This past summer I stayed in a couple of lean-tos along Long Lake while leading an Adirondack Adventure trip. The lean-tos were well taken care of and in good shape although they are on the popular Northville-Placid trail. Each lean-to even had a shelf where previous occupants had left things like spare toilet paper and bug spray. At the time I didn't give the items much thought and had dismissed them as a friendly gesture from other hikers. It turns out leaving these things behind in lean-tos not only breaks the Leave No Trace rule but can also be deadly. I know this seems to be a dramatic consequence for something that is supposed to be well intended, but the items left behind encourage mice to nest in lean-tos. When then mice nest in the lean-tos they leave behind urine and feces that contain a deadly virus called Hantavirus.
Hantavirus is a virus that does not effect rodents but is deadly when transmitted to humans from rodents. Humans contract the disease when they touch an infected rodent's urine, saliva, or feces. Hantavirus is not a prevalent problem in the Adirondacks but as the amount of litter left behind at lean-tos increases, the risk of the virus spreading does too. Items left in the lean-to are not the only problem. Branches and litter that collect under lean-tos provide another sheltered area for mice to nest. According to Dan Crane's article on the Adirondack Almanack mice can use toilet paper, old tennis shoes, underwear, or branches to make insulation. Park agencies and non-profits such as Lean2Rescue try to clean out lean-tos so that the structures aren't hospitable to mice, but they can't regularly maintenance them. At the end of the day it's up to Adirondack Park matrons to keep the lean-tos clean.
If you plan on using a lean-to in the future here are some important tips to keep in mind.
-Always follow Leave No Trace rules and take everything you bring into the park out with you, including any litter you find along the way. Leaving spare toilet paper behind may seem like a nice gesture but it could cause more problems.
-If there are sticks gathering around the base and/or under the lean-to, move them away.
-If you decide to sweep out a lean-to (sometimes there are brooms in lean-tos), do it right before you leave, unless there is someone who is using it right after you, and use a long handled broom. Sweeping a lean-to can aerosolize rodent urine and droppings which increases the risk of inhaling Hantavirus particles.
-Avoid making alterations to lean-tos, such as adding a shelf, because structures like that can encourage people to leave stuff behind.
Following these suggestions reduces the risk of Hantavirus in the Adirondack Park, and can make lean-tos cleaner and healthier facilities to use!
Sources Cited
Crane, Dan. "Adirondack Lean-tos, Mice and Hantavirus" November 18th, 2015. Adirondack Almanack. http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2015/11/adirondack-lean-tos-mice-hantavirus.html#more-56887
Wow! I never had any idea that leaving things behind as a friendly gesture could actually be so harmful. I now know to be more cautious about leaving my own items becasue they can be dangerous and take away from the natural beauty.
ReplyDeleteWow! I never had any idea that leaving things behind as a friendly gesture could actually be so harmful. I now know to be more cautious about leaving my own items becasue they can be dangerous and take away from the natural beauty.
ReplyDelete