RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019

Bizarre moments included a snake stuck in a takeaway tub and a fox trapped in a car wheel

The RSPCA has revealed its most unusual rescue missions of the year including a fox trapped in a car wheel and a seal on a cliff.

The charity released images of their quirkiest rescues of the year, including pictures of a seal stuck on a 10ft-tall pillbox and a fox stuck in ivy hanging from a garden fence.

The charity, which rescues more than 100,000 animals every year, is often called out to shocking and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect.

But it said its rescuers also come across animals who have simply found themselves in a spot of bother.

In one case, storage centre workers in Bristol found a fox with his head stuck in the middle of an old wheel.

An injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him – from the top of a 10ft high Second World War pillbox. (RSPCA /SWNS.COM)

RSPCA officers moved the stricken fox on 4 October to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre Clinic.

Here, staff used veterinary lubricant and rubbed it all over his head and neck to slowly and carefully manoeuvre him out.

The fox, nicknamed "Michelin" by staff, was taken back to the area he was found and released.

Inspector Alan Barnes, who helped with the rescue, said: “Michelin was very lucky to have been spotted in the undergrowth otherwise it could have been an awful demise for him.

“I’m so thrilled his story had such a happy ending and we were able to work so quickly, as a team, to free him and get him back into the wild.”

In another case, a young seal found herself stuck on top of a 50m-high sea cliff at Abercastle, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

A member of the public spotted the one-month-old seal pup on 29 September and a call was made to the RSPCA.

Animal collection officer Ellie West said: “This was quite an unusual place to find a seal as she must have travelled some distance and up a steep incline to get there.

“However she got there, she was very much lost and unsure where she was going.”

She was moved to Welsh Marine Life Rescue (WMLR) and then taken to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for rehabilitation.

Another fox needed a helping hand after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy hanging from a garden fence.

RSPCA animal collection officer Cara Gibbon went to the Solihull garden on 17 October.

A fox needed rescuing after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy (RSPCA/SWNS)

She said: “The fox was in a real tangle but I was able to cut him down and, thankfully, he wasn’t injured.

“His nails were a little worn down from scratching at the fence but I was able to release him back into the gardens straight away.”

And an injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him from the top of a 10ft high Second World War pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach, Yorkshire, on 26 February.

RSPCA animal collection officer Leanne Honess-Heather and deputy chief inspector Claire Mitchell arrived after Scarborough Sea Life Centre requested help.

The centre had been called by a concerned member of the public who reported that the seal had been stuck for over 24 hours.

Ms Leanne said: “The poor seal was clearly distressed and we could see he had injured his eye. The sheer sides and height of the pillbox made the rescue quite a challenge.

“We managed to manoeuvre him into a net and, supporting his weight between us, carefully lowered him.”

He received veterinary treatment and was returned to the wild the following day.

Pictures also show a deer stuck in park railings, a squirrel trapped in bird feed and a horse stuck in a cattle grid.

SWNS