New figures reveal hundreds of animals injured by litter in Staffordshire and Cheshire
Concerns are numbers could rocket when more people are allowed to gather outdoors from March 29th
Last updated 25th Mar 2021
The RSPCA is urging people to help protect animals by picking up any litter they see lying around as well as ensuring they take their litter home with them or disposing of it properly and responsibly.
In the last year, the RSPCA has dealt with nearly 200 incidents of animals impacted by litter across Staffordshire and Cheshire's parks and countryside areas.
Head of the RSPCA’s wildlife department Adam Grogan said: “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 the pandemic has just added to the problem with many disposable masks just being discarded on the ground. These are a new danger to animals and we’ve been called out to rescue animals like ducks and gulls caught up in the masks’ elastic straps. That’s why we’re calling on the public to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean to help remove litter that may endanger animals.”
Councillor Frances Beatty MBE is Chair of the Cannock Chase AONB Partnership. She said: "An awful lot of litter is thrown from car windows as people are driving past; they seem to pay very little regard to the countryside. And also, it's extremely costly for local authorities to have to clear it up, but we have to do it because of the danger to the animals and livestock as well as the fact that it's unsightly.
"When you're dealing with the with the problems of people coming onto the Chase... lighting barbecues is thing that people will do and then leave the barbecue behind, still alight. And that in itself can be so dangerous to animals. They ingest the plastics and injured by the glass. But they also can be very badly disturbed particularly at this time of year when they're nesting."
As well as everyday rubbish, the RSPCA also sees many animals arriving into its care with terrible injuries caused by angling litter such as discarded fishing line and hooks to plastic netting. Nearly 40 per cent (1,510) of all litter-related calls to the RSPCA last year were about animals that had specifically become caught in fishing litter, from a seal being strangled by old fishing net to dozens of swans who swallowed or were pierced by old fishing hooks or became entangled in fishing line.
Adam added: “Animals 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.”
“We strongly urge those who enjoy fishing to be extra cautious to make sure nothing is left behind. Most anglers are very responsible when disposing of their litter, but it only takes one piece of snagged line to be left in a tree or dropped near the water to endanger the life of an animal. We ask that all those who enjoy fishing to follow the Angling Trust Take 5 campaign and make use of the recycling scheme to dispose of their waste tackle.
Councillor Joe Porter is Cabinet Member of Climate Change and Biodiversity at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. He added: "We know that lots of people are going to be keen to get out and about and enjoy our green spaces. It would be fantastic if the UK government could do some more nationwide messaging around countryside public behaviour, you know, in trying to educate people to act responsibly, the countryside code needs to be put out there."