Nature always finds a way…
Our director and fearless leader Alli Faricy recently attended the ACA National Conference and attended a talk on exploring the impact Covid 19 had on
our children, and if there are any positives we can find in this pandemic. We all know the hardships and negative impact this pandemic has had on us individually and globally, but let’s take a moment to escape the doom and gloom for moment and look on the bright side. Join me won’t you…
As us humans had to readjust our entire lives to a new normal, nature was changing too. But in many ways for the good! We saw a change in our surroundings as our behaviors and habits had to change. We no longer were driving as much or flying in planes, beaches weren’t over crowded, and sound pollution went down in many areas near animal habitats. I’m sure we all remember the now debunked story of Dolphins swimming in the canals of Venice, but there are many instances of nature coming back stronger because of the actions we were forced to take during this pandemic.
We picked our favorite nature moments below…
Not so many Tom the Toads!
We all know that camp song “Tom the Toad” where Tom and many of his animal friends like Sue the Skunk and Jake the snake have unfortunate incidents on the road. A study from March 2021 found that hedgehog roadkill rates in Poland were actually 50% lower compared with pre-pandemic years, saving tens of thousands of hedgehogs in Poland alone. This may help reverse the long-term decline of European hedgehog populations. Another study analyzing roadkill data from 11 countries found that roadkill rates fell by more than 40% during the first few weeks of the pandemic restrictions in Spain, Israel, Estonia, and the Czech Republic.
Cleaner Water and Fish safety
Lockdown in India helped to improve the river water quality across the world reported by many researchers. The research showed a significant decrease of pollutants in Vembanad Lake, Kerala (India) during lockdown period. Scientists also reported a significant reduction in Yamuna River water pollution during the lockdown phase compared with the pre-lockdown phase. A reduction in water travel and activity could reduce the risk of ships striking and injuring or killing marine animals. It may also reduce the marine disruption that occurs due to noise pollution from ships, fishing sonar, and recreational boats.
More opportunities to see wildlife
People are also reporting seeing wildlife in unexpected places, such as in large cities and commercial harbors. The increased number of animals in urban environments is likely due to reductions in human presence, air and water pollution levels, and noise pollution. For example, people have spotted pumas wandering in downtown Santiago, Chile, and mountain goats in Llandudno, Wales!
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We hope this encourages you to get outside and enjoy nature today! A great way to enjoy nature is right here at Camp Foley! Apply today to be a counselor or Register your child for a summer they’ll never forget!