March 21 (UPI) — The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in England helped rescue a fox trapped inside the net of a soccer goal.
The fox was struggling to free itself from the side of the soccer net at a school in Hertfordshire when animal control officers arrived to cut it loose.
Animal Collection Officer Grace Mead said the fox was uninjured and was released back to the wild, but said sports netting left outside regularly presents a threat to wild animals.
“Sadly we do get called to a lot of incidents where wildlife have got themselves caught up in sports netting. Now that we’re in spring and the weather will be getting nicer, people will be making more use of tennis and goal nets, which is why it is very important that we get the message out about how hazardous it can be,” Mead said.
Mead said the fox was lucky to have avoided injury in the incident and encouraged citizens to put their sports equipment away.
“Sadly, over the years far too many animals are rescued from sports netting, including birds, hedgehogs and foxes,” Mead said. “So please help us to help keep wildlife safe by putting away your sports nets when you have finished playing. It only takes a few minutes and it could save an animal from suffering, like this poor fox did.”
