Fall has finally arrived. Soon, the roads and woods will be covered in beautiful leaves of all shapes, sizes, and colours.

Here at Earth Rangers, we LOVE the fall leaves! They’re fun to play in, beautiful to look at, and the undergrowth these leaves form becomes a home for many of the animals we love. That’s why it’s so important to prevent trash from getting on the ground, where it can get covered by leaves and pose a danger to animals.

When we don’t recycle properly, animals become drawn to our stinky garbage cans and recycling bins. Trying to get in and eat food they’re not supposed to can hurt them and make them sick. Some animals, like raccoons, are especially good at getting into garbage cans that aren’t sealed properly – creating a buffet for other wild animals who drop by for a visit.

Celebrate fall, and animals, for World Animal Day!

Today is World Animal Day, a day all about making the world a better place for animals! Join us and many others around the world to let out your loudest RAWR! It’s not just the sound that a lion makes, it’s also the name of a very important Earth Rangers Mission, where RAWR stands for Respect Animals While Recycling!

RAWR – Respect Animals While Recycling!

Fall is when animals start preparing for winter. Some gather food before they hibernate, while others fill up before migrating south. This is a time where we need to be careful about what we throw out. Before taking out your recycling box or garbage can, remember to do the following:

• Clean all bottles, jars, cans, and other containers to prevent food smells from attracting animals.
• Crush soda cans and rotate the tabs to cover the openings, preventing small animals from crawling inside.
• Cut up six-pack rings to avoid animals getting entangled in them.
• If your organic waste has a strong smell, store it in the freezer to minimize the stench.
• Wait until the morning of collection day to set out your items, reducing the chance of attracting nocturnal animals.

Don’t forget these handy tools!

Your province is here to help! Not sure where some recycling items go? Don’t immediately throw them out. Look online for recycling information!

Manitoba makes this research even easier with its app, “Recyclepedia,” where users can find a ton of useful information about what goes in the special blue bins. British Columbia has a similar app, called RecycleBC, while the city of Toronto in Ontario offers “TOWaste”. Don’t live in Manitoba, Ontario, or British Columbia? Don’t worry! Ask a grown-up to help you find a similar recycling tool in your province.

Want to celebrate World Animal Day?
Head to the mission section of the Earth Rangers app and accept the RAWR Mission today!