UK households are being warned to remove football nets from gardens after use, as they pose a serious danger to wildlife. The RSPCA has issued a caution to anyone playing outdoor football matches, especially with the World Cup underway, urging them to pack away nets to prevent harm to animals.
Why Football Nets Are Dangerous
The animal welfare organisation explained that back-garden nets frequently cause problems for creatures. Nets left in outdoor areas, including parks and beaches, can entangle wildlife. As trapped animals struggle, the netting tightens, sometimes leading to deadly results.
Hedgehog Rescue Highlights the Issue
Writing on Facebook, the RSPCA shared a hedgehog rescue incident to highlight the issue. The charity said: "Let's make the 'beautiful game' more beautiful. Too often, we see wild animals tangled in back-garden goal netting - like this poor hedgehog. Any tighter and this hog could've suffered severe or fatal injuries. Luckily, they were caught in time, safely untangled, monitored and released back to the wild by RSPCA Stapeley Grange. The reality is that not every animal gets that lucky."
The post earned hundreds of likes, with commenters taking the message firmly on board. Someone wrote: "Put the net away once you've finished using it! Better still, if it's just practice or in the back garden, refrain from using a net at all if you can't be bothered to spend two minutes putting it back in the shed."
Another commenter revealed they'd spotted the same problem just the day before. The social media user explained that the hedgehog needed anaesthetic before the net could be removed. The charity replied: "Poor thing. Thanks so much for helping."
Additional Advice from RSPCA
The RSPCA website said: "You’re much more likely to see hedgehogs at night, as they’re nocturnal creatures. Before hibernation season – from November to mid-March – you might find them out and about foraging for food and collecting nesting material. They emerge from hibernation in spring. If you spot a hedgehog during the daytime, there’s a chance it might be sick or injured."
The charity added: "Hedgehogs can travel around 3km (almost two miles) every night. Make sure they have a clear route between gardens by cutting 13 x 13cm (5 x 5in) holes at the base of fences, removing bricks from walls or digging tunnels under the garden boundary – just check with your neighbours first!"
