To mark World Environment Day (June 5), and with the summer holidays approaching, the Scottish SPCA is warning that public carelessness can have devastating, often deadly, consequences for wildlife – particularly in Scotland where 98 per cent of the landmass is rural.
The Highlands Council’s annual ranger reports painted a stark picture with rangers filling 2100 bags of litter last year and recording 638 waste and fly-tipping incidents – figures that have barely changed in recent years. When these spaces are treated irresponsibly, wildlife tends to pay the price, putting already vulnerable species at an even greater risk.
Sean Meechan, wildlife operations lead at the SSPCA, said: “With an unseasonably warm May, we have seen a particularly high number of wildlife [casualties] arrive in our care trapped in some form of netting or wire that can be associated with outdoor activities compared to previous years.
“These include foxes, badgers, gulls and hedgehogs. There has been a range of damage caused to them, from relatively minor to quite extensive, requiring significant care.”
According to a 2022 report carried out by People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, the population of rural hedgehogs has declined by 30 per cent since 2000. Road accidents and littering are major contributors to this sharp decline. Hedgehogs are naturally inquisitive, often leading them to investigate rubbish, where they become trapped and injured, sometimes leading to their death.
One such victim was Angus, a hedgehog found terrified and barely breathing by an SSPCA animal rescue officer. Upon inspection, the officer found football netting cutting into his skin and as he struggled to free himself, it resulted in deeper lacerations and infection. Fortunately, after weeks of treatment at the National Wildlife Centre, Angus was finally well enough to return to the wild.
But he is far from alone. Three hedgehogs are currently recovering in SSPCA care after getting trapped in netting. Every one of these incidents was preventable and diverts vital resources away from animals who urgently need our help. The SSPCA is also urging the public to take greater care when driving, as calls to its helpline relating to road traffic accidents surge past 2000 within three years and littering continues to be a serious problem.
Scotland is renowned for its wildlife, homing more than 90,000 species, yet many are declining. According to the ‘State of Nature Scotland’ report, one in nine species is threatened with national extinction and Scottish wildlife has decreased by 15 per cent since 1994.
The pressure is mounting. Between 2023 and 2025, the charity responded to more than 109,000 wildlife incidents – highlighting the scale of the crisis.
Across Scotland, many animals are alone and scared, and some need lifesaving care for their injuries. The charity depends on you to keep its doors open. Your donations could be the reason why the next Angus survives. Donate today at: www.scottishspca.org/wildlives/
Inspired by this work? Want to make a difference? The SSPCA needs you. Please visit its website to explore volunteering opportunities: www.scottishspca.org/ways-to-help/volunteer/
To report a concern of cruelty, visit the Scottish SPCA website: www.scottishspca.org/contact/
The SSPCA Helpline has responded to 104,635 calls from the public since January 2025, highlighting the compassion of communities across the country.
