Wildlife rescuers save stuck fox cub in Bexhill

Wildlife rescuers came to the aid of a young fox who had managed to get itself in a tight spot on Monday (May 9).
SUS-161005-152342001SUS-161005-152342001
SUS-161005-152342001

The four week old cub was stuck fast between a garden wall and a garage in Albert Road.

Bexhill Wildlife Rescue was called to the incident in the late afternoon, but it soon realised additional help was required, so called in East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks MBE and rescue manager Chris Riddington arrived to assess the situation.

SUS-161005-152318001SUS-161005-152318001
SUS-161005-152318001

Chris said: “I couldn’t believe how tight the gap was, the little cub could not go any further forwards or turn around.”

The team believe the cub had been exploring before wedging himself into the tight space, leaving the hapless fox with nowhere to move.

Trevor said: “The gap was so narrow we couldn’t get loop of the dog graspers in place to lift the cubs out easily.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The poor cub was in some discomfort and the team did well to keep calm and hold their nerve in a very stressful situation for all involved”.

SUS-161005-152331001SUS-161005-152331001
SUS-161005-152331001

Rescuers from WRAS and Bexhill Wildlife rescue used a thicker dog graspers as a support under the cub to stop him becoming more stuck and gently tried to push the cub upwards towards rescuers’ hands.

Chris said: “I managed to fit my arm down the narrow gap but the cub was too far away.

“But with Trevor and Chris Tucker from Bexhill Wildlife Rescue supporting the cub from below we gradually managed to lifted him far enough for me to grab hold of the cub and pull him to a big enough space to pull him out.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After more than an hour of trying to free the stricken cub, rescuers finally managed to pluck the youngster from his walled prison.

The cub got off lightly compared to Chris Riddington, whose hands had been bitten several times by the cub during the rescue.

Trevor said: “Back at WRAS’s ambulance I gave first aid to the cub for a graze on the cubs foot, but otherwise he was in good condition, not injured and could go home.”

The cub was placed over the wall into the neighbouring garden where there is a den under a large shed.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other cubs had been seen running back under the shed when rescuers first arrived on the scene.

Trevor said: “The whole rescue was a really difficult situation but team work from all those involved paid off and rescuers were able to get the cub back to its den.

“To finish the rescue off rescuers places a board in the gap between the wall and the garden to prevent any animal becoming stuck in future.”

* To find out more about WRAS, visit www.wildlifeambulance.org or to find out more about Bexhill Wildlife Rescue, see the group’s Facebook page.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.bexhillobserver.net/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bexhillobserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BexhillObs

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Bexhill Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.