The RSPCA is warning adults and youngsters caught up in football fever to remember to take down their goal nets at night – or run the risk of causing harm and injury to wildlife.
A fox caught up in a football net in Siward Road , Bromley, is just one of dozens of wild animals rescued by the RSPCA from football and tennis nets over the summer months. This fox was lucky – it was released by Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Zenon Brown unharmed – but others are so badly injured that they require immediate euthanasia. Others have to be taken away for veterinary treatment.

ACO Brown said: “This young fox had got itself entangled in a football net. A fox has no awareness of the potential danger to life or serious injury that netting can present. In most cases - and especially with nylon netting - it causes extreme suffering to the animal that becomes trapped.”

He explained that the fox walks into the net unaware that if it just backed up and stepped out like we would, it then would be freed. He said: “The fox panics, twisting its body around and around and jumping in the air in vain attempts to become free. It would surely die a very slow death if it were not found and rescued.” He said that the situation could be avoided if people would raise netting or put it out the way of wildlife after use.

In the past year the RSPCA has been called to rescue animals such as deer, foxes, badgers, snakes and hedgehogs which have become entangled in sports netting used for tennis and football.

RSPCA south east regional superintendent Alan Goddard said: “We want children to have fun whilst playing games but to take a couple of moments to check netting beforehand for animals which may be caught, then to put the net away at night. Just a few seconds could prevent hours of suffering for an animal.”

For further information please contact RSPCA SE regional press officer Klare Kennett on 0870 7540298 or 07715540315.

©RSPCA South East