WE NEED YOU TO HELP SAVE SEA TURTLES! This iconic image of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose inspired many to change their habits—but not enough. If we don't do more to reduce our use of single-use plastics—and hold petrochemical companies who produce them accountable—the world's sea turtles will continue to die unnecessarily and painfully. Help us save sea turtles and other marine life by becoming a monthly Wilderness Guardian member today. You can start fighting single-use plastics with our 100% organic cotton tote—yours FREE when you start your monthly gift >>

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The plastic pollution crisis is complex and requires us to attack it on multiple fronts. And one of the most heart-wrenching results of the crisis is its effects on wildlife, like sea turtles.

Sea turtles are some of our most beloved animals. They're also some of our most endangered—and not just by people or natural predators. More than 1,000 sea turtles die every year from ingesting plastic.¹

Turtles have been found with stomachs full of plastic bags they've eaten, confusing them for jellyfish. Others die after being entangled in fishing nets. And, of course, video footage released in 2015 of a turtle with a plastic straw lodged in its nostril went viral.

Unfortunately, human overuse of single-use plastics is torturing and killing these precious animals—while the petrochemical companies are scaling up plastics production even more. The Sierra Club is fighting to hold Big Oil and Gas accountable. We must pass strong legislation to reduce harmful fossil fuel extraction on public and private lands, and stop their greenwashing campaigns—but we need your help.

Fortunately, you can help us reduce the plastic waste entering the oceans each year by starting your Wilderness Guardian monthly membership. You will help us save sea turtles and other marine wildlife from preventable illness and death and support all of our work to protect wildlife and the planet. Remember, you'll also get our 100% organic cotton tote—absolutely FREE.

Sadly, sea turtles are far from the only animals endangered by the more than 8 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean each year. Whales have been found with guts punctured by microplastics.² Harbor seals have been discovered dead, intestines tangled by plastic wrappers.³ And Laysan Albatrosses feed their chicks about 5 tons of plastic a year!⁴

And plastic's deadly impacts don't end there—animals who ingest plastics then transfer pollutants to the other animals (and people!) who eat them, perpetuating the toxic cycle.

There's no single solution to this lethal trend. Plastic straws are not recyclable. Most plastics would take over an estimated 400 years to break down.⁵ Americans consume 1,500 plastic water bottles every second, 64% of which is commercially filtered tap water we could get for free.⁶

To protect sea turtles and other marine wildlife, we must not only change our own habits—like breaking up with plastic straws and bags—but persuade states and municipalities to reduce plastic waste while forcing Big Oil and Gas to stop their plans to increase plastics production each year. Please, help us do all three by becoming a Wilderness Guardian today.