The animal became trapped by a plastic bottle.
Wildlife experts are urging people to dispose of litter responsibly after rescuing a male fox cub who got his head trapped in a plastic bottle.
On 27 June, animal rescuers from the Scottish SPCA attended the incident in Glasgow following a call from a concerned member of the public. A rescue officer had visited the day before but was unable to catch him.
The team carried out an extended search and made several attempts to catch the cub. Rescuers feared they had lost him, but the fox eventually emerged from the undergrowth with the bottle still trapped around its neck.
He spent a night at the University of Glasgow’s small animal hospital where he was given pain relief and treated for serious injuries. He was then transferred to the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross where he continues to remain under close observation.
The Animal Rescue Officer said: “This fox was incredibly fortunate. Had we not managed to catch him, the injuries caused by the bottle could have become life-threatening.
“Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. Every year, we see wild animals injured, trapped or killed by discarded litter. Something as simple as taking your rubbish home or disposing of it properly can prevent animals suffering in this way.”
Last month, the Scottish SPCA warned that litter continues to have devastating consequences for Scotland’s wildlife.
Between 2023 and 2025, the charity responded to almost 109,000 wildlife incidents, many involving animals injured or put at risk by human activity.
Image (C) Scottish SPCA.
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