So, when choosing animal products, I try to choose those that are humane. When I checked out ASPCA’s Supermarket Scorecard, I was pleased that the stores I generally feel good about shopping at had great scores. There are a couple of stores that have confused me as to why they are so wildly popular, and those had bad scores.

The scores reflect how well stores address animal welfare issues for chickens raised for meat, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs.

Check out your supermarket’s score. If it’s low, let them know that you’re concerned about their choices when it comes to improving the lives of farm animals. How? Fill out one of those ever-present surveys on receipts, talk to them on social media, or go to the store’s website and find their “Contact Us” page to call or email.

With the holidays approaching, it’s a great time to consider how your shopping choices affect the lives of farm animals.

She waits for the snow to close the entrance tunnel. Her den is then completely hidden under the snow. She gives birth to one to three cubs, typically in December.

The polar bear family remains in the den until spring. All this time, the mother bear does not eat or drink. She nurses her cubs. Newborn cubs are blind and don’t have enough fur to keep them warm outside. They nurse for 20 months.

Cubs emerge from the den in March or April. Their mothers teach them to hunt seals on ice. The cubs stay with their mother for about three years, then go on to live up to an average of 18 years in the wild.

Protect polar bears during International Polar Bear Day – February 27. Visit Polar Bears International to learn more.

Blue Stripes uses the whole cacao pod to let you have more superfood benefits and eliminate waste in production. It’s difficult to describe the taste, but I’d say more “wholesome” while still being delicious. You kind of crave it.

I like that it has coconut sugar instead of refined sugar. According to Blue Stripes, the coconut sugar gives it a natural caramel flavor. And, well, the packaging and design on the chocolate is super cute, especially if you love primates like I do. I admit – that’s what caught my attention. It’s also easy to reseal the outer packaging for storage.

I paid $4.99 for the Pure Dark bar 70% cacao single-origin Ecuadorian Arriba Nacional. Later, I’d find it on sale at the same store and get it again. I don’t get it each time I buy chocolate because the price is higher than other bars like Endangered Species. However, I am definitely keeping it in my chocolate rotation. And will consider giving it as a gift as well.

Have you tried Blue Stripes?

The best thing to do? Use a water purifier (if you need to) and reusable water bottles (not made of plastic). I know it’s not always feasible to go without bottled water when traveling, but more and more, I’m finding hotels and National Parks and other places do provide water bottle refill stations.

As for buying extra water in case of emergencies like earthquakes, I guess here we are kind of stuck with bottled water. Hopefully the new research will help guide companies away from plastic.

If you’re in the habit of always buying bottled water to consume at home, try out drinking filtered tap water instead. It will not only save you money, and save all that lifting and the need to store water, it will also spare you consuming potentially damaging nanoparticles of plastic.

The study was published recently in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It found that an average of 240,000 particles are contained within a liter of bottled water. That’s many more plastic particles than previously thought.

With all the crazy things going on with airplane plugs or panels falling off mid-air, it’s nice to hear some good news from an airline! Delta – I admit my favorite airline and I’m a nervous flier – has announced that they are beginning to test new, more environmentally friendly cups for their flights.

Even if you have been served tea or coffee inflight before, you’ve been given a cup lined with plastic. No more once the changes take effect.

These new cups will be compostable and recyclable.

And – they will be used for cold beverages like water or soda. This means you can enjoy your drink without creating as much waste as before.

According to Delta, the new cups will eliminate nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastic waste each year! That’s a big deal, and I hope that other airlines will be inspired to make the change as well. Alaska Airlines just finished their transition away from plastic cups. Who is next?

The testing of the new cups should be complete before summer, but there’s no date for when the cups will be available on all Delta flights.

A possible solution… make more birds?

To help compensate for any birds that may be killed by their turbines, wind power company Avangrid Renewables wants to breed California Condors in captivity. If all goes as planned, they will release six 1.5-year-old condors over a three-year-period. Watching these birds grow does seem like a fun job.

Saving California Condors

So, if a wind power company wants to join in with captive breeding — the more the merrier, right? Well, not everyone agrees, but doing something to negate the impact of wind turbines on condors is better than ignoring the problem.

According to a recent New York Times article, conservationists say that wind companies should be forced by the government to do more to prevent the bird deaths. What can be done?

A recent study from Norway found that painting at least one turbine blade black brought about a 70 percent decline in bird deaths. Ars Technica has more on this study. What are your thoughts on wind companies breeding condors?

CA Condor Facts

These condors have a nine-foot or more wingspan, and they can weigh more than 20 pounds. They also live up to 60 years in the wild!

The condors lay only one egg per year, and they aren’t sexually mature until six or seven years old. This slow mo reproduction rate is part of the reason the bird are endangered.

Condors are also face threats from lead ammunition used by hunters. Switching to non-lead bullets can help save these endangered birds.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says there are now about 160 California Condors flying around freely in Central and Southern California. In Arizona and Utah, there are about 80, but the total condor population is 440 birds. That’s only possible because of captive breeding programs.

The theme for Earth Day 2021 is “Restore Our Earth.” Learn more at Earthday.org.

Here are five ways you can do more this Earth Day.

One: Increase your knowledge. Take a clean energy quiz.

Two: Participate in the Great Global Cleanup with a group, on our own, or even while jogging, running or walking. It’s called plogging!

Three: Reduce plastic waste by refilling your own reusable water bottle.

Four: Include pollinator-friendly plants in your garden or balcony pots.

Five: Write to your representative. Find your representative and tell this person how you feel about climate change. Ask for action.

Have fun this Earth Day 2021!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ASPCA is expecting to see a rise in the number of horses that need rehoming. Right now, equine adoption organizations across the country are asking for more foster homes for horses.

There are only so many stalls available to rescue groups, and that’s why finding foster homes for horses is so important. When you foster a horse, your local rescue group has a stall open for the next horse needing help.

If you have the land for a horse, or if you can secure a stall at a local boarding barn, you may be a good match. To learn more, visit myrighthorse.org/foster.

If you can’t foster a horse, please observe Help a Horse Day by spreading the word to others.

Eek. Yeah, some things about this pandemic are good.

First, some of us are getting back to better conservation of resources. It’s nearly impossible to find paper towels (and toilet paper) in the stores. For me, it’s been impossible lately. That means I really think twice about what I’m using paper towels to do. I’m making more sustainable choices that will hopefully continue after this disruption is just a memory of 2020.

Second, it’s helping us be more flexible. I’m guilty of sticking with what I know I like, and even going to multiple stores to get those items. But, I’m learning that it’s not that big of a deal to not have my favorite foods, as a long as I have food! I don’t have to be as picky as I was. Healthy, yes, but not picky. I’m finding I can make my shopping routing much more simple than it was before.

Third, we’re driving less. I didn’t have to commute, but my husband did. Now he’s working from home, saving gas, helping to lower pollution, and having more time to enjoy simple things. Maybe some companies will be more flexible in the future about allowing employees to work from home.

Fourth, more time with pets! Yeah, people’s cats are making appearances on video conferences, but that’s great. Everyone is getting to know each other in a whole different way. And dogs, the walks they’re getting! Which brings me to….

Fifth, neighbors are exploring their neighborhoods more. We all take so much care to pick neighborhoods we like when we move, but so few of us actually spend time walking, running, biking, drawing on the sidewalk after we move. Since I’ve been working from home for years, I’ve always enjoyed walks in the middle of the day. Previously, I would just see the same few people out, or no one at all. Now, the streets of my neighborhood are teeming with people enjoying nature.

Sixth, more time with family (those you live with). If you don’t have to drive to work, you get more family time, and earlier dinner! I know that some families are separated right now, avoiding visiting each other, and many people are feeling isolated without social contact. Keep in mind: Social distancing won’t last forever!

Seventh, more hand washing. I’m a germaphobe anyway. I like it when people wash their hands. Let’s keep it up. But here’s hoping I can one day again find hand sanitizer in the store.

And finally, good grief, I finally updated this blog. Stay safe and healthy. And try to keep those good habits after this is over!

The ASPCA is assisting local agencies with field rescues and emergency sheltering for animals affected by wildfires in Lake and Mendocino counties.

Lake County Animal Care & Control and its animal disaster response team Lake Evacuation & Animal Protection (LEAP) requested the assistance.

LEAP and ASPCA responders have been checking individual residences for pets and livestock, and providing food and water for animals during wellness checks requested by pet owners.

In Lake and Mendocino counties, the ASPCA has assisted nearly 50 animals, including cats, dogs, birds and livestock.

This assistance from the ASPCA is possible through support from Lewyt Rescue Fund.

“Rescuing animals in desperate need of assistance during emergency situations like the wildfires burning through California is exactly why the Lewyt Rescue Fund was established,” said Wendy McColgan and Thomas Amlicke, trustees of the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust.

In Northern California, the ASPCA has assisted more than 2,500 animals affected by the wildfires. Consider helping the ASPCA with their wildfire disaster response efforts.

Images provided by the ASPCA.