Why You Should Never (Ever) Throw an Apple Core Out the Car Window

It may seem harmless, but roadside food waste creates dangerous situations. Spending months of the year in national parks, Kevin Jackson, founder and lead guide for EXP Journeys, has seen firsthand how even small actions—such as tossing an apple core out of a car window—can have unintended and negative consequences for wildlife and their fragile ecosystems. “The bottom line is, even with good intentions, tossing an apple core out the window can contribute to wildlife roadside fatalities, human-wildlife conflicts and ecological disruption,” he says.

July 1, 2025