Third cub this year - same preventable cause
- April 2026
- Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue
Thankfully, our friends at The Fox Rescuers were able to reach him in time. This marks their second netting-related cub rescue this year alone – an alarming and deeply frustrating pattern, especially when these incidents are so easily preventable.
When rescuers arrived, the cub was exhausted and close to giving up. As they carefully cut him free, his cries of panic and pain echoed through the area. Nearby, his mother watched helplessly – staying close, but unable to intervene as her young cub struggled.
This is the reality of leaving nets unattended.
Once safely back at our hospital, the cub underwent a full assessment. We found severe swelling around his neck – an injury that raised serious concerns.
At the time, we didn’t know how long he had been trapped. Injuries caused by netting can often be deceptive. If blood flow has been restricted, there is a risk of a ligature wound developing – something that may not fully present for up to 10 days after the initial trauma.
Over the following days, he remained under close observation. Aside from a little dehydration, we were able to stabilise him while carefully monitoring for any delayed damage to the skin.
Despite how severe the swelling initially appeared, there were thankfully no wounds or marks where the netting had been removed.
Incredibly, this young cub was given a second chance.
After a week in our care, he had recovered well enough to return to the wild – right where he belongs.
When the time came to release him, his mum was there waiting.
Watching that moment – seeing them reunited – was something truly special, and a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
Moments like that make every second of this work worthwhile.
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