Lincoln - Animals (4)

Wednesday we went to the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge to help clean up trash. Saturday the refuge is hosting an event for the 150^th anniversary of the sinking of the Bertrand steamboat. In preparation for the event we cleaned up trash on the side of the highway around their property—which totals at 12,000 acres. We also raked leaves in the areas where they’re expecting the most visitors and dusted the inside of their visitor’s center and museum.

We were happy to help the beautiful refuge, even if it was cold. After two hours of picking up trash in the 30-degree weather, we were excited to finish the job before heading to lunch.
Not only did we get to hang out with our new friend Ranger Steve, but also we learned the importance of keeping the highways clear. We found some unwanted items on the side of the road, also found out about the culture of Iowa (they love Pepsi). Seeing the trash on the side of the refuge made us all question exactly how much trash there was on the side of the roads in Missouri, and how much was truly affecting the animals. It left us curious as to how we can bring it home and continue to help keep Columbia clean.

For some of our tasks it was harder to see why we were doing them, but Steve’s face at the end of the day made it all worth it. 

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