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A Tangled Tale
Rescuing a fox from plastic netting
This summer, our team at Tiggywinkles admitted Striker, a fox in a very sorry state after he became entangled in plastic garden netting. Having clearly struggled for hours – possibly even overnight – his rescuers acted quickly when they spotted him exhausted and unable to free himself.
By the time he arrived at our hospital, Striker was dehydrated and badly bruised, with severe swelling around his limbs and muscles caused by hours of frantic struggling whilst being constricted.
Thanks to the expertise of our veterinary team, we were able to safely remove the remaining netting and begin treatment. A condition called pressure necrosis is common where an animal has been caught in netting and the blood supply has been damaged. This can take up to seven days to appear which is why it’s important that an animal freed from netting should not be immediately released.
After some rest, pain relief, laser therapy and supportive care, we’re pleased to report that this courageous young fox has now been safely returned, back to the wild, where he came from.
Sadly, cases like Striker’s are all too common. Netting – often used in gardens, on sports fields, or over fruit and veg patches, can be a silent killer for wildlife. Foxes, hedgehogs, birds and even deer can become trapped, leading to serious injury or death.
You can help prevent this by removing or securing netting overnight and choosing wildlife-safe alternatives where possible. A simple action could save a life.
Find out more about ways you can help wildlife at tiggywinkles.com/wildlife-advice/animal-factsheets/
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By donating to Tiggywinkles, you will be helping us provide life-saving treatment and care to all species of British Wildlife.
