Megan's Nature Nook
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If you know me or have recently read our family’s Christmas Letter, you’ve probably heard me talk about the Poo-Poo Project. It is definitely an interesting name for a project, but I think it is a pretty cool and important one! Here is how I found out about the project, what it is, and how you can get involved: How I Found Out About the Project This summer I happened to stumble upon information about the Teton Raptor Center’s Poo-Poo Project. Tony and I were on a road trip to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and on a whim decided to stop at the Wyoming Game & Fish Visitor Center in Sheridan, Wyoming when we saw a road sign on the side of Hwy 90. Tony was in line waiting to get his Fishes of Wyoming poster while I looked around. I found the Teton Raptor Center’s annual newsletter, The Flight Log, and a brochure about the Poo-Poo Project (link below). After looking over the flyer, I was hooked. I had never thought of how a vault toilet could affect wildlife! I wanted to learn more and see how I could help.
About the Project Each year, thousands of cavity nesting animals, especially birds, are attracted to the dark and narrow vent pipes of vault toilets. The bird enters the pipe and then becomes entrapped in the bottom on the vault, not able to fly or climb out of the slippery-sided pipe. There they sit until they sadly meet their demise. Why would a bird want to go inside a vent pipe? One of the first things that comes to mind when you hear “vault toilet” is probably the smell. This isn’t exactly the scent you want your next candle to be. For the birds though, this isn’t a problem. Most birds, (not Turkey Vultures) do not have a very good sense of smell. Therefore, whether it’s a freshly cleaned vault toilet or not, they don’t care. They’re just looking for a nice dark, safe place to roost or nest. And that is exactly what a vent pipe appears to be. Lots of cavity nesting birds like Owls and American Kestrels do not make their own cavities for roosting and nesting, they rely on old woodpecker holes, natural cavities, or artificial nesting boxes. So again, to them, a vent pipe looks pretty nice! It’s sturdy, dark, and sometimes one of the few nest site options for them. The Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming saw this danger that vault toilets posed to wildlife and wanted to help. In 2010, they started by installing 100 ‘rock’ screens in Grand Teton National Park as well as some National Forests in their area. Unfortunately, the rock screens were very expensive, so in 2012 they designed their own Poo-Poo Screens that are much more affordable. From then on, the project has been taking off. Here are their stats as of August 2017:
That is quite the accomplishment for the Teton Raptor Center! All this has happened in the past six years. It wouldn’t be able to happen though without the help of volunteers and others interested in the work the Teton Raptor Center does. My involvement with the Project This summer I brought back the Poo-Poo Project information to the Park Manager at Makoshika State Park in Glendive, Montana where I was working. He thought it sounded like a great project, and I spearheaded the effort of getting them installed at the park. First, we had to go and check all the vault toilets to see if they had any type of existing screen on them already. Not surprisingly, there were no screens, so we ordered 11 for Makoshika and another five for the three other parks the manager was in charge of. We also ordered some Poo-Poo Project stickers, and printed and laminated informational flyers about the project. When the screens were installed, we placed a sticker on the outside of the vent pipe and the flyers on the inside so people could learn more about the Poo-Poo Project and rest assured knowing that they were using a wildlife friendly vault toilet.
By putting stickers and posters on each of the vault toilets, my hope was to get others interested in the project. Maybe I could be the drop of water in the pond to start the ripple effect. Hopefully they would bring the information back home with them or to other places they visit and more people would get to learn about and support the Poo-Poo Project. I know that I pay more attention to vault toilets now than I had before. I always look to see if they have screens or not, and if they don’t I send an email to the organization letting them know about the Poo-Poo Project along with an informational flyer, because most likely they have never heard of it before, and have probably never thought about the effects of vault toilets on wildlife either.
Can you tell that I like this project and think it's an important one?! Not only does it have a fun name, but it also has a great importance! I am always trying to find ways that I can help the environment and the plants and animals that live in it. Spreading the work about the Poo-Poo Project is one way I can help! Is there somewhere you enjoy visiting and know that they have vault toilets? Next time you are there, check to see if they have any vent screens. If not, let them know about the Poo-Poo Project! They can even make custom size screens if they aren't your typical vent pipe size. Or if you would like, you can "Sponsor a Screen" and they will send it to somewhere in need. Go Poo-Poo! More Information For more information about the Poo-Poo Project:
3 Comments
1/18/2018 03:21:40 pm
Hey Megan,
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Megan Betcher
1/18/2018 04:59:56 pm
Thank you for taking time to read the post and leave a comment, David! Yes, I would love if you shared it on the TRC's Poo-Poo Facebook page! Anything we can do to get the word out :)
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6/13/2018 05:25:51 pm
Hey Megan - Just wanted to share some updated Poo-Poo numbers with you ... we now have 450 partners and have sold over 12,500 screens. It was a very busy spring. Hope all is well with your new summer job. Take care, David
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