On Saturday, May 11, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum hosted a lecture by Katie Shaw, Conservation Social Scientist at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, titled “Time to Talk Trash.” The lecture focused on the dwindling number of desert tortoises due in part to the population growth of ravens. Ravens are known to eat juvenile tortoises before their shells have a chance to fully harden.
Our desert landscape faces an increasing raven population, encouraged by additional roosting places like public signage and food access from trash dumpsters. Conservationists from the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens encourages the public and businesses to mitigate these impacts.
This educational campaign, launched in 2019, involved surveying and monitoring waste management practices at 30 restaurants in Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms. Restaurants were divided into control and treatment groups, with the latter receiving guidance on securing dumpsters to reduce raven access to food waste. Results showed significant improvement in waste management practices in the control group.
It was interesting that Joshua Tree had a much higher awareness level than the other two communities. Shaw said the conservation group conducting the studies wasn’t sure if it was because Joshua Tree is a smaller, tighter community with prominent social norms or because it’s right at the park’s entrance and dependent on ecotourism.
Based on the surveys and studies, the conservation group developed a Gold Star Award packet, including display materials like window stickers and table toppers for businesses, keeping dumpsters closed 80% of the time.
As a final comment, Shaw encouraged the audience to mention the awards to the business and encourage them to continue the effort. Awareness encourages behavioral change, and we can all play a part.
