WILD birds and animals are suffering and dying due to casually dropped litter and discarded fishing line and hooks. That’s the stark message from the RSPCA in the West Midlands as the charity makes a plea for people to clean up their act. They say that not a week goes by without their officers being called out to rescue birds and animals that are painfully suffering due to the thoughtless actions of litter louts. Recent casualties have included a dead coot caught in fishing line, a duck which had fishing line wrapped around its body and leg and a baby hedgehog stuck in the wire from a champagne cork. From January to October 2008, the regional RSPCA received 970 calls about water birds affected by litter, 737 of which had been injured by angling litter. Another 185 calls were received about wild birds which were in danger due to litter and 67 calls about injured wild mammals. The mammals affected include hedgehogs, foxes, deer and badgers. Many of the animals rescued within the region end up at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich where they receive the treatment required for successful rehabilitation back to the wild. Manager at Stapeley, Dr Andrew Kelly said: “Over a three-year period we admitted almost 1,500 swans of which 300 had been hurt by fishing tackle. “Many of these required surgical intervention to remove hooks from their mouths or throats. Had the birds not been rescued, they’d almost certainly have starved to death. “In addition, 75% of swans had excess lead in their blood as a result of ingesting lost and discarded lead fishing weights which persist in the environment. “Lead makes the birds very ill and can result in sickness, lethargy and death.” Animal collection officer Boris Lasserre said: “People are clearly ignoring ‘no fishing’ signs and fishing in prohibited areas. “The problem with fishing litter is particularly bad as on a weekly basis we receive calls about sick or injured birds caught in fishing line.” Anyone who spots an injured wild animal or bird should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. CASE STUDY RSPCA animal collection officer,Suzie Smith rescued a swan from Whitchurch in August after it was seen with a fishing hook in its beak. The hook was in the swan’s beak and fishing line was wrapped around its throat. Suzie captured the bird but was unable to remove the hook at the scene. The swan was taken to a rescue centre where it received an operation to remove the hook. The swan quickly soon recovered and was released back to the water the next day. | 
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