Top tips for disposing of litter and preventing harm to wildlife:
– Plastic holders for drinks cans can choke animals, so cut open the loops of the plastic holders.
– Tin cans often trap animals and a half-open lid may cut them badly. Take the lid off, put it inside and crush or pinch the opening shut.
– Plastic bags can suffocate. Re-use your bags instead of throwing them away, or tie a knot in them when you dispose of them properly.
– Broken bottles can cut. Take all glass to a bottle bank. – Fishing line can strangle. Take it home and cut it up. – Balloons can kill if eaten. Avoid balloon releases and cut up used balloons.
Deadly nylon
The sort of danger that litter can present for wildlife was made plain last July when the SSPCA were involved in a cliff-top rescue operation to recover a young peregrine falcon in Dumfries & Galloway. When they got to the nest, they discovered that the bird's feet had been amputated after becoming tangled in nylon string (pictured left).
This incident only occurred as a result of rubbish being discarded and washed up on the shoreline. Both of its feet had been tragically cut off after its legs had become snared in plastic wire and netting, which the parents had used to build the nest. Due to the extent of its injuries, the only humane option was to put the falcon to sleep.
“It’s a sad fact that discarded rubbish is now a feature of our coastlines and countryside,” explained local SSPCA inspector Janet Proudlock, “and birds are commonly building their nests from materials that they wouldn’t naturally find in the wild. The birds don’t know the difference between nylon string and grasses, and this is the reason why tragedies like this occur. If people just cleaned up after themselves, we wouldn’t have to deal with this sort of issue. To lose a magnificent bird such as a peregrine falcon in this way is very sad indeed.”
www.snh.gov.uk 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68