The Effects of our Litter on Sealife and Other Animals

Did you know that around the world, an estimated one million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die each year?  This is either from becoming trapped in plastic or eating it.

Plastic is one of the biggest threats to all whales and dolphins. It is estimated that there are 13,000 pieces of plastic litter per square kilometre of the world's oceans.  Did you know that 500 billion plastic bags are used on this planet each year?  I bet you didn't.  also, more than a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die from either eating or choking on PLASTIC BAGS.  I bet you didn't know your plastic bags kill all these harmless, cute and adorable sea creatures. 

With a whopping amount of 7 billion tonnes of debris entering our ocean's annually, most of it long-lasting plastic, there's a huge amount of potential harm that can be caused to our birds and marine animals - including seals and dolphins which we starve to death when they are confused by our plastic litter. 

Can you believe that you might be responsible for the death of a sea creature?  If you're not feeling bad now, I don't believe that you can even have feelings. 

These are only a few of the many facts about how litter affects sea life and our oceans. 

How does our rubbish affect animals?

Never ever litter.  Animals of all kinds often mistake trash for food or shelter.  Securely cover garbage cans and recycling bins so that animals can't get into them and become trapped inside... Your actions could be the different between life or death for an animal.  Every day, items such as fizzy drinks cans and plastic bottles can be extremely deadly for unsuspecting wildlife and even dogs and cats.  Imagine seeing your dog or cat dying because of litter you've left.  

Because of litter, birds have had their beaks wrapped and wings tangled up, and this is all because of your litter.  Fishing hooks are a real problem as they can cause birds to swallow the hooks.  Even the tiniest of animals can fall victims to litter.  Discarded cans in particular, are tempting to small animals who are looking for food or shelter.  

You may think that throwing chewing gum is fine.  But no!  You are WRONG!  Animals often get gum matted into their fur or feathers, making it very difficult for the creature to move.  

Here are a few reasons why littering must stop.  Litter is a HUGE environmental issue.  Carelessly discarded garbage affects every member of society:  It causes harm to us humans and animals; damages our waterways; costs us money; and suggests that we don't care for our lovely environment.  Fortunately, we can all do something to help prevent and reduce litter.  So you must have realised that we ALL must put a stop to littering.  And fast!  

So, will you help us to defeat and conquer littering? Well I am.  And you must join me and everyone else who believes that littering must stop.   

by Leo Jaszewski