The RSPCA rescued a badger after she got stuck in the wheel of a van.

Press release: Wednesday, 6 March 2013
 

RSPCA inspector Steve Wickham was called after the young female animal was spotted at the bottom of a cliff near Brighton, East Sussex this morning (Wednesday 6 March) by a member of the public, who feared she had fallen down the cliff and broken her leg.

But when he arrived just below the Undercliffe Walk in Saltdean to try and catch the young adult badger, she scampered under his van and hid in the wheel suspension.

Inspector Wickham said: “She was looking for somewhere to hide and as badgers are nocturnal, I suppose she picked underneath the van as a hiding place because it was dark.

“She was not to know that a van was not a safe haven to sneak into, but if we had not spotted her she could potentially have been stuck in there as the van drove off.

“As it was she was well and truly caught up into the mechanics of the car. I climbed right underneath but could not get at her. And no amount of coaxing was getting this young girl away from her cubby hole.”

Eventually, Inspector Wickham was forced to call in the help of East Sussex Fire and Rescue to lift the van up and free the animal.

She was checked by a vet and found to be healthy and so will be returned to the wild. It is believed that she came from an area about half a mile away where there is a population of badgers.”

ends

Notes to editors

Images and interviews available on request