Advice From Owlie - Pollution

ADVICE FROM OWLIE

Q: Dear Owlie,

Happy New Year! I love going to the beach with my family, so my New Year’s Resolution is to do my part to reduce the amount of pollution in our oceans. Do you have any tips for me to do so? I’d love to share them with my family too! Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Pollution Solution

A: Dear Pollution Solution,

I’d love to help with your New Year’s Resolution. Did you know there are two different types of pollution? The first type is point-source pollution. Point-source pollution is easy to identify because it comes from a single place. The second type of pollution is nonpoint-source pollution. This type of pollution generally comes from runoff or rain, but its origin is hard to track down because it can come from many places, all at once.

To help prevent pollution, recycle whenever possible. Items such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, and straws are extremely harmful to our oceans and the animals in them, so remember to throw away your trash and recycle when you can. Reusable bags and straws are great alternatives! Another tip I have is to pick up after your pets. Animal waste (A.K.A. POOP!) can end up in the ocean after it rains, so always pick up after your pets to prevent dirtying our ocean water. The last tip I have is to spread the word! Just about anyone can contribute to a cleaner, safer ocean for ourselves and our oceanic friends.

I look forward to sharing more advice with you all in the upcoming year. Happy 2020!

Talk to you soo(HOO)n!
Owlie