We humans are a filthy bunch. We’ve scattered our trash on landscapes the world over, from beaches and deserts to national parks, mountain peaks, and the deepest crannies of the ocean. By and large, our debris is an unwelcome and even dangerous addition to natural environments. In oceans, plastics can smother corals or clog animals’ stomachs; on land, as the coronavirus pandemic continues, birds might find themselves ensnared in the stretchy straps of single-use masks. Litter is never good—but life is resilient and sometimes animals make the most of it….
