More than 500 animals have been severely injured, trapped, mutilated and killed by litter in Kent in the past four years.

New data from the RSPCA has revealed 13,000 litter-related calls were made to the charity in England and Wales between the start of 2020 and the end of 2023.

The county had the third highest amount of cases in the country at 526, with only Devon's 594 and Greater London, which includes Bexley and Bromley, which had 1,439 above it.

In March 2023, two male deer were found tangled together with discarded rope in a field in Fridd Lane, Ashford.

The pair became trapped after the rope got weaved around their antlers.

An emergency deer rescue specialist was able to remove the rope and they were freed.

Most of the litter-related reports the RSPCA received were for foxes, hedgehogs, and deer as well as swans, pigeons, and gulls.

The charity even received reports of family pets such as cats and dogs being affected by discarded waste.

On average, it received 13 reports per day across England and Wales during its peak months of May, June, July, and August.

Just last month, Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT) raised fears cattle could be injured or killed as a result of rubbish being dumped at beauty spots in the county.

Litter was recently strewn across Heather Corrie Vale nature reserve in Darenth Valley, and cows were pictured among the waste.

The trust also slammed “incredibly selfish” revellers after bangers and rockets were set off next to grazing cattle at reserves in Gillingham and Blue Bell Hill at the start of November.

Volunteers had to spend hours clearing up sparklers, beer bottles and litter.

At the start of the year, KWT campaigners welcomed government plans to ban disposable vapes, after finding an “increasing number” of them dumped at its nature reserves.

The RSPCA says disposable vapes, old drinks cans, bottles, and plastic items are among some of the most common littered items that pose dangers to wildlife.

Anti-litter campaigns manager for the charity, Carrie Stones, explained: “Our rescuers deal with thousands of avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter.

“Animals can ingest the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations and even death.

“Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.”

The charity is encouraging people to go on a litter pick to help remove waste that may endanger animals as a part of its Great British Spring Clean campaign.

Around 40% of the litter-related calls it receives are about animals getting caught in fishing litter.

Birds can get stuck in discarded fishing line, hooks and plastic netting.

Carrie added: “Old fishing line can cut deep into the flesh of water birds like swans, geese and ducks, affecting circulation and causing wounds to become seriously infected.

“We even see birds that have swallowed barbed fishing hooks.

“These hazards can very quickly become a matter of life or death for them and action is urgently needed to tackle this problem head-on.

“The majority of anglers do dispose of their litter properly and it is frustrating that those who don’t possibly don’t realise how dangerous it is to animals.

“Discarded line in particular is a terrible hazard for wildlife as it can be almost invisible.

“We strongly urge those who enjoy fishing to be extra cautious to make sure nothing is left behind.

“It only takes one piece of snagged line to be left in a tree or dropped near the water to endanger the life of an animal.”

Discarded biodegradable food litter can also put animals at risk of road traffic collisions.

Carrie continued: “If an apple core or fruit peel is thrown from a passing vehicle or discarded by the roadside, it can attract many kinds of wildlife – from mammals to birds – and put them in danger of passing vehicles.

“It’s up to every one of us to do our bit in the war against litter.”