Snip Those Straps! Face Masks Are Trapping Britain’s Wildlife
As the Great British September Clean kicks off, the RSPCA is urging everyone to ‘snip the straps’ on disposable face masks. Since lockdown began, they’ve rescued over 900 animals trapped in litter – and face masks have become a new deadly hazard.
Disposable Masks: A Hidden Danger for Animals
With mask-wearing now law in shops, discarded face masks are piling up – and wildlife is paying the price. A gull in Chelmsford, Essex, was found with a face mask tightly wrapped around its legs, causing painful swelling. Thankfully, the bird has fully recovered, but it’s just one of many frightening encounters.
Chris Sherwood from the RSPCA said: “People know to cut up six-pack rings before throwing them away to stop animals getting trapped. Now, the same must be done with face masks. Thousands are discarded every day, and they’re a growing threat to birds and wild animals.”
The RSPCA warns that discarded masks could become a major problem if action isn’t taken soon. They advise everyone to cut the elastic ear straps before binning masks to save wildlife from nasty entanglements.
Disturbing Litter Rescues Since Lockdown
Since March 23, the RSPCA has dealt with 938 emergencies involving animals caught in litter, including more than just face masks:
- A fox in Portsmouth suffered deep neck cuts after getting its head stuck in a plastic bottle. After treatment, it was released back into the wild.
- A gull in Clifton, Bristol was tragically killed after being skewered by a discarded kebab stick embedded so deeply it was fatal.
- Another fox in Littlehampton, East Sussex, was found uninjured with its head stuck inside a large plastic reel and was freed safely.
Join the Fight: Great British September Clean
The Great British September Clean runs from 11 to 27 September. The RSPCA is backing the nationwide campaign to clear up litter and protect wildlife. This year, the focus is clear: cut those mask straps and stop careless rubbish from trapping our animals.
Don’t let your mask endanger wildlife – snip the straps before you bin it.
