Environment · Swanwick, Derbyshire, England, UK
RSPCA frees a badger caught in a school football net
What should I do if I find a badger caught in netting?
An RSPCA animal rescue officer cut a badger free from football netting at a school in Swanwick, Derbyshire. Vets at the RSPCA's Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre treated its swollen leg and rope burns, and the badger has been released back into the wild.
What happened?
Members of the public called the RSPCA to Swanwick, Derbyshire, after finding a badger wrapped tightly in football netting at a school. RSPCA animal rescue officer Vanessa Pardin arrived and cut the animal free.
She took the badger to the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire. Vets found a swollen front right leg and several rope burns. The badger was treated and has since been released back into the wild.
Why does netting matter?
The rescue officer warned that netting can be lethal for wild animals such as badgers. They can become trapped and badly injured while they struggle to break free. The RSPCA’s message is simple: put sports netting away when it is not being used.
RSPCA guidance says badgers often visit gardens to look for food or to move between setts. They can also climb fairly well, including up tree trunks and netting.
What to do if you find an animal caught
The RSPCA advises against trying to free a badger from a snare or netting yourself. Call its helpline on 0300 1234 999 instead.
Global Animal Guide, which has the same owner as Small Good Things, has a page on badger facts, diet and habitat. If you want to watch the wildlife that visits your garden without disturbing it, our garden wildlife camera guide explains placement and the law on badger setts.
Sources & reporting notes
We checked the BBC's report of 22 October 2026, which relies on RSPCA information. The school was not named. The BBC says the RSPCA was called 'on Friday'; it does not say how long treatment took or where the badger was released. The advice section uses the RSPCA's general badger guidance, not details of this case.
- BBC News · 22 October 2026
Report of the rescue, the badger's injuries, its treatment and release, and the RSPCA's advice on netting.
- RSPCA · Helping a sick or injured badger
General RSPCA guidance: do not free an entangled badger yourself; call the helpline.
- RSPCA · Badgers in the garden
General guidance on badgers visiting gardens.
Have a correction or a confirmed update? Contact our editorial team.
Common questions
- What should I do if I find a badger tangled in netting?
- The RSPCA advises not to try to free a badger from a snare or entanglement yourself. Call its helpline on 0300 1234 999.
- How can I stop wildlife getting caught in sports netting?
- The RSPCA asks people to put sports netting away when it is not in use. Its guidance notes that badgers can climb, including up netting.