RSPCA reveals its strangest and most surprising animal rescues in the Midlands during 2021
Animals get up to all sorts — and nobody sees that more than the RSPCA’s team of rescuers.
During 2021, 46,075 incidents were reported to the RSPCA in the Midlands, including 5,125 in Nottinghamshire.
Among them were call-outs to help lots of animals who got themselves into some rather strange situations.
Luckily, they all had a happy ending.
Here, the RSPCA reveals its top rescues of 2021 across the region:
AN ELDERLY woman had a lucky escape after a swan crash-landed through a double-glazed window, just moments after she left the bathroom.
The bird was flying when she hit the window of a house in Barton in Fabis. The home-owner found the bloodied bird sat dazed and confused on her bathroom floor.
Inspector Keith Ellis, who collected the bird, said: “I think the swan was looking and flying to the nearby River Trent and must have misjudged the direction.
“It was also quite windy at the time which may have blown her off course. I have seen them crash-land on to busy roads thinking they are rivers but nothing like this — it is so bizarre.”
She was taken to a vet and needed surgery and stitches before being transferred to Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre for rehabilitation.
CONSTRUCTION workers called in the RSPCA after finding a badger taking a snooze under one of their pieces of machinery.
Animal rescue officer Cara Gibbon went to a building site after the early-morning call.
She said: “Workers arrived at the site to find the badger curled up sleeping under a power float machine. He’d climbed through a gap at the top of the machine and fallen into it before curling up and enjoying a little nap.
“He was covered by tarpaulin so it was probably nice and warm and cosy in there.”
She checked him over and could see he wasn’t injured so workmen helped lift the heavy piece of equipment so he could scurry off.
ELLA the hamster created quite the stir after getting stuck down a sink pipe for two days.
The RSPCA and firefighters were called out twice to a family home after the hamster disappeared down a gap around a cold water feed pipe under the sink.
Leanne Hinton and her daughter, Lily, tried to tempt her out with food and, when that didn’t work, they called for help.
When the hamster didn’t emerge overnight, the rescuers returned. RSPCA inspector Herchy Boal pushed a waste pipe down the gap and left it there hoping she’d clamber out — which she did, before heading to her open cage.
Leanne said: “We couldn’t believe it —after all the commotion she had caused with the RSPCA and fire service trying to rescue her and then she makes her own way out and sits in the cage as though nothing had happened.”
A SQUIRREL needed a helping hand after ending up in a ‘hole’ lot of trouble.
Inspector Elizabeth Boyd said: “The little squirrel had pushed his way into a hole in the ground, probably in search of food, but then got stuck under a wooden post. The post is supporting an outdoor structure but they were happy for me to saw the post to create some extra space so he could wriggle free and he darted off.”
The grey squirrel — which is considered an invasive alien species — cannot legally be released back into the wild if taken into care for rehabilitation or treatment. They can only be legally released in situ, as was the case here.
A HEDGEHOG found himself in a bit of a prickle after becoming wedged between the bars of a metal gate in Nottingham.
Rescuer Teresa Potter said: “The poor hog had managed to get stuck between the bars of the metal gate and there was no way he was getting out on his own.
“He was quite a large boy, and so I had to carefully and slowly wiggle him out. I checked him over and although he didn’t have any injuries he was breathing fast so I took him to a nearby vet as a precaution.
“Fortunately, he was given the all clear so I was able to release him back to the wild — where he could make his way back home.”
A MISSING skunk who’d been on the run for a week was re-united with his owner after giving staff at a DIY store a bit of a shock.
Rescuer Dan Bradshaw was called to B&Q Worksop after staff found him eating bird seed outside.
They managed to corner and confine him before calling the RSPCA for help and Dan was able to trace his owner.
He said: “It was lovely to be able to reunite Tilikum with his owner. I advised them to get him microchipped so they could be reunited more quickly in the future should he ever escape again.”
A SWAN who got stuck in the girders of a disused railway bridge was spotted by passers-by who saw him hanging upside down underneath.
Rescuer Rebecca Frost was called to the stricken swan.
She said: “He was stuck between the metal beams under the bridge and was hanging upside down around eight feet up.
“I believe he had crash-landed on to the disused railway line overhead and then slipped through a gap, getting wedged between the beams.
“He’d struggled to get out of the gap so he tried to push himself down and out instead, but got stuck fast. It was very odd.”
Network Rail and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service helped to free the bird.
A CAT needed help after getting wedged in a tiny three-inch gap between two walls.
It’s thought Bella got stuck after chasing something into the gap. Rescuer Deborah Scotcher rushed to the home in Lincolnshire to help firefighters free the stricken cat.
She said: “After several attempts we actually managed to coax poor Bella out backwards and she was returned to her very grateful owner.
“She was given a once over and, other than being a bit dishevelled and a missing claw, she was fine.”
A GREEDY squirrel looking for Christmas nuts needed a helping hand after getting his chunky body wedged in a birdfeeder.
Claire Mitchell was called when the stricken squirrel was spotted.
She said: “His legs were just dangling out of the feeder which reminded me of Santa stuck in a chimney. Luckily, his predicament was spotted by the residents who alerted us or he could have endured prolonged suffering. He was obviously frightened but otherwise appeared unscathed from his ordeal — however, he probably needs to lay off the nuts for a while.”
The RSPCA is the only charity out on the front line rescuing animals 365 days a year. To help it’s rescuers be there for the animals in need this winter, join the Winter Rescue by visiting its website.
