Let’s not rubbish our wildlife

All sorts of rubbish left behind, or left lying about the yard and not considered harmful, can and does injure wildlife and other animals. How we responsibly dispose of rubbish can help prevent severe injuries and death to inquisitive or hungry critters.
WIRES, unfortunately, receives a large number of calls to rescue birds injured by, or tangled in, fishing line. Rather sad really, considering it is a preventable injury, which occurs generally from neglect. If you do go fishing, please be alert and pick up any discarded line you may see lying about and dispose of it responsibly.

It is not just along the coast that this sort of injury happens either; recently WIRES rescued a local Tawny frogmouth well away from the coast, with a rusted fishing hook embedded in its leg. Thankfully, after minor surgery to remove hook and 9 days in rehab, WIRES carer Alicia was able to release this bird back into the wild, where it had come from.

Almost all of us use plastic milk or cordial bottles, these all have a round plastic seal around the top, and how we dispose of this small ring can be the difference between life and tragic death for unwitting wildlife. Before disposal, cut it open with scissors, so it no longer poses a threat to wildlife, as seen here in photo. This Magpie was lucky, it was found before starving to death, many do not fare so well, and they succumb silently, in agony and out of sight.

Drink cans are also deadly traps, when thoughtlessly discarded, snakes are one of many species that can become trapped while exploring the inside of the can. If a snake slithers its head through the opening, it may be unable to get it back out, as its scales do not bend backwards and can keep it pinned at the neck.

Plastic bags, the bane of modern society, are seen along almost every roadside; many of these end up in our waterways entangling turtles and platypus or wash out to sea causing untold damage to many aquatic creatures and slow death to marine mammals by compromising them in many ways.

Let us not forget the dreaded orchard netting, often seen as discarded piles about yards or sheds, when no longer needed, or loosely draped over fruit trees and veggie gardens, to protect plants. Many creatures get tangled up in the netting, suffering constriction, dehydration and starvation, it’s not pleasant to find an animal in this condition.we ask everyone to be diligent about the responsible removal of unused or unnecessary netting from around their property, and please urge others to do likewise.

 

Brown snake seen here trapped in discarded orchard netting.

It received extensive veterinary treatment, and after time in care was successfully released.

 

 

Glass from empty bottles, left behind and broken by time, can cut the feet or mouths of unsuspecting wildlife, when running or grazing. Unfortunately, they cannot go to the doctor for stitching, bandaging and antibiotics, so many suffer infections that can be fatal, or are crippled, inhibiting their ability to survive.
Sounds depressing? It need not be, if we only spare a thought for the other creatures we share this environment with, by cleaning up after ourselves, or after others less responsible.

 

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