Leave no trace: Protecting wildlife and keeping our shores clean

New Hampshire’s forests, lakes, and mountains offer more than just scenic views and summer adventures. They’re home to countless wildlife species that rely on clean, healthy habitats to survive. But when humans leave trash behind, even by accident, it can put these ecosystems at risk. Whether it’s a forgotten snack wrapper on the trail or fishing line left by the lake, litter (no matter how small) can have big consequences. One of my biggest pet peeves? When people bag their dog’s waste, then leave the bag behind.

“Leave No Trace” is more than a catchphrase, it’s a mindset that helps protect the fragile ecosystems we enjoy. Trash, especially plastic, doesn’t just disappear. A single plastic water bottle can take over 450 years to break down, leaching toxic chemicals as it degrades. What’s even more shocking is how quickly plastics fragment into microplastics. Globally, freshwater lakes and reservoirs hold an estimated 10,167 tons of microplastics, that’s the equivalent of about 508 million plastic bottles in our lakes and reservoirs alone.

Birds, fish, and turtles are especially vulnerable to litter left behind. A bald eagle might mistake a shiny piece of plastic for a fish, while a curious raccoon could wedge its head into an empty container and struggle to escape. Discarded fishing line can entangle wings, fins, or legs, cutting off circulation and causing severe injury or even death.

According to the Loon Preservation Committee, lead poisoning from swallowed fishing tackle remains the leading cause of adult loon deaths in New Hampshire, responsible for roughly 38% of documented cases since 1989, an estimated 176 loons lost to a single source of preventable pollution.

Litter doesn’t just harm individual animals, it alters their behavior. Animals that become accustomed to finding food in trash lose their natural wariness of humans, putting them in danger. This summer, the U.S. Forest Service reported a rise in food-conditioned bear sightings in the White Mountains, with bears increasingly approaching hikers, tearing into backpacks, and seeking out human food left at campsites and shelters.

Bears that learn to associate people with food lose their natural fear of humans, making dangerous encounters more likely. When bears become too habituated and pose a risk to public safety, wildlife officials are often left with no choice but to euthanize them, a tragic and entirely preventable outcome.

The good news? Each of us has the power to protect the places we love. Always pack out what you pack in, including pet waste. Snip six-pack rings before tossing them, and properly dispose of fishing line and tackle. Bring a trash bag on every outing, even if it’s just a short walk or paddle. Better yet, join or organize a cleanup to help remove what others may have left behind. And if you’re out on Lake Winnipesaukee, secure your trash so nothing blows overboard, everything you bring on the water should return with you.

Whether you’re paddling through quiet coves or hiking up a favorite ridge, remember, every piece of trash picked up is a step toward protecting the wildlife that makes New Hampshire so special.

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Bree Rossiter is the conservation program manager for the Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance. She manages the water quality monitoring program, cyanobacteria monitoring initiatives, the Winni Blue/LakeSmart program, and assists with watershed management planning efforts. Bree can be reached at brossiter@winnipesaukee.org. The Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the water quality and natural resources of the lake and its watershed. To learn more, visit winnipesaukee.org.