Football Goal Nets
NETTING CAN BE A DEADLY TRAP
Protect wildlife and pets by making sure netting is never left where animals can become caught.
Netting is used for all sorts of things — football goals, gardens, ponds, fruit trees, allotments and play equipment.
But to wildlife and domestic animals, loose netting can become a deadly trap.
Animals can become tangled around their legs, necks, wings or bodies. As they struggle to escape, the netting can tighten, causing deep wounds, loss of circulation, broken bones, exhaustion, strangulation and sometimes death.
THESE ARE REAL FOXES WE HAVE RESCUED FROM NETTING
These are just three of the hundreds of foxes we have rescued from netting. Every one of these incidents was preventable.
Photo 1: A vixen who chewed through her own foot in a desperate attempt to escape.
Photo 2: A cub who suffered severe constriction wounds around his neck and was rescued just in time.
Photo 3: A pregnant vixen who spent 10 days in our hospital recovering from her injuries, while extreme stress put her unborn cubs at risk.
THE SIMPLE SOLUTION
IF YOU’RE NOT USING IT — PACK IT AWAY.
If netting is being used temporarily, take it down and store it safely as soon as you have finished.
If it needs to remain in place, tie it up securely off the ground so animals cannot walk, run or climb into it.
Never leave loose netting lying on the ground.
This applies to all types of netting — not just football nets.
IF YOU FIND AN ANIMAL TRAPPED IN NETTING
DON’T JUST CUT IT FREE AND LET IT GO.
Even if an animal appears to be okay after being freed, injuries caused by tight netting may not be visible. Damage to muscles, nerves and blood supply can be hidden beneath fur or feathers and may become apparent later.
Contact your local wildlife rescue for advice.
Please don’t put yourself at risk trying to rescue a frightened or struggling animal.
You can find your nearest wildlife rescue here:
directory.helpwildlife.co.uk/our-private-directory/
PACK IT AWAY. TIE IT UP. SAVE A LIFE.
A few seconds spent securing netting could prevent an animal from suffering serious injury — or losing its life.
Please share this information with your school, sports club, allotment, workplace, friends and neighbours.
The Fox Project
