THE RSPCA has revealed that Somerset is in the top 10 worst counties for reports about litter-affected animals.

In just the last year, the animal welfare charity RSPCA received 2,199 reports about animals affected by litter across England and Wales, with Somerset receiving 54, and Devon 77.

The charity is now urging county residents to join an upcoming litter pick as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’ which kicks off tomorrow [Friday, March 21.]

The nationwide litter-pick comes as an RSPCA survey of animal lovers and supporters cites the effects litter has on animals as top of their list of concerns about the potential problems carelessly discarded rubbish creates. Three-quarters (74%) of those respondents identified impact and harm to animals as their leading concern.

A swan is caught up in old fishing line -The RSPCA has revealed that Somerset is in the top ten for reports about litter-affected animals
A swan is caught up in old fishing line -The RSPCA has revealed that Somerset is in the top ten for reports about litter-affected animals (Photo: RSPCA)

The RSPCA’s frontline rescuers, volunteers, vets and rehab centres are seeing the consequences of carelessly discarded litter on our wildlife - including a duck caught in a plastic drinks holder and a fox caught in an old clothes drying rack and a crow entangled in a polythene bag, to a seal with old netting cutting into the flesh of her neck and a swan caught up in old fishing line.

The RSPCA’s anti-litter campaign manager Carrie Stones said: “It’s distressing to see how our native wildlife is being affected by litter, and we urge everyone in Somerset to join the Great British Spring Clean litter pick to help protect animals.

A fox caught in an old clothes drying rack
A fox caught in an old clothes drying rack (RSPCA)

“Our rescuers deal with so many avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter. “Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife - including, more than any other mammals, foxes, deer and hedgehogs. Animals can ingest the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations and even death

“Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and some of our fellow living creatures may even be losing their lives.

“But the public can help us protect animals and avoid these incidents happening in the first place.”