Protect the Wild supports new parliamentary petition on sports netting

Animals can be seriously injured or die after being trapped in sports netting, fishing lines or fencing.

Protect the Wild is supporting a parliamentary petition by a volunteer from the Fox Project calling for the government to require by law that all sports netting be tied up when not in use, to prevent it accidentally ensnaring wildlife and companion animals.

We have often highlighted the number of animals who are seriously injured or die after being trapped in sports netting, fishing lines or fencing, and we'd like to urge everyone to support this important initiative.

The Fox Project is a charity dedicated to the red fox, which has been running a wildlife hospital since 1993. The Project treats and releases 1400 foxes per year, including over 450 cubs. The charity's trustees include naturalist and wildlife photographer Chris Packham and wildlife TV presenter Anna Svenska.

I didn't want her "to have died in vain"

The petition was launched by Fox Project volunteer, author and wildlife enthusiast Marion Veal. So far it has gathered over 2,000 signatures. If 10,000 people support the petition then the government will issue a response and if it gathers 100,000 supporters then the issue will be considered for debate in parliament.

Marion started the petition after she and other Fox Project volunteers attempted to rescue a vixen who had got caught in some sports field netting. In a desperate attempt to free herself, she had chewed off her own foot. Sadly the vixen didn't survive. Marion told Protect the Wild: "She didn't make it. I believe she was nursing, so her cubs may not have survived without her. I did not want her to have died in vain."

Marion decided to launch the petition in an attempt to stop this preventable suffering from happening again.

The petition reads:

"We want the government to make it a legal requirement that all sports netting on sports fields, in schools and domestic gardens is tied up to prevent ensnaring wildlife and pets. Make it a fineable offence for the net owners not to do so.

Every year hundreds of wild animals and pets are trapped in sports netting that has been left in place. Many animals die or suffer horrific constriction injuries. We think this suffering is preventable with a little thought by net owners. We feel they need to be forced to take action by law."

Protect the Wild's Rob Pownall explained why he supports the petition:

"Sports netting may seem harmless in our gardens, but to wildlife like foxes, it can be a silent death trap. Every year, animals suffer slow, agonising deaths entangled in goal nets left out overnight. This is why I support the call to make it law: if you care about wildlife, tie it up when you’re done. It’s that simple."

A "silent death"

The Fox Project shared this video on 12 April, illustrating just how dangerous netting can be to foxes and other wildlife.

Luckily, the fox shown in the video was rescued and taken to hospital. However, many animals are not so lucky. The Fox Project wrote:

"This is the second cub to be caught in netting in just a few days, and it’s truly heartbreaking, especially since these situations are completely preventable."

The charity wrote that this kind of suffering can be prevented by simply packing away or rolling up all netting.

The project warned the public not to try to remove animals they find trapped, as rescue attempts may cause further injury. Instead, the group urged readers to contact a wildlife rescue group. The Fox Project is available for help and advice on 01892 824111.

Avoidable suffering

Marion Veal shared these shocking photos of trapped animals photographed by the Fox Project on her Facebook page:

The Project wrote:

"The images show just a handful of the estimated thousands of animals that succumb to entanglement in the UK each year. When something is completely preventable, this is unacceptable."

Protect the Wild urges our readers to sign this important petition and end the potential suffering of thousands of animals.

• You can add your name to the Fox Project's petition on school netting here.

• Find out about volunteering for the Fox Project.

• Check out our pages on 'Foxes and the law' and on 'Wildlife rescue and care'.

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