Critter Control Cleanup

On September 16th, Keep Florida Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful joined forces with Critter Control for an impactful shoreline cleanup at John Beasley Park in Fort Walton Beach. The event was part of a nationwide employee engagement initiative by Critter Control, and we were thrilled to see their Florida team roll up their sleeves for a great cause!

We were so proud to have them on board in the Greatest American Cleanup as we work toward hitting Keep America Beautiful’s goal in removing 25 billion pieces of litter and beautifying 25,000 communities by America’s 250th birthday in 2026.
Visit kab.org/greatest to learn how you can join the largest cleanup in history.

🌅 Morning Kickoff

The day began bright and early at 7:30 AM. After filling our bellies with baked good from Panera and some coffee, volunteers spread out along the beach, armed with buckets and gloves, ready to tackle litter in all shapes and sizes. Litter along the emerald coast can be hard to collect due to how quickly trash is hidden within the sand with each footstep. Not to mention how difficult clear wrappers and straws can be to see against the white sand as the sun hits it.

🧹 Notable Finds

While every piece of trash removed makes a difference, a few unusual items stood out:

•  An Invisalign retainer – perhaps someone’s smile got a little too relaxed beachside!
• A photo of a baby’s head – yes, you read that right. 🤯

And the most common culprit? Cigarette butts – still topping the list as one of the most persistent forms of litter.

📊 Data

After the cleanup, the team gathered under a pavilion to sort, count, and log every item into the TrashBlitz app by 5 Gyres. This data helps affiliates, researchers and advocates track pollution trends and push for smarter policies.

🥪 End of Day

After a hard morning’s work, nothing beats a well-earned lunch with good company. The day was beautiful, the skies clear, and the Critter Control team did a fantastic job and put in four hours worth of work.

A special thank you to every volunteer who came out to make a difference. Because of you, sea turtles, shorebirds, beachgoers, and more will enjoy a cleaner, safer environment.

We’re already looking forward to the next cleanup—because together, we’re not just dreaming of a cleaner Florida. We’re building it.