Fox rescued from net
ANIMAL HAD TO BE CUT FREE FROM GOAL
A fox nearly got strangled when it was caught up in the back of a football net.
A passer-by raised the alarm after spotting the vixen trapped in the netting on a football pitch in Barrow-upon-Soar on Monday.
RSPCA inspector Richard Durrant was sent to the scene and realised the frightened fox was becoming more entangled in the netting as it tried to free itself.
He held the animal still and, with the help of the woman who raised the alarm, managed to cut most of the netting off.
But there was still netting wrapped round her body so he took her to Medivets, in Forest Road, Loughborough, and the rest was cut away under sedation.
“The netting was tight around the fox’s neck and she was in danger of strangling herself,” Richard said.
“I managed to cut her from the net, but some of it was still entwined around her body and as she was so feisty the safest thing to do was to take her to a vet. She was also examined and found to be in good health.
“Luckily, she just had minor bruising around her leg caused by the net tightening around her.”
Later that day Richard’s colleague Karl Marston was able to release the fox.
“These kinds of incidents are very stressful for an animal, particularly a wild animal, to find themselves in and one which could have been easily avoided,” Richard said.
“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.”
If you do encounter a wild animal you think needs help, call the RSPCA emergency line on 0300 1234 999 or visit its website.
To donate to the RSPCA, call its donation line on 0300 123 8181.