Spring cleaning is about to take on a whole new meaning in Colorado Springs, where officials facing a lack of funds have removed trash cans from public parks. To help the mayor stop the economic slump from turning Colorado Springs' parks into dumps, PETA is offering to bring back the wastebaskets, with one caveat—they need to sport this ad:

How does meat trash the planet? A U.N. study found that factory farming is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." Our name for these doubly productive garbage cans? Wasteless Baskets.

Written by Logan Scherer

PETA's Rescue Department is always on call to help animals out of life-threatening emergencies. Case in point: A rescue worker was recently awakened by a page regarding an anhinga who had somehow become entangled in a tree limb. Anhingas are tropical birds found in the Everglades, and this Florida caller was worried about the frightened animal, who was hanging upside down and thrashing about, frantically trying to get free.

pbase / CC

We contacted law-enforcement officials immediately, and they arrived within minutes. They freed the bird and then took her to a local wildlife rehabilitator, where she received stitches and quiet recovery time to help her injuries heal before her release.

The threats to birds, as well as land and aquatic animals, are everywhere and often involve plastic debris (like six-pack holders), fishing line, netting, and bird-deterrent mesh. A recent news report about a skunk who was freed after he'd gotten his head stuck in a peanut butter jar is yet another example of how paying close attention to wildlife can save a life.

Please always try to help wild critters out of dangerous situations, and consider how debris can harm animals. Cut up six-pack rings, rinse out recyclables, and flatten cans, and safely dispose of others' carelessly discarded fishing line when you find it. Anhingas, skunks, and other animals thank you in advance for caring.

Written by Karin Bennett