BLeaflet | Issues 1 - 7

Vol. 1, Issue 2

October 2023

THE BLEAFLET SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Giving Back to the Earth

Out of this world! Prismatic Springs Radiate hot water and stunning prismatic colors. The colors are produced by bacteria which thrive at hot temperatures, to produce an out of this world spectrum of colors! The Grand Prismatic spring is pictured below.

Hello, Employee Owners! As part of the sustainability committee’s mission, we would like to spread awareness about National Parks. Since 1916, the National Park Service has preserved the natural and cultural resources of the National park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. Volunteers and partners safeguard these special places! National parks are home to awe-inspiring landscapes and iconic wildlife, including habitat for for more than 600 threatened and endangered species protected by the Endangered Species Act (1973). How do National Parks Protect Wildlife? One component of the National Park Service mission is to conserve the “wild life” and natural processes NATIONAL PARKS - PROTECTING WILDLIFE VISITING NATIONAL PARKS Visit a National Park! Immerse yourself in the scenery, lose yourself in exploration, maybe even snap a picture for social media. However, it’s important to keep in mind that more than 330 million people visit parks annually, which can cause strain on habitats and can stress at-risk species. The National Park Service recommends you follow these guidelines on your trip:

within its units. Wild life includes everthing from large mammals, like bears and moose, to the smallest organisms, such as bacteria and parasites. National parks provide a core habitat for many species, yet wildlife protection involves more than simply designating an areas as “protected.” Within parks, managers must ensure the quality of the habitat, using habitat restoration techniques, and protect against ongoing threats. Managers rely on cutting edge conservation research to address these threats.

that causes harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. You can help stop the spread of invasive species with a few simple actions when you visit parks. you can clean, drain, and dry your boat and fishing gear to prevent aquatic invasives. Make sure you don’t move firewood and buy it where you burn it. Store or dispose of food properly. When people intentially or unintentially feed wildlife, it can be dangerous to both wildlife and people. Access to human food, whether being offered food scraps or unsecured trash, negatively affects the health of an animal. It can lead to shorter lifespans and poor naurishment. Stay on trails. Staying on trails and avoiding social trails can help protect at-risk species too. Going off trail can damage or kill certain plants or animal species. it can also damage fragile ecosystems that surround the trail. Be a role model. One of the best ways you can help protect at-risk species when you visit parks is to be a role model to other visitors. Your actions make a difference!

Bonus: Our very own committe member, Daniel Pinto, had the pleasure of traveling out west, visiting two National Parks: Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Below are some photos he took on his trip. We hope you enjoy and remember, explore responsibly!

Seeing wildlife in parks can be an exciting experience, especially if it’s a rare sighting. When you see wildlife in parks, it’s important to follow safe wildlife watching guidelines. Follow park rules and obey closures. Parks Manage habitat to protect species, especially endangered and threatened species. Clsoing an area or limiting the activities that can occur there may reduce the stress on a species or habitat. It may allow for the regrowth of native plants or the protection of nesting animals. Follow park rules, they are there to keep visitors and resources safe! Stop the spread. It’s estimated that 42% of currently listed endagered or threatened species are at-risk due to the negative effects of invasive species. An invasive species is a non-native species

Learn more here:

1. National Park Service

https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/index.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/rareandendangered/ what-you-can-do-in-parks.htm#:~:text=Follow%20 Park%20Rules%20%26%20Obey%20Closures,the%20 protection%20of%20nesting%20animals. 2. National Parks Conservation Association https://www.npca.org/ 3. Humane Society https://www.humanesociety.org/?_gl=1*q5mvq0*_ ga*MTk3NDMwNzQ3MC4xNjk2NjMzNjAw*_ga_

4. https://www.change.org/ 5. https://www.aspca.org/ 6. https://bestfriends.org/