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How Plastic Attracts Animals
Plastic that was once wrapped around or still containing food will attract animals because of the smell, and many animals will eat the food waste including the plastic container. Plastic cannot be broken down by the stomach, so it will begin to accumulate inside the animal and create a false sense of fullness. The animal becomes malnourished and eventually dies of starvation. An animal can also choke to death if the plastic blocks the throat and obstructs air flow.
Mistaking Plastic for Food
Even with no food or smell, plastic can be spotted and easily mistaken for food. In the oceans, sea turtles will identify plastic bags floating on water as dead jelly fish. Birds will mistake plastic bottle caps as fish eggs to feed their young. Plastic toys and misplaced plastic office items are all attractive to pets, which puts them at high risk. This is especially true for dogs and cats, which are likely to eat or chew on anything they find. Take it to a vet for immediate attention if you witness your pet eating plastic.
The Durability of Plastic
Plastic can lasts up to 100 years before beginning to decompose. Because of its endurance, the same plastic items can affect several generations of animals. Scavengers are at risk of eating a dead animal with a stomach full of plastic, and predators are at risk of hunting the ones still alive.
Plastic Entanglement
Some animals will stick their heads into a plastic bag containing food and get trapped. They go on to suffocate to death due to lack of oxygen. An animal can also become entangled within a web of plastic packing straps, making it vulnerable to natural predators or leaving it to die of starvation. Marine mammals that become entangled in plastic under water run the risk of drowning before they can reach the surface for air.