close
close

The dramatic operation to free a fox cub trapped underground in a pipe, as RSPCA reveals top rescues

The dramatic operation to free a fox cub trapped underground in a pipe, as RSPCA reveals top rescues

“He was very shaken and very thin, but he also growled and tried to bite”

(Image: RSPCA)

A terrified fox cub trapped underground in a pipe in Manchester has been freed in a dramatic rescue, which has been named one of the RSPCA’s top operations of the year.

The charity, now in its 200th year, was called thousands of times in 2024, with emergencies involving affected animals from peacocks to badgers. But a rescue in Old TraffordEdit It turned out to be particularly complicated, but fortunately it had a happy ending.

The tiny fox cub, believed to be around four weeks old, became trapped in a four-inch-wide drainage pipe two feet underground in April. The owners heard the pup on their basement wall and called Fox Rescuers, a wildlife rescue based in Stockportfor help, but due to the complexity of the rescue needed, they called the RSPCA and Quick Drains in Manchester.

RSPCA animal rescue officer Lee Ferrans said: “The pipe was at right angles which meant it was very difficult to place any equipment in there to free the puppy. The Quick Drains team placed a camera in the pipe to so we could check if the fox was still breathing and fortunately it was.

“We could see that he was very distressed, he had not eaten for several days and needed to get out as soon as possible.

The RSPCA(Image: RSPCA)

“It was decided that the only way to get the fox out was to dig a hole and take out the pipe. The owner of the house gave us permission and, after a lot of work, the fox cub was finally free. It was very shocked and very thin but He also growls and tries to bite, which is a good sign.”

Other rescues in the top 10 include a peacock that fell from a roof, a badger in a lime kiln and a sheep trapped between a wall and a fence.

RSPCA inspection director Steve Bennett said: “For 200 years, the RSPCA’s dedicated and passionate team of rescuers have been helping animals in need. We are here for all types; But with almost a million calls for help every year, we can’t do it alone.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the animal-loving members of the public who have helped rescue animals themselves, taken them to vets for specialist care, as well as the other agencies who help save the lives of animals in need, from the fire service to the police to small local rescues!

“We will always use our specialist skills to help animals where we can and we are grateful to other agencies for working with us to help animals in need.

“But there are also many ways the public can help animals – after all, the quicker an animal gets help, the better. If we all work together, we can create a better, kinder world for all animals.”

For more advice on how to help an animal yourself or how to report it to the RSPCA, visit www.rspca.org.uk/reportaconcern.