How the litter we leave behind is harming wildlife - say RSPCA
The RSPCA has received more than 21,600 reports of animals injured or caught in litter over the past five years, new statistics reveal - with almost 3,000 of those incidents in the North West.
And with lockdown restrictions being eased, the animal welfare charity says the message has never been more important.
They are urging people who are going out more to ensure they are taking their litter home with them or disposing of it properly and responsibly.
Over the past five years (2015-2019), the RSPCA’s emergency hotline in England and Wales has received 6,466 calls about animals affected by general litter - like tin cans, plastic bottles and elastic bands. There have also been 15,183 reports relating to animals injured or caught in angling litter. There have been a further 12,904 reports of animals and birds trapped in netting, which includes netting discarded as rubbish but this also includes sports netting or netting put on bushes or trees to deter birds.
The charity’s frontline officers are regularly called to help cats, birds and wildlife who have got themselves tangled in netting, injured in fishing litter or stuck in rubbish, whether it’s a fox with a tin can stuck on its head or a seal with fishing netting wrapped around its neck cutting into the flesh.
Over the past five years, Greater Manchester has seen 906 RSPCA call-outs about animals affected by litter, with 706 in Merseyside, 609 in Lancashire and 546 in Cheshire.
Head of the RSPCA’s wildlife team Adam Grogan said: “Our staff are dealing with thousands of incidents every year where animals and birds have been impacted by litter - and they’re the ones that we know of. I’m sure for every animal we’re able to help there are many that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.
“Litter is one of the biggest hazards our wildlife faces today - and it’s something that’s very easy to resolve. That’s why we’re calling on the public to take extra care to clear up after they’ve been out for a walk or enjoyed a picnic in the woods.
“Now that the Government has eased some of the lockdown restrictions, we’re sure lots of families will be out and about in nature. But it’s our job to protect nature and that includes properly and responsibly disposing of our litter so that animals can’t be hurt.”
As well as everyday rubbish, the RSPCA also sees many animals arriving into our care with terrible injuries caused by angling litter such as discarded fishing line and plastic netting.
Waterfowl and seals are often admitted to the RSPCA’s four wildlife centres with nasty wounds caused by fishing hooks, line and netting.
Adam added: “Animals who get their heads or necks stuck in litter can suffer severe injuries as they struggle to break free and can even suffocate, while others will slowly grow weaker and weaker as they try to hunt or find food or water.
“Others will get fishing line or netting cutting deep into their skin, affecting circulation and with wounds becoming seriously infected. These hazards can very quickly become a matter of life or death for these animals and action is urgently needed to tackle this problem head-on. It’s up to every one of us to do our bit in the war against litter.”
If you are concerned about the welfare of an animal, you are asked to contact the RSPCA’s emergency hotline on 0300 1234 999.
The RSPCA, like all charities is struggling during lockdown. More information about its fundraising efforts can be seen here.