles. They use 6 times more water to produce than what is inside them. The average person uses 167 bottles a year. Not only does using a reusable water bottle decrease plastic in landfills, but it also saves you money. The average bottle costing $1.45 by using a reusable water bottle every time, you would save on average $242.15 a year. (References below 1&3)

Reusable Coffee Cups

Bring your own coffee cup, 1 reusable coffee cup can replace 500 disposable cups in one year. Here's an easy trick to always have one with you: always keep one in your car, at the end of the day bring it in to wash and bring another one back out to your car for tomorrow. (3)

Use Less Disposable Products

Instead of paper towels or sponges, use washcloths or old fabric from towels and t-shirts that you can wash and use again.

Get Rid of Junk Mail

On average, an American citizen is mailed about 41 lbs. of junk mail every year. Save paper and your time by searching online for the DO NOT Mail Registry so you can get off of many companies mailing lists. (1)

Recycle

This sounds easy, and it is! Recycling a stack of paper that is three feet tall saves a whole tree. (1)

Use Fewer Herbicides and Pesticides

These usually end up in creeks and the soil which can genetically alter fish and amphibians in the water. Many studies have been done and found that chemicals in herbicides and pesticides are drastically altering amphibians from, changes in their hormones, changes in reproduction and it possibly giving them malformations. Right now it is more obvious that amphibians are being affected but other species can or will be affected too if we continue to use these chemicals. Instead, use more natural cleaners with less harsh chemicals, not only is it good for your family but these also won't mutate the animals and get into our water supply. (2&4)

Stop Birds from Running into Windows

One billion birds every year run into windows and die. To help decrease the number of birds dying try using window decals, pull the blinds, use tinted windows, or move the bird feeders not right next to the window. (2)

Eat less meat

"Animal farming is the number one cause of water consumption, pollution, and deforestation. Livestock has a higher greenhouse effect on the atmosphere than fossil fuel consumption. The farming industry is the greatest cause of rainforest demise, soil erosion, habitat loss, species extinction, and dead zones in the oceans". Not everyone can become a vegetarian but, even eating less meat day to day will help. (2)

Donate

Virtually adopt an animal and donate to conservation causes

You don't have to do all of these tips or be completely perfect and never use single-use disposables again, but every time you do, it helps the world a little.

1 https://www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com/see-do/do/help-wildlife/

2 https://www.worldanimalfoundation.com/advocate/how-to-help-animals/params/post/1276005/10-ways-to-help-wildlife

3 https://www.roadrunnerwm.com/blog/single-use-plastic-alternatives

4 Orton, Frances.Investigation into the effects of pesticides on amphibians. Diss. Brunel University Institute for the Environment PhD Theses, 2008. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C36&q=Investigation+into+the+Effects+of+Pesticides+on+Amphibians&btnG=