Caught red pawed! RSPCA rescue greedy squirrel from Surrey bird feeder

A chunky squirrel needed a helping hand from the RSPCA after getting his head and body trapped in a bird feeder in Surrey.

Concerned homeowners spotted the squirrel stuck in a bird feeder at their home in Banstead on Wednesday (10 November) and called the charity.

Animal rescue officer Louis Horton arrived to free the stricken squirrel, he said: “The poor squirrel obviously thought he had an easy meal by helping himself to the bird feed but unfortunately it wasn’t quite as simple as he had hoped.

“He was caught by the head and his whole body was inside the feeder.

“Fortunately he was uninjured and I was able to free him there and then by cutting away at the metal.”

He added: “As soon as he could he scampered off as fast as he was able.

“Unfortunately squirrels trapped in feeders is something we hear about fairly regularly, especially those designed to be ‘anti-squirrel’ so we would urge people to stick to the more simple designs and to check them regularly.”

If you find an injured or trapped wild animal, you are urged to keep your distance and contact the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency hotline for advice 0300 1234 999.

If you encounter a squirrel caught in a bird feeder, do not try to free the animal yourself as you may risk hurting the animal or yourself. Instead monitor the situation and call the RSPCA emergency line.