Badger trapped in net in Falkirk could have 'strangled itself'

A resident noticed the animal entangled in a set of goals in their back garden on June 20 and contacted the SSPCA.

The animal welfare charity said the male badger could have suffered “serious injury” had the incident not been reported.

SSPCA animal rescue officer Emma Chisholm said: “Thankfully we were able to get to the animal before he caused himself serious injury.

“I was able to successfully free the badger from the net and he was taken to our National Wildlife Centre at Fishcross to be treated for minor injuries.

“After some time to rest and recover, he was successfully released back into the wild on June 26.

“This badger was very lucky that the homeowner was vigilant and noticed him in the garden but the outcome could have been very different.

“Nets like these can be very dangerous for both domestic and wild animals as they can easily become tangled. The animal then panics and becomes even more entangled as it struggles to free itself.

“It causes a great deal of stress and n the worst case scenario, the animal can end up accidentally strangling itself.

“We’d ask anyone with one of these nets in their garden to keep an eye out for any animals in difficulty and, if possible, tidy the net away somewhere safe once they’ve finished using it.”

Anyone who discovers an injured wild animal should contact the SSPCA’s animal helpline on 03000 999 999.