Why you need to cut off the straps:
During this pandemic, it’s incredibly important to protect yourself and others by wearing a mask.
However, with disposable masks, there is a high likelihood for the straps to cause animals to tangle in them. In the UK, a charity has stated that “it has dealt with 938 incidents of animals caught in litter” from March 2020 to September 2020, which can include masks. When animals are tangled in masks, this restricts their movement, causing injury or possibly even death. Marine mammals may mistake the masks as food, causing them to swallow nonedible materials.
Disposable face masks are becoming a cause for concern for wild birds and animals. In addition, disposable face masks include plastic, or particularly polypropylene, that cannot be broken down. There is a large support for the usage of reusable masks instead of disposable ones. Make sure to properly discard your masks especially if you are using a disposable one. Ensure that you cut off the ear straps in order to protect wildlife.
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