The RSPCA focuses on removing animals from harm, including abused and neglected pets and trapped and injured wildlife.On average the RSPCA national helpline receives 10 calls a day about animals affected by litter and this number spikes greatly in the summer months. It’s hard to say how much wildlife is actually affected by litter as we suspect many go unnoticed or ignored, especially birds.

Things that pass through our hands every day are potentially harmful to wildlife if discarded in the natural environment.

Cigarette butts

Cigarette butts, commonly flicked to the ground in almost every place you see, contain chemicals toxic to wildlife (not just humans). According to BBC Science Focus, smokers create 845,000 tons of litter every year through unscrupulously discarding their butt ends.

If they’re not mistaken as food on land and picked up directly by wildlife, they can be washed into drains and end up in the sea, where they will again be mistaken for food by fish, seabirds, and turtles.

If you do smoke cigarettes, please use the proper receptacles to discard your butt ends, or somehow take them away with you. Some vapes are reusable for a short time, but they can also soon become litter if they are not rechargeable.

Vapes

Did you know vapes should not be thrown into your general waste, but can be recycled? Many people are disposing of vapes the wrong way which leads to putting wildlife at risk of pollution.

West Oxfordshire residents can simply put them out for kerbside collection in a separate container along with other small electricals. If you can remove the battery, you should also do that.

Recycle Your Electricals has a great information piece on recycling vapes.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags are a great source of play for wild animals. However they can become trapped inside and suffocate. Some wild animals may attempt to eat the plastic which can choke them or cause dangerous digestive blockages.

Simply tying them in a knot, or better, taking them to a recycling point can prevent hundreds of deaths and much suffering.

Balloons and elastic bands

The street may look pretty and let your party guests know exactly where to go, but much like plastic bags they can end up in the natural environment and in wildlife’s homes or hunting grounds. Even biodegradable balloons can still take weeks to degrade and even then, remain as micro-plastics.

Always remember to take down the decorations and dispose of them safely. You may consider cutting them up before placing them in the bin too.

Fishing tackle

Fishing tackle has been a danger for wildlife since it was invented! And we suspect it always will be… A broken and snagged line is one thing, but please, please dispose of your fishing lines, weights and hooks responsibly.

We know most anglers are highly respectful of the beautiful waterways they fish in, so please read the RSPCA advice to anglers in this article: Anglers and How to Fish Responsibly

Food cans and plastic binders

Wild animals will scavenge for food and inevitably come across tins at one point. Please rinse them clean and remove the cut edge entirely to prevent lacerations and severed limbs. If possible, pinch them in the middle too as this will prevent a head or paw going too far in.

And if you’ve bought a 6-pack of cans, and they’ve come with a plastic binder around the top, please cut them into strips rather than leave them as circles. Entanglement can cause deep cuts and even choking.

There is further reading about single use plastics and litter in this RSPCA blog: Single Use Plastics

Sky lanterns

Notoriously dangerous to farm buildings and animals, there are some great alternatives to sky lanterns if you want to release them in memory of a loved one.

Try bubbles, butterflies or petals. Or you could organise the planting of a tree, bench or memorial plaque instead.

We hope this article has given you some food for thought and that perhaps you can pass on some information to others so we can keep our natural environment a safe and un-polluted place for animals to enjoy for a very long time to come.

If you’re concerned about a wild animal, please don’t call the branch, but read the advice in our blog about small wildlife rescue, or get in touch with the RSPCA National Helpline for small, sick and injured wildlife: 0300 123 8967.