December 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 16

WE ARE PARKS AND RECREATION
Best Ways to Preserve Nature While Hiking
By Cendy Moliere
H
iking has been a popular activity for years, and now that more
people than ever are working at home, hiking is getting even
more popular as people go for hikes to get out of the house
and get exercise and fresh air. There are thousands of miles of
local and national hiking trails for hikers to enjoy. However, hikers always
should be respectful of nature and make sure they don't do anything that
will hurt the environment when they're hiking. Some of the best ways for
hikers to preserve nature while they hike are as follows:
Use Designated
Hiking Trails
Hiking trails make it easier for
people to find their way through
an area. They also ease the burden
that hikers put on the land. When
people don't follow the trail provided
and create their own trails and
shortcuts, they cause a lot of damage
to the area by ripping up plants,
trampling grass, breaking branches
off of trees and bushes, and scaring
the animals that live there.
Snack Carefully
Hikers should always bring some
snacks and water with them on a
hike. They will need the extra energy
and definitely will need to stay
hydrated. However,
that doesn't
mean throwing uneaten food on
the ground or
eating wherever.
Pack snacks carefully in reusable
containers and make sure not to
snack in an area with lots of animals.
Don't throw uneaten food
or scraps on the ground. If the
animals in the area eat them, they
could get very sick.
Avoid Scaring the Animals
It's also important to avoid scaring
the animals that are in the area.
The animals live there, and they
may have nests or burrows with
young animals inside. They probably
are skittish around humans, so
by approaching them, hikers can
scare them quite badly. Don't try
to touch them or get close to them.
Don't try to get them to come closer
by offering food, even if it's grass.
Just leave them alone and they will
leave you alone.
Clean Up After Your Dog
The hiking trail is not a dog park.
If bringing dogs on a trail, hikers
need to pick up after them
the same way that they would if
they took their dog to any other
public place. Hikers should bring
some waste bags with them and
take them out with any other trash
when they're done with the hike.
Dogs also should stay leashed
throughout the hike.
Leave Nothing Behind
As a general rule, hikers should
leave the hiking area with everything
that they brought into it, and
that includes trash. Food containers,
bottles, napkins, dog waste,
food scraps and any other trash
should never be left behind in the
natural world. Throw it out the
right way after completing a hike.
This article was provided by www.
As hiking grows
in popularity,
hikers should ensure
they always
are respecting
nature.
16 Parks & Recreation | DECEMBER 2 0 2 1
| PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
personalinjury-law.com, an organization
dedicated to providing the public
with information about personal injury
and safety information. Nothing in
this article should be construed as legal
advice, and it is intended for informational
use only.
Cendy Moliere is Outreach Specialist for
Personal Injury Help (cm@personalinjurylaw.org).
http://www.personalinjury-law.com/ http://www.personalinjury-law.com/
December 2021 - Parks & Recreation

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