Stuck fox cub released from shop rat trap
The trapped fox was " clearly shocked" but unhurt in the ordeal, RSPCA inspector John Gibson said
At a glance
A fox cub was cut free from a rat trap in Bradford
Shop staff saw its body sticking out from a "bait box"
The RSPCA said it was released later that day
- Published
A fox cub had to be cut free from a box designed to catch rodents and other pests after becoming wedged in the device.
Shop staff contacted the RSPCA when they spotted the animal's body protruding from the bait box behind the Co-op store on High Park Drive in Bradford.
RSPCA inspector John Gibson initially tried to prise the creature from the trap with washing up liquid but ended up cutting the box.
He said the fox hadn't gone far enough into the box to be hit by the "break-back" trap which had been activated.
'Clearly shocked'
Insp Gibson said bait boxes were within the law and were used by pest control companies to prevent "non-target species" from getting stuck.
However, he said it was difficult to "completely prevent" other animals from accessing the box, and this young fox "was small enough to be able to push her head inside".
Mr Gibson said the animal was "clearly shocked" by the incident on Wednesday, but when released nearby, she ran off "clearly knowing where she was going".