Somerset is one of the worst counties in England when it comes to littering.
In recent data released by the RSPCA, it was reported that the RSPCA received 2,199 reports about animals affected by litter last year across England and Wales.
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The call comes as Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’ kicked off yesterday (Friday 21 March-6 April).
There were more reports about foxes (160), deer (48) and hedgehogs (31) impacted by litter than any other mammals in 2024. Amongst wild birds, reports about pigeons came top (516), followed by swans (445) and gulls (383).
The nationwide litter pick comes as an RSPCA survey of animal lovers and supporters citing the effects litter has on animals at the 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.
The top 10 counties with the biggest litter problems affecting animals, based on reports to the RSPCA last year, are:
10. Somerset (54)
9. Merseyside (55)
8. Cornwall & Essex (joint 56)
7. Hampshire (60)
6. Kent (70)
5. Devon (77)
4. Lancashire (81)
3. West Midlands (87)
2. Greater Manchester (95)
1. Greater London (263)
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, a fox caught in an old clothes drying rack and a crow entangled in an 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.
“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.
"But the public can help us protect animals, and avoid these incidents happening in the first place."
