“It was a two-person job …”
Early one morning in Colwyn Bay, Wales, a few residents were walking past an old office block when something unusual caught their eye. An uncovered manhole sat open — and at the bottom of it, several feet down, was a very startled badger. Realizing he couldn’t climb out on his own, the locals quickly phoned for assistance.
The RSPCA and Clwyd Badger Group arrived soon after. When they peered into the hole, they found the little explorer looking confused but thankfully not injured.
“It took two of us and some specialized equipment — a long grasper and a reptile bag attached to a pole — to lift him out safely,” RSPCA inspector Louise Showering said in a press release.
Showering and Clwyd Badger Group’s Dan Rose both confirmed the animal had no injuries, just a big scare. It looked like simple curiosity had led the badger to wander too close to the open manhole, and he’d taken an unexpected fall.
“The poor lad must’ve gotten quite a fright, but because locals spotted him so quickly, we were able to retrieve him and get him back where he belongs,” Rose said.
Once the team checked him over, the badger was released — and he wasted no time disappearing into the undergrowth.
“He bolted so fast I could barely get a photo,” Showering said with a laugh.
Word spread around town about the strange rescue, and the council moved quickly to secure the manhole so no other wildlife would meet the same fate.
“We’re thankful to everyone who raised the alarm and to the council for making the site safe again,” Rose added. “Badgers are naturally curious, and at this time of year they’re busy foraging for food before winter sets in — which sometimes leads them into trouble.”
Although the hazard is fixed, locals and rescuers will keep an eye out for any adventurous badgers who might need help in the future.