Gull Tangled in Face Mask Rescued in England

A disposable surgical face mask had to be removed from a gull’s feet on July 18 after it became tangled in Chelmsford, England.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said staff at a local car dealership noticed the bird was struggling to walk for approximately a week. Concern was then raised that the gull had been “sat in the same spot for hours and didn’t appear to be moving,” according to RSPCA inspector Adam Jones.

“I went out to catch him and when he tried to hop away he would stumble and fall. As soon as I caught him it was clear to see why as the poor thing had a disposable Covid face mask tangled around both legs.”

The bird was taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital where the mask was removed.

The RSPCA said: “The concern is that, now face masks are compulsory for many situations, that there will be more and more being irresponsibly discarded and wild animals and birds will become tangled in the elastic straps.” Credit: South Essex Wildlife Hospital via Storyful