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‘DEATH TRAPS’: Rickmansworth wildlife hospital issues warning over football nets

 Published on: 12th July 2025   |   By: Kelly Pells   |   Category: Uncategorized

Pumpkin’s Wildlife Hospital in Rickmansworth has issued a reminder to residents to take down football nets after they have finished playing.

Animals such as foxes, hedgehogs and birds can become caught in football nets left out overnight. Many are left with injuries and some even die if they are unable to escape.

Posting on Facebook, the hospital said: “Last year, we found three young fox siblings strangled to death in garden nets.

“We’ve also rescued countless others – foxes, hedgehogs, even birds – caught in football nets left out overnight.

“The more they panic, the more tangled they get. These nets are silent death traps.”

The RSPCA reportedly rescue hundreds of animals a year which have become tangled in netting. The organisation advises to remove sports netting when not in use, don’t leave netting up overnight, replace fruit or vegetable netting with metal mesh, and use wood panels instead of nets for fencing.

If you spot an animal which is trapped or in need of help, contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

Photo credit: Pumpkin’s Wildlife Hospital Facebook

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