A fox cub found trapped in a tyre is recovering in Scottish SPCA care.
A lorry driver at a Calor Gas depot in Grangemouth made the discovery on Monday morning when he heard barking and yelping coming from a pile of tyres stored at the site.
He found a 10-week-old male fox cub with his head wedged inside a small hole in the tyre and contacted the animal welfare charity.
Ambulance driver Jennifer Hamilton arrived to rescue the little fox but his head was so tightly stuck in the hole and he was becoming increasing stressed that she decided to take the wheel, with the cub inside, to the Scottish SPCA’s wildlife rescue centre at Middlebank in west Fife.
Jenny said, “After a short time in the back of my van, which was nice and dark and quiet, he calmed right down and staff at our wildlife rescue centre were able to release him without too much trouble.
“Apart from being a little bit shaken up, he was unharmed and quickly became very active and wild as soon as he was free, which is a really good sign.
“Staff at the depot have spotted mum and her cubs in the area before, so it looks like this little guy got stuck and was left behind.”
Wildlife rescue centre manager Colin Seddon added, “This little cub was very lucky to have been discovered as he would have perished otherwise.
“He was a little bit unsteady after we released him from the tyre so we kept him in for observation.
“We’ve now introduced him to two other fox cubs in our care and we are hopeful that they will all be released when they are at the right age and stage to be able to fend for themselves in the wild.”
Anyone wishing to report an injured or distressed animal should call the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.