Essex among worst affected counties for litter related animal incidents
Essex ranks sixth in the league of litter-related animal incidents across England and Wales, with 428 reported cases to the RSPCA over that time period.
Essex, is among top 10 counties with highest number of litter related animal incidents across England & Wales
The RSPCA has received almost 13,000 reports about animals found severely injured, trapped, mutilated, choked or even dead from carelessly discarded litter over the past four years.
Essex ranks sixth in the league of litter-related animal incidents across England and Wales, with 428 reported cases to the RSPCA over that time period.
The shocking new data, released today by the charity, reveals an average of 13 reports per day last year during peak litter months of May, June, July, and August, posing significant hazards for animals.
The RSPCA urges people to participate in Keep Britain Tidy’s 'Great British Spring Clean’ (from 15-31 March) to help create a better world for every animal. Individuals, groups, or schools can pledge their support, aiming to surpass last year's total of over 400,000 collected litter bags.
Distressing incidents dealt with by the RSPCA include a hedgehog entangled in old barbed wire, a fox cub with litter caught round his neck, a goose with an old drinks can stuck to her lower beak, and a Great Black Backed Gull whose leg became almost completely detached due to old fishing line cutting in.
RSPCA anti-litter campaigns manager Carrie Stones said, “Our rescuers deal with thousands of avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter. Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items, and even disposable vapes pose a danger to our wildlife.”
“Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help, there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported, and may even lose their lives,” Stones added.
Amongst mammals, litter-related reports to the RSPCA were highest for foxes, hedgehogs, and deer, while among wild birds, swans, pigeons, and gulls bore the greatest brunt of discarded rubbish. The RSPCA even received reports of family pets such as cats and dogs being affected by litter.
The top ten counties with the highest litter-related incidents reported to the RSPCA over four years are: Greater London (1,439), Devon (594), Kent (526), Greater Manchester (500), West Midlands (437), Essex (428), East Sussex (399), Hampshire (395), Merseyside (362), and Cornwall (300).
“Spring is an ideal time to go on a litter-pick because it falls before the breeding season when young animals such as fox cubs are at risk of getting into trouble," said Stones, urging public participation in the Great British Spring Clean.
“As we all strive to create a better world for every animal, this could save an animal’s life,” Stones emphasized.
The RSPCA also warns about the dangers of discarded angling litter such as fishing line, hooks, and plastic netting, which have caused severe injuries to water birds like swans, geese, and ducks.
Carrie Stones added, “The majority of anglers do dispose of their litter properly, but it only takes one piece of snagged line to endanger the life of an animal.”