A badger needed a helping hand after falling into an empty, freshly-painted swimming pool on the Isle of Wight.
RSPCA rescuer Kane Goodyear was called to the home in Ryde after the badger was found on Wednesday morning last week (23rd March).
Uninjured by confused and frightened
Kane said,
“Workmen were refurbishing the pool so it had been drained and freshly painted.
“We believe the badger had fallen into the pool overnight and workers found him huddled up in the corner of the empty 5ft-deep pool when they returned to work the following morning.
“He’d curled up in a shaded corner of the pool, out of the sunshine, but was clearly very frightened and confused.
“Thankfully, he was uninjured, but he did have some white paint on his fur!
“We climbed into the pool and my colleague, Inspector Hannah Nixon, helped me corral him into the basket where we could check him over, clean him up and release him in the undergrowth nearby.”
Build a ramp or steps for wildlife
Swimming pools can be hazardous to pets and wild animals so the RSPCA urges any homeowners with swimming pools or ponds to build a little ramp, slope the edges or use stones as steps to allow any wildlife which should fall in to climb out.
If you see a wild animal in distress, sick or injured, keep your distance and contact the RSPCA’s emergency hotline (open daily 7am-10pm) on 0300 1234 999 for advice.
For more information about badgers, visit the RSPCA website.
News shared by RSPCA, in their own words. Ed
