Shrews found dead in Glencoe after becoming trapped inside discarded beer bottle

Two shrews were found dead at a beauty spot in Glencoe after being discovered stuck inside a discarded beer bottle.

The tiny animals were found by rangers and volunteers of the Glencoe National Nature Reserve near Loch Achtriochtan at the weekend.

Images show the small mole-like mammals trapped inside the glass Corona bottle as it was tossed onto the grass.

One of the shrews can be seen confined in the neck of the bottle while the other appears to have drowned at the bottom.

Crews at Glencoe National Nature Reserve have hit out at the louts responsible as they urged members of the public to clean their litter up after them.

A statement on Facebook reads: "We hope these photos shock and sadden you like they did us. While it might not be initially obvious, this discarded beer bottle contains two dead shrews.

"Shrews like to crawl inside small holes for cover and to hunt for insects, but the smooth surface of a bottle often makes it impossible to get back out.

"If they don't drown in rainwater or the liquid remnants of the container, they eventually die of stress, starvation or exposure when they are unable to dry off.

"A study in a US National Park found dead small mammals in one in 10 of 1000 discarded bottles they checked, with one bottle containing more than 20 skeletons. Our Ranger Lindsay and volunteer Holly were litter-picking around Loch Achtriochtan when they found this bottle.

"They collected five bin bags of rubbish at this one beauty spot. Please take care not to spoil the incredible places you visit.

"Bring a bag, collect your waste, dispose of it elsewhere and help us get the word out - discarded bottles KILL wildlife."

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