Plumbers rescue fox cub trapped in drainpipe

Residents feared the worst when they heard the panicked screeches of a fox trapped 2ft under their home.

But a group of specialist plumbers came to the rescue and saved the cub from potential starvation after animal rescuers failed to retrieve it.

The fox was first discovered in Manchester by homeowners who heard the animal’s barks from their property’s cellar.

Fox Rescuers, a group of animal rescue experts, then discovered the mammal was trapped inside their four-inch-wide wastewater pipe.

The team first tried to use a grasper to bring the fox out and later left food for the cub, but it refused to eat.

They then contacted the RSPCA and a plumbing firm who used a specialist camera to check that the cub was still alive and well.

The team then dug a hole and took out the pipe, finally freeing the fox.

It was taken away by Fox Rescuers, who hope to return it to the wild once it is rehabilitated.

Lee Ferrans, the RSPCA officer who helped with the operation, said: “The pipe was at a right angle which meant it was really difficult to get any equipment in there to free the cub.

“The Quick Drains team put a camera into the pipe so we could check the fox was still breathing and thankfully he was.

“We could see he was very distressed, he hadn’t eaten for a few days and he needed to get out as soon as possible.

“He is now with the Fox Rescuers who are doing a fantastic job of rehabilitating him. Once he is strong enough he will be released back into the wild.

“This was a great example of what we can achieve together for animal welfare and for every kind.

“Rescues like this are always tense as we all want the best thing for the animal. I’m just so pleased that this fox was freed, it was a real joint effort.”

Fox cubs arrive in spring following the fox mating season in January.

When born, they are deaf and blind and weigh just 100g. Their sight and hearing begins at around two weeks old.

The cubs are born with dark grey fur – with their red colouration coming through at around a month old.

And by six to eight weeks, fox cubs are weaned from their mum and start exploring outside the den on their own.

The RSPCA says that if you see a cub out on its own during the spring, it might not have been abandoned.

Instead, it is normal to see month-old cubs developing their survival skills above ground during the day and their parents are usually nearby, watching.