Garden hazards Warning after deer found stuck in football net
AMUNTJAC deer got caught in a football net in a garden in Cheltenham, prompting a warning from its rescuers.
The little deer was found at a house in Charlton Kings, stuck in the net and scared on the morning of Wednesday, March 13.
The people living in the house called the RSPCA for help – and luckily the deer was safely rescued.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Freya Lamb said: “The football netting was all tangled up around this poor little muntjac deer’s mouth and tusks. He was making a lot of noise and trying really hard to get free. But he needed some help.”
She added: “I used a special tool to hold him still while I checked him over. Luckily, other than a few small cuts on his legs, he looked OK, so I cut the net away from the front of him.
“The deer managed to get his backside and back legs out by himself and then ran off into the woods.”
Getting stuck in netting is very frightening for an animal, especially one that is wild, says the charity.
The RSPCA gets hundreds of calls every year to rescue animals – often wildlife – who have got caught in sports or garden netting. And if the animal gets really tangled up, netting – whether it’s used for sports, fencing or the garden – can cause serious injuries or even death.
Wild animals often get stuck during the night and by morning, they may have been struggling for hours. They usually need a vet’s help and some calming medicine to set them free.
Freya said: “Thanks to the householders’ quick thinking, we were able to reach this stressed animal in the nick of time. But the outcome could have been very different.
“We would urge those using nets for sports to remove and store them after their game and put any discarded or old netting safely in a bin. This is a great way people can help create a better and kinder world for wild animals.”
The RSPCA is turning 200 years old this year. To celebrate, the animal charity wants to inspire one million people to join it movement to make life better for animals. To find out how you can join the million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200
We were able to reach this stressed animal in the nick of time. But the outcome could have been very different Freya Lamb