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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Burying Human Waste in the Wilderness Deemed Unsustainable

Person holding out bag of waste

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When pathogens in buried poop from campers and hikers leach into the soil, they can spread into waterways or become integrated into an ecosystem, reproducing and living on after the feces have decomposed. Modern-day dung is also likely to contain chemicals, birth control hormones and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Laura Scott, a geneticist with the U.S. Geological Survey, found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in soil and water at all 10 national parks she sampled in 2016, with the abundance of such bacteria increasing along with human activity. The authors of a 40-year-old Montana study concluded, “The idea that shallow burial renders feces harmless in a short time is fallacious.”

No longer is it safe to bury waste in a “cat hole” that is six inches deep and at least 200 feet from any water, as formerly believed. The solution is to use a Waste Alleviation and Gelling (WAG) bag, double-layered with chemical powder to render feces inert. Attach the bag to the outside of a backpack and deposit it in the trash on the way home. They are inexpensive and available at major retail outlets nationwide. If there are multiple WAG bags, collect them in a lightweight, dry bag.

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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