Foods decompose quickly in compost bins because of the specific conditions under which air, moisture, heat, and different types of matter mingle inside. Those conditions aren’t always present in the natural world, where our organic food matter can take years to break down. That apple core might actually linger in nature much longer than we assume.

During that time, those scraps are also animal attractants. While that might not seem like such a bad thing, Glacier National Park’s post reminds us that where we throw food—near roads, for example—can lure animals away from their natural feeding areas, habituate them to eating human scraps, and thus make them more likely to be hit by a vehicle. Even if you’re leaving a banana peel near a trail, the park warns, remember that bananas don’t natural grow in that area, so animals aren’t used to those foods and may have trouble digesting them. Fruit and vegetable seeds might also sprout, introducing invasive species to the area. (We’ve all seen that Simpsons episode, I hope.)

Thankfully, the tone of the park’s Facebook post is encouraging, not shaming. Maybe you’ve spat sunflower-seed shells along a trail while hiking or left some peach pits at a campsite—but now you know that it’s much better to pack it out with you. As always, knowledge is power.