The RSPCA is calling on the football-loving public to take urgent action to protect wildlife. The simple step? Put away back garden football nets when not in use.
The charity has issued the warning as “footie fever” spreads nationwide, coinciding with the peak season for wildlife netting incidents, which pose a serious, often deadly, threat to animals.
📈 A Surge in Netting-Related Animal Rescues
According to new 2024 data, the RSPCA has responded to 1,355 reports of animals becoming entangled in various types of netting—from football goals to garden mesh. Nearly half of these incidents (586) occurred in the peak months of May, June and July, underscoring the seasonal urgency.
🔥 Top 10 Netting Hotspots in England (2024):
| Rank | County | Incidents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater London | 230 |
| 2 | Devon | 60 |
| 3 | Kent | 51 |
| 4 | East Sussex | 44 |
| 5 | Essex | 41 |
| 6 | Lancashire | 40 |
| 7 | Cornwall | 39 |
| 8 | Greater Manchester | 36 |
| 8 | Somerset | 36 |
| 10 | Hampshire | 34 |
🦊 Wildlife Under Threat
Already this May, 47 fox cubs have been reported trapped in netting. In 2023’s peak months alone, the RSPCA dealt with 100 fox entanglements. But it’s not just foxes — deer, hedgehogs, domestic pets, and even exotic animals like snakes and parrots have been caught in netting left out overnight.
🐾 Animal Breakdown (2023 Data):
- Wild Mammals (263 total):
- Foxes: 172
- Deer: 43
- Hedgehogs: 30
- Wild Birds: 1,584 individuals, including robins, gulls, pigeons, and swallows
- Pets & Exotics: Cats, dogs, parrots, snakes
🛑 The RSPCA’s Message: Prevention is Simple
“Unattended football and other netting can trap, injure and even kill wildlife and pets,” said RSPCA Scientific Officer Rebecca Machin.
“Just putting away your football net after a garden kick-about can save lives. Getting caught up is incredibly stressful for an animal, especially wild ones. They can suffer for hours before being discovered and may need sedation and urgent veterinary care.”
If you encounter a small, uninjured animal caught in netting, and it’s safe to approach, the RSPCA encourages you to gently disentangle it yourself and take it to a vet for a check-up. If the animal is injured or large, call the RSPCA for professional help.
📊 Netting Incidents by County (Full 2024 Data)
Below is a comprehensive list of all reported incidents involving animals and netting, across England and Wales:
🏴 England:
| County | Incidents |
|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | 13 |
| Berkshire | 17 |
| Bristol | 25 |
| Buckinghamshire | 9 |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 |
| Cheshire | 20 |
| City of London | 1 |
| Cornwall | 39 |
| Cumbria | 12 |
| Derbyshire | 8 |
| Devon | 60 |
| Dorset | 22 |
| Durham | 6 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 13 |
| East Sussex | 44 |
| Essex | 41 |
| Gloucestershire | 17 |
| Greater London | 230 |
| Greater Manchester | 36 |
| Hampshire | 34 |
| Herefordshire | 4 |
| Hertfordshire | 21 |
| Isle of Wight | 4 |
| Kent | 51 |
| Lancashire | 40 |
| Leicestershire | 19 |
| Lincolnshire | 19 |
| Merseyside | 20 |
| Norfolk | 28 |
| North Yorkshire | 22 |
| Northamptonshire | 10 |
| Northumberland | 6 |
| Nottinghamshire | 20 |
| Oxfordshire | 7 |
| Rutland | 0 |
| Shropshire | 3 |
| Somerset | 36 |
| South Yorkshire | 9 |
| Staffordshire | 5 |
| Suffolk | 24 |
| Surrey | 25 |
| Tyne and Wear | 25 |
| Warwickshire | 11 |
| West Midlands | 31 |
| West Sussex | 24 |
| West Yorkshire | 17 |
| Wiltshire | 7 |
| Worcestershire | 13 |
| Unknown (Unspecified) | 117 |
🏴 Wales:
| County | Incidents |
|---|---|
| Caerphilly | 2 |
| Cardiff | 12 |
| Carmarthenshire | 4 |
| Ceredigion | 6 |
| Conwy | 11 |
| Denbighshire | 13 |
| Flintshire | 7 |
| Gwynedd | 1 |
| Isle of Anglesey | 1 |
| Monmouthshire | 2 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 3 |
| Newport | 3 |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taff | 3 |
| Swansea | 8 |
| The Vale of Glamorgan | 5 |
| Wrexham | 1 |
Grand Total: 1,355 reported netting-related incidents in 2024 (up to May).
🙏 Help the RSPCA Help More Animals
The more the public can assist with simple rescues and prevention, the more resources RSPCA officers have to deal with serious cruelty and neglect — which also spikes during summer.
To donate or find out how to help animals, visit:
🌐 www.rspca.org.uk
📞 Donation line: 0300 123 8181
Together, we can ensure that this summer of sport is safe for both players and wildlife.
