Effect of Pollutants on Wildlife

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Much of the debris and toxic substances affecting marine animals originate on land. Pesticides, plastic bags, balloons, cigarette butts, motor oil, fishing line, find their way into local waterways either though direct dumping, through storm drains (whatever is left on streets, parking lots, can be washed into storm drains which lead directly to local waters), or through sanitary sewers.

For example, thousands of cormorants are strangle each year due to six-pack rings, kite strings and other debris. Fish and other marine life can also become entangled in six-pack holders. TAKE ACTION: Cut the loops of six-pack rings before discarding them.

Monofilament fishing line can be lethal to seals, sea lions, fish and other animals. Once entangled, they are often unable to free themselves. Eventually they become exhausted and drown. At least 267 marine species, including seals, herring, gulls, snowy egrets, blue herons, pelicans, ducks, loons jellyfish, starfish, gray fish, sharks, and shellfish have died or suffered injuries from plastic bags, nets and monofilament fishing lines. These animals are all found in Marin's waterways and the ocean. TAKE ACTION: Retrieve fishing line, kite strings, etc. whenever safely possible.

Elephant seals are suffering from skin disease and sea lions are showing increased signs of transitional cell carcinoma (a form of cancer). Research is linking these problems to toxic chemicals, including pesticides. TAKE ACTION: Use less-toxic products to control pests. Dispose of old or unwanted toxic pesticides through your local household hazardous waste collection program.

Birds, whales and other marine creatures mistake cigarette butts for food. The butts contain small plastic pieces which can interfere with the digestion of food, casing marine life to starve. During Marin's 1997 Coastal Clean-Up Day, over 7,000 cigarette butts were collected. This was second only to the collection of nearly 8,000 pieces of foamed plastic often found in the stomach of dead birds. TAKE ACTION: Place butts where they belong -- in a trash receptacle.

Used oil in our waterways can cause a lot of damage. It can coat the feathers of birds and ducks, making it impossible for them to fly. It can also coat the fur of young seals and otters making it impossible for them to stay dry and keep warm. Motor oil can also coat the gills of fish, making it difficult for them to breathe. TAKE ACTION: A lot of the oil that ends up in local creek and the Bay comes from people like you and me! If your car leaks oil, the oil can be washed down a storm drain on a rainy day. When changing your oil, never place it in the trash or down a storm drain. Recycle your used motor oil and fix drips as soon as they are detected.

All soaps -- from dishwashing to carwashing -- are harmful to fish and their food supply. Even biodegradable soap can be extremely poisonous to fish and other water creatures. For example, one cap full of liquid soap will cause 55 gallons of water to become poisonous to trout. TAKE ACTION: Rather than washing your car on a street and sending soapy water into the local creek via a storm drain, wash your car over the grass or take it to a commercial car wash where the water can be recycled or place in a sanitary sewer system and treated before being discharged into the Bay. Also, when you are camping, don't spoil what you want to enjoy -- wash hands and dishes over the ground, not in the creek or lake!