A wildlife rescue charity has warned that “preventable and needless” litter is causing an increasing number of injuries to birds and animals.
Recent call-outs have included a duck with half a yoghurt pot trapped around its beak and neck, and a fox with its head stuck in a discarded drainage pipe.
Janice Eden-Bagley, a volunteer at Blyth Wildlife Rescue, said the team is facing a constant stream of emergency calls.
“People have lost sight of what their actions mean,” she said, as she appealed for people to pick up litter, “even if it’s not yours”.
The charity, which operates across Northumberland and Tyneside, reported that litter has accounted for 9% of all admissions so far this year.
Ms Eden-Bagley said: “Another fox we rescued had its head stuck inside a can. We even dealt with a seagull with a tennis ball stuck in its mouth.”
Discarded fishing equipment – including lines and rods – is also proving to be a persistent problem, she added.
“The birds ingest it, they get entangled in it,” she said.
“It causes suffering and cuts into their skin, developing an infection. It’s a really horrible thing to see.”
Sara Perry, a medic at the centre, recalled treating a duck with a yoghurt pot stuck around its beak and neck, which had led to an infected wound.
“When we caught him…he was quite thin, as he had been like that for some time,” she said.
One particularly challenging case involved a mute swan at a pond in Wallsend, North Tyneside. The bird had a plastic ring embedded around its lower beak, and the combination of low water levels and thick reeds made the rescue especially difficult.
Ms Perry said it was “sad because it’s preventable and needless”.
The rescue centre has visited local schools to educate children about the importance of disposing of litter responsibly, but Ms Perry admitted they are unable to help every animal in need.
“There will be ones we don’t know about that will be suffering right now,” she said.
Depending on the species, the 16-strong team can care for more than 200 animals at any given time. However, the centre said it is struggling to meet the growing demand.
“If you see litter, pick it up, even if it’s not yours,” said Ms Eden-Bagley.
“It could save an animal’s life. People have lost sight of what their actions mean.”
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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.
