RSPCA steps in after bird deaths reported
THE RSPCA has urged Halton residents to report sightings of dead or trapped birds in netting after Halton Borough Council agreed to remove nets from the RuncornWidnes bridge.
Campaign group Respect For Wildlife UK contacted the charity last month after receiving complaints from shocked members of the public over the sight of perished pigeons beneath the structure.
Last week the Weekly News reported how Halton Council agreed to remove the nets after world-leading bird control expert Guy Merchant expressed horror at the scale of the suffering, branding it among the worst cases of deaths because of nets he had seen around the world.
The council had previously denied there was a problem and said the netting was needed to prevent pigeons from roosting on the bridge and damaging the paintwork by emitting their droppings onto it.
An RSPCA spokeswoman told the Weekly News that inspectors visited the site in early June and discovered the ‘very sad’ and ‘very concerning’ sight of the dead birds.
She said: “We have received reports about birds trapped in netting in this area. We last attended the area on Friday and saw a number of dead birds in the netting which was very sad and obviously very concerning to us.
“We have made contact with the local authority to raise our concerns with them and they have said they are taking the netting down this week to prevent any future issues.
“Each year around 2,000 reports are made to the RSPCA about wild birds trapped in or behind netting. A large number of these involving birddeterrent netting.
“Problems arise when netting is put up incorrectly or becomes damaged, leaving gaps where birds can enter and become trapped.
“These birds can suffer a long and painful death from injury or starvation.
“Unfortunately birddeterrent netting is often fixed in high or hard-toreach areas, making the rescue of trapped animals difficult and dangerous.
“If you have seen dead birds in netting, or where you are aware of a regular issue of birds becoming trapped in netting, the RSPCA would be grateful if you could please forward the address, property owner – if known – and date of the incident to wildlife@rspca.org.uk
“We will then write to the owner with advice and guidance about resolving the issue.”
Visit www.rspca.org.uk for more information on birds and netting.
Anyone who sees a live animal tangled or trapped in netting, should call contact the RSPCA’s cruelty and advice helpline on 0300 1234 999.