WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT A young fox who was restrained by a makeshift snare for over a month was released to the wild last night.

Dennis the fox was rescued from south Sidcup and cared for by Kent based charity The Fox Project, who had to remove the trap from his abdomen.

They were alerted to the problem by local residents who normally feed the fox - they noticed there was something caught around his middle.

The Fox Project ambulance driver Terry Woods, 63, said: “It was a handmade snare made out of green plastic, really thick stuff.

“It had embedded itself in a complete circle in his abdomen.”

He added: “I had to cut it into so many little bits to get it off.”

Dennis avoided the fate of another fox the charity rescued from Surrey this year, who had to be put to sleep because of injuries sustained to his genitals.

Mr Woods said in Dennis’ case: “It did not avoid the area but it did not compromise the area so badly.”

“Foxes are really good, they heal really well,” Mr Woods added.

“But it will always have that scar around its middle. It will always have limited action to its penis.”

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At nine or ten months old, Dennis had just reached the age of sexual maturity for foxes and weighed approximately 4 kilograms.

Mr Woods said: “That could just as easily be someone’s cat or dog. Traps are indiscriminate.”

The charity are determined to catch those responsible and plan to leaflet in the area.

Mr Wood said: “It’s a criminal offence. Imprisonable and with a maximum fine of five thousand pounds.”

Foxes are territorial and Mr Wood suspects the trap was set in somebody’s garden within a quarter of a mile from where Dennis was found.

Mr Woods added: “Someone will know.”

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An RSPCA spokeswoman said: “These injuries look truly horrific and the fox looks to have suffered a great deal.

"We would be keen to hear from anyone with any information about this fox and how he came by these injuries on 0300 1234 999.

"The RSPCA is opposed to the use of all snares that cause suffering. If people are using legal snares they need to be set by a competent person in the correct manner in line with Codes of Practice.”

The law on snares

  • Some methods of using snares are illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
  • Under this legislation, anyone who sets a self-locking snare with the intent to cause bodily harm to a wild animal is guilty of an offence.
  • Maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and/or £5000 fine per offence.