The year 2020 has been the year of change. Finding and balancing a “new normal” throughout the pandemic is something everyone has been trying to do. One new aspect that we have had to quickly apply to our daily lives is the wearing of masks. Wherever you went, you would see someone wearing a mask, protecting each other. This is great that millions of people have been following the rules and guidelines of social distancing but what raises many red flags is the disposal of these said masks.
Just like empty soda cans and fast food wrappers, masks have become another object that people have discarded into nature. Masks are floating in lakes, stuck in trees, and laying on the ground, which brings up the main concern: How does this impact animals?
For starters, masks getting trapped within trees is horrible for birds. One, their small feet could get wrapped up in it and they won't be able to get it off. This could disrupt their flying and sleeping pattern. This could also make them more vulnerable to prey, as a bright blue surgical mask is up against them.
Most of the time, the masks that are being thrown around outdoors are the blue surgical masks. If you are to dispose of a one-time mask, the safest thing for you to do is cut off the strings that come with it, so it does not potentially hurt or wrap around animals if they happen to get within the mask. One way to easily remove the need to throw out these one-time masks is to simply invest in a cloth mask. The only thing you would have to do with a cloth mask is wash it once a week, or if you want, after each time you come home. Changing the type of mask you use instantly removes one form of pollution, providing a safer place for animals.
Overall, the Coronavirus has brought many things along with it, such as a new way of life, more rules to follow, and an even more dangerous space for animals that live outdoors. Us humans can do so much for animals whose home is the outdoors. We can kindly respect each other by wearing a mask and properly disposing of said masks. A better future comes from the prospects of its people, and now is our time to shine.
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