Yes, many a misty-eyed Canadian "nature-lover" chooses to leave generous heaps of garbage at shore sites. While obeying the mysterious call to re-live childhood memories of good times at the lake with dear departed dad, we fishermen seem to be especially fond of leaving behind empty Red Bull cans, plastic water bottles, fishing tackle wrappers, Tim Horton coffee cups, and styrofoam bait boxes. It would be sweet and generous to give humanity the benefit of the doubt and believe that litterers are a rare exception. Unfortunately, the state of my favourite local reservoir seems to belie that bit of wishful thinking. Unfortunately, it's not just the inflatable pool toy crowd, the "rednecks", and the weekend warriors who comprise the guilty. It's a bigger demographic. Littering is practised by many decent friendly folks, some who paddle, some who don't, some who will offer to give you a hand loading your canoe up onto your vehicle, give your car battery a jump, or offer you a cold beer out of their cooler. I agree with Black Fly and PPine that cleaning up after oneself doesn't come naturally and has to be learned. Cleaning up the perpetrators' mess, preferably in plain view of them, but without ranting or blaming anyone while doing so might possibly produce some positive results. Possibly... and if nothing else, it might help defuse one's keen sense of moral outrage. Or, on the other hand, contribute to the growth of a stomach ulcer. And just in case__ I know it's highly unlikely__ there really is a heaven with angels guarding the gates, if nothing else, cleaning up after others might help with gaining entry there.
Thus far for me the results of our recent "Look-here-nice-folks-I'm-good-humouredly-cleaning-up-your-crap" strategy are inconclusive. There's always fresh garbage after a day or two away. And contrary to some grumbling I hear occasionally, it's definitely NOT a problem caused by any one particular generation or ethnic group.