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RSPCA
The elastic straps on his face had become tighter around the seagull’s legs.
A seagull has been rescued after its legs were trapped in the elastic of a disposable face mask for about a week.
He was seen struggling to walk in Chelmsford, Essex, by the staff of an automobile showroom, but when they tried to get close, the bird managed to fly.
By Saturday, he could only “trip and fall as the poor man had a disposable Covid face mask wrapped around both legs,” said an RSPCA official.
The charity asked people to responsibly dispose of any PPE they may be using.
Staff at the car company on Argyll Road called the charity over the weekend after they “became increasingly concerned” that the seagull had been sitting “in the same place for hours and did not appear to be moving,” said the RSPCA inspector Adam Jones. .
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RSPCA
When rescued, the seagull could only jump, trip, and fall.
Although he did his best to get away from Mr. Jones, the mask had wrapped more tightly around the seagull and was no longer able to fly.
“It is clear that the mask was there for some time and the elastic straps tightened around his legs as his joints were swollen and sore,” he said.
‘First of many’
The bird was taken to RSPCA’s South Essex Wildlife Hospital, where staff cut the mask.
“Fortunately, he has done well and is being closely monitored,” Jones said.
“Now they have released him into an aviary with other seagulls and when the group is ready they will all be released together.”
The charity believes that “face masks are now mandatory for many situations, there will be more and more irresponsible discards, and wild animals and birds will become entangled in elastic straps.”
“I am concerned that this seagull may be the first of many victims now that facial masks are the norm,” added Jones.
