RSPCA urges garden footballers to pack away goal nets to protect hedgehogs

The RSPCA is calling on anyone using garden or park football nets this summer to pack them away after play, warning that loose netting poses a serious and sometimes fatal risk to hedgehogs and other wildlife.

The animal charity raised the alarm via a Facebook post featuring a real rescue case, in which a hedgehog became tightly wound in back-garden goal netting. The animal was safely untangled and released by staff at RSPCA Stapeley Grange, but the charity stressed that outcomes are not always so fortunate.

“Any tighter and this hog could’ve suffered severe or fatal injuries,” the RSPCA wrote. “As trapped animals struggle, netting tightens, sometimes leading to deadly results. Let’s make a simple change — pack away netting after you’ve used it.”

The post drew hundreds of likes and prompted a wave of responses from supporters. One commenter called out schools as repeat offenders, arguing that PE lessons should include instruction on the dangers netting poses to wildlife and pets, and on the proper storage of sports equipment. The RSPCA acknowledged the point, replying: “Good points.”

A separate commenter reported spotting a similar entanglement the previous day, noting that the hedgehog in that case required anaesthetic before the net could be safely removed. The charity thanked the individual for intervening.

The warning applies not just to private gardens but to any outdoor space where nets are left unattended, including parks and beaches. The RSPCA notes that hedgehogs are nocturnal and most active between spring and late autumn, meaning they are frequently moving through gardens at night when goal nets are most likely to have been left out after daytime play.