A fox has been rescued by the RSPCA after she was found with a strip of canvas from a washing line cover wrapped round her tongue – leaving her trapped and unable to escape.
The distressed fox was found in a garden in Beresford Road, Chingford, by a neighbour at around 6am on 21 June.
The caller contacted the RSPCA, and Animal Rescue Officer Caitlin Farrant arrived at the scene to help.
She said: “When I arrived, the poor fox was clearly distressed and completely stuck. The canvas had twisted tightly around her tongue and she was unable to free herself. It was heartbreaking to see—but thankfully we were able to safely cut her free and get her to the wildlife hospital for urgent care.”
The fox was taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital, where the canvas was removed. She is being treated for a very swollen tongue but is recovering well and is expected to be released back into the wild.
Caitlin added: “This incident is a good reminder to secure any loose material in your garden. Foxes can get tangled in all sorts of things – it’s usually netting – but it’s always worth checking for anything that could pose a risk to wildlife.”
RSPCA specialist officers will always help with complex rescues like this where we can, to ensure the safety of both the animal and the public by using our specialist skills, training and equipment. But there are also lots of situations where animal-lovers can help animals themselves, such as when a hedgehog has fallen into a garden drain or a bird has flown into a kitchen.
When an animal is in need, the quicker they get help the better. If you are sure an animal is sick or injured don’t try to handle it yourself and keep a safe distance. You can find out more on how to help a fox here
By working together, we can all help more animals, more quickly. We’re grateful to all animal-lovers for helping to create a kinder world for every kind.
Summer should be a season of joy for animals. Long walks on golden evenings. Zoomies on the beach. Stretching out in the garden to soak up the sun. But there’s a side to summer you don’t see. For thousands of animals, it’s a season of pain, fear and suffering, when cruelty peaks. Support the RSPCA’s Summer Cruelty Appeal at: rspca.org.uk/endcruelty.
