RSPCA urges people to be aware of netting after not-so cunning Mr Fox gets trapped on fence
Date published: 04 February 2021
A Middleton man saw the fox trapped in his garden and alerted the RSPCA
A not-so cunning Mr Fox had to be rescued by the RSPCA after he was found hanging upside down on fence netting in a garden.
A man who lives in Broomfield Crescent in Middleton saw the fox trapped in his garden and alerted the RSPCA.
Animal rescuer David Cottingham was sent to the scene and could see how the fox had become trapped by climbing over the fence netting and got his back leg stuck so was left hanging and unable to get free.
Mr Cottingham used a grasper pole to hold the feisty fox in place while he cut the fox free with wire cutters.
He said: “The netting was tight around the fox’s leg and there is always a worry that as the animal twists to try and free itself the netting becomes tighter and can cut off blood circulation.
"Fortunately, this had not happened in this case.
“As soon as I cut him free I could see he was in good condition and he happily ran off.
"But these kind of incidents are a very stressful situation for an animal, particularly a wild animal, to find themselves in and one which could be easily avoided
“Netted fencing and netting used for gardening or in sport can be really dangerous for animals.
“We would urge those using netting for sports to remove and store all nets after their game and put any discarded or old netting safely in a bin.
"Any garden netting should be replaced with solid metal mesh or people should use wood panels for fencing instead of netting.”
The RSPCA receives hundreds of calls every year to rescue animals - often wildlife - who have become tangled in netting, sport or garden nets or fishing litter.
If you do encounter a wild animal you think needs help, call the emergency line on 0300 1234 999 or visit the website: www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/injuredanimals
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