Lake Sabrina, CA: True! All food scraps, including fruit peels, should be packed out of the backcountry and thrown away in frontcountry environments. But they biodegrade, so why does it matter? Well that’s a good point, however, the likely hood that a critter will get it before it disintegrates is very likely. In desert environments, orange peels can last up to 2 years or longer! If an animal does snag the leftover food, this can lead to habituation and a lost ability to forge. Additionally, the food scraps can rot food supply stores over time. Furthermore, the rotting scraps are unsightly to some visitors. It’s truly a lose, lose scenario. So the next time you opt for a healthy snack, remember to “pack it in, pack it out” and “trash your trash.”
Helping keep our wild spaces wild,
Jenna and Sam – Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Team West
Leave No Trace’s Jenna Hanger and Sam Ovett are part of the 2016 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program that provides free, mobile education to communities across the country. Proud partners of this program include Subaru of America, REI, Fjall Raven, ENO, Deuter, Thule, and SmartWool.
