The RSPCA has issued a warning to anyone playing football in gardens or parks this summer, urging them to remove nets after use to protect wildlife. With the World Cup underway, many families are inspired to play their own matches, but the animal charity highlights that back-garden nets can pose serious risks to animals.
Taking to Facebook, the RSPCA shared a real-life hedgehog rescue story to raise awareness. The charity stated: "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."
As trapped animals struggle, netting tightens, sometimes leading to deadly results. The charity advises: "Pack away netting after you've used it. Little ones like this will appreciate it." The post gained hundreds of likes, with commenters echoing the message. One response read: "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 noted that schools are often offenders, saying: "Institutions that should know better! Part of PE should include learning the dangers netting poses to wildlife and how to safely store sports equipment after use." The RSPCA replied: "Good points." A third commenter shared a similar experience where a hedgehog needed anaesthetic to remove netting. The charity thanked them for helping.
According to the RSPCA website, hedgehogs are nocturnal and more likely seen at night. They hibernate from November to mid-March, emerging in spring. Spotting a hedgehog during the day may indicate it is sick or injured. The charity urges everyone to clear away nets after use to prevent harm to wildlife.
