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Wildlife injuries expected to rise

Discarded fishing tackle peaks in summer holidays

As the school holidays begin, the RSPCA has predicted a rise in the number of wild animals injured by discarded fishing equipment.

According to the charity, 78 animals were taken into its four wildlife centres in 2012 due to fishing-related injuries.

Already this year, there have been 43 incidents, a figure that is expected to rise with the start of the holidays.

Senior RSPCA scientist Adam Grogan, said: "We always see an increase in animals injured by fishing litter during the summer holidays when inexperienced anglers are more likely to take advantage of the warmer weather and holiday time.

"Floats get caught in throats, hooks pierce skin and beaks and fishing line frequently gets wrapped around limbs.


"Swans seem particularly affected by this issue, but we have also seen other animals such as gulls, geese and even the odd owl with serious and often fatal injuries."


The RSPCA is currently working with the Angling Trust, the Environment Agency and the National Swan Convention to reduce the damaging effects of discarded fishing tackle on wildlife.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."