THE RSPCA is urging people to help keep wildlife safe this spring after two fox cubs became trapped in football nets in Bradford and Leeds within days of each other.

Concerned homeowners contacted the animal welfare charity after waking up and finding the stricken baby foxes in their gardens.

The female cubs were tightly tangled around their necks and bodies by the netting and were struggling to get free.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The RSPCA has issued a warning after two fox cubs were trapped in football nets.The RSPCA has issued a warning after two fox cubs were trapped in football nets. (Image: UGC)

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Aleesha Haddlesey attended both rescues at addresses in Alwoodley on Wednesday, May 1, and Wrose on April 25.

Both cubs, who were aged between six and eight weeks old, were carefully cut from the nets with scissors.

The fox cub from Leeds was struggling to breathe at first, although she recovered quickly and was found to be uninjured. The cub from Bradford was also unharmed.

May is a peak month for netting entanglements, when inexperienced and curious young animals venture out and about for the first time.

But the RSPCA says not everyone may be aware of the dangers that everyday netting - like football goals - can pose to the wildlife who share our communities. Aleesha Haddlesey said: “In both cases the homeowners spotted the cubs after they woke up and, understandably concerned, contacted us about them.

“The cubs were tightly entangled by the netting, particularly around their necks, and it was obvious they'd twisted and turned in an attempt to get free.

“Apart from the stress of being caught, we were all relieved that they hadn’t suffered any injuries.

“Football netting can be lethal, especially at this time of year when the curiosity of young, inexperienced animals can potentially get them into deadly situations.

“Getting trapped like this is stressful for an animal, particularly one that’s wild.

“And if they become seriously entangled, netting - whether it’s used for sports, fencing or thegarden - can cause severe injuries or even death.

“As wild animals frequently get trapped during the night, they may have been struggling for many hours by the time they are found in the morning - like this little cub - and they often need veterinary attention and sedation to cut them free.

“It's great that people are out enjoying their gardens and having fun. But we’d urge everyone using sports netting to remove and store them after use and to put any discarded or old netting safely in a bin.

“We’d also encourage people to look at other types of netting they may have in their garden and replace it with more wildlife -friendly alternatives.”

After getting advice from specialists at the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire, the cub from Wrose was released, and she immediately headed in the direction of a neighbouring garden where a den had been seen.

The cub from Alwoodley has been taken to Stapeley for ongoing care and observation, although she is expected to make a full recovery.

The nets from both gardens have now been securely stored, and the charity is urging other people to follow suit.