State Parks urges people to recreate responsibly this Fourth of July

OLYMPIA-The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife.

Parks sees a dramatic increase in visitation during Independence Day celebrations, particularly on its beaches. The increase in traffic also increases the amount of trash left behind. Last year, volunteers collected more than 111,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during Parks' annual July 5 beach cleanup. That's equivalent to the combined weight of about seven adult orca whales.

To reduce the amount of trash left behind, it is important that visitors plan ahead, follow all beach safety rules and pack out everything they pack in. Any litter left behind on the beach threatens the safety and future of beach wildlife and can be unsafe for people and pets.

Consuming or getting entangled in pieces of trash can disrupt an animal's ability to hunt, escape predators or provide for their young. High tides the night of July 4 to the morning of July 5 can cause litter to wash out into the ocean, harming marine animals. Trash also threatens the safety of pets who are at risk of hurting themselves or ingesting it.

Given the threat that trash poses to everyone on the beach, it is crucial for everyone to do their part and pick up all their trash.