What started as a typical spring day in Shoreham, England, quickly turned into a dramatic rescue mission when East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) received an urgent call: a young fox cub had gotten her head stuck in the center of an old tire and couldn’t get free.
“The poor cub had her head wedged through the middle of a rusty metal wheel, tire still attached,” WRAS wrote on Facebook.
Recognizing the difficulty of the situation, WRAS called in additional support from Brighton Hove Wildlife Advice & Rescue Service. Together, the two teams rushed to the site.
When they arrived, they found the frightened fox unable to move, the tire wedged tightly around her neck. Realizing they couldn’t safely free her on-site, the rescuers gently transported her to the WRAS Casualty Centre for treatment.
Once there, the full extent of the fox’s condition became clear. Her face was swollen, and a painful wound had developed behind one ear from prolonged pressure.
“This wasn’t going to be a simple task,” the rescue team noted.
You can see their rescue effort here:
To minimize her stress and discomfort, the veterinary staff administered mild anesthesia.
With the cub asleep, they began the delicate process of freeing her — carefully folding back her ears and slowly easing her head out from the tire’s unforgiving metal rim.
Finally, with coordinated precision and patience, they succeeded.
“She was out — and visibly relieved,” WRAS shared.
Though she still had some minor injuries, the fox’s condition improved quickly under care. She stayed at the center while she recovered, monitored closely by the same people who had saved her.
Once fully healed, she was released back into the wild — older, wiser, and hopefully more cautious around old tires.
Thanks to teamwork and compassion, a little fox who nearly lost hope got her freedom back — and a fresh start.
To help animals like this little fox get the care they need, you can make a donation to East Sussex WRAS here.
