Warning issued to anyone playing football in gardens or parks this summer

Warning issued to anyone playing football in gardens or parks this summer The warning was issued by a charity concerned about potential risks A warning has been issued to anyone playing outdoor football games. With the World Cup officially underway, football fever is sweeping the nation, inspiring many families to play their own matches. However, anyone kicking a ball around in their garden has been urged to clear away any nets once they're finished. The RSPCA has highlighted that nets can pose a serious risk to wildlife. The animal charity said that back-garden nets often cause issues for animals. Any nets in outdoor spaces, such as parks and beaches, could also pose a risk. Taking to Facebook, the RSPCA shared a real-life hedgehog rescue story in order to raise awareness of the problem. The charity said: "Let's make the 'beautiful game' more beautiful. Too often, we see wild animals tangled in back-garden goal netting - like this poor hedgehog. "Any tighter and this hog could've suffered severe or fatal injuries. Luckily, they were caught in time, safely untangled, monitored and released back to the wild by RSPCA Stapeley Grange. The reality is that not every animal gets that lucky. "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. Little ones like this will appreciate it." The post gained hundreds of likes, and commenters took the message to heart. One response read: "Put the net away once you've finished using it! Better still, if it's just practice or in the back garden, refrain from using a net at all if you can't be bothered to spend two minutes putting it back in the shed. "One of the worst offenders for this is schools. Institutions that should know better! Part of PE should include learning the dangers netting poses to wildlife (and pets) and how to safely store sports equipment after use. "What's it teaching kids if schools leave the nets out? If this happened to their pets, they would be in uproar about it and very quick to call out those responsible." The RSPCA replied: "Good points." Meanwhile, another commenter shared that they'd spotted the same problem just the day before. The social media user explained that the hedgehog needed anaesthetic before the net could be removed. The charity replied: "Poor thing. Thanks so much for helping." According to the RSPCA website: "You’re much more likely to see hedgehogs at night, as they’re nocturnal creatures. Before hibernation season – from November to mid-March – you might find them out and about foraging for food and collecting nesting material. They emerge from hibernation in spring. If you spot a hedgehog during the daytime, there’s a chance it might be sick or injured."