WASHINGTON —The HSUS wants you to know that every time you take
out your garbage or recyclables you can help keep wildlife
safe. Raccoons, skunks, squirrels, birds, and other wildlife
are attracted to items that you throw away. Containers and
plastic wrap with food residues in your trash are tempting
treats for hungry wildlife. But they also pose a potential
danger.
Susan Hagood, wildlife issues specialist, warns, “Wide-mouth
containers can become death traps when animals get their heads
stuck inside and suffocate. And plastic containers, like some
yogurt containers, that are narrower at the top than the bottom
are especially hazardous to skunks. Plastic wrap mistakenly
eaten by hungry animals, possibly even your own pet, can cause
an internal blockage--a potentially fatal situation. And birds
and other animals can become entangled in plastic beverage
rings.”
The HSUS provides the following tips to ensure that your
garbage and recyclables won’t attract and potentially harm your
wild neighbors:
• Rinse and Recycle: Rinse all recyclable glass and plastic
containers to remove food remnants and odors. Animals like
skunks, whose front legs are too short to push containers off
their heads, are particularly vulnerable to harm from this type
of packaging.
• Cut or Crush: Cut up or crush plastic containers before
putting them in the garbage or recycling bin. Cut apart each
ring in plastic six-pack carriers and other similar
packaging.
• Close and Cover: Make sure plastic food wrap is rinsed and
contained inside a closed garbage bag. Never throw plastic
packaging into open trash cans. Always put garbage out for
collection in plastic or metal trash containers with secure
covers.
“Remember to properly dispose of containers and plastic wrap
when you’re hiking, camping, or picnicking, too,” says Hagood.
“It only takes an extra second or two, but it can save an
animal’s life.”
