A fox cub who was stuck down a 6ft deep drain for 24 hours had a cute reunion with its worried mum.
Residents heard the pup barking from inside and spotted its mother pacing anxiously nearby.
They called the RSPCA and fire service for help.
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A firefighter climbed down the drain and rescued the panicked fox.
RSPCA officers left the cub in a carrier and opened the door so it could jump out and find its mum.
Heartwarming footage captured the moment the pair were reunited, as reported by What’s the Jam.
RSPCA Inspector, Beckie Harlock, said: “This little fox cub was six feet down a drain and couldn’t get out.
“His poor mum must have been beside herself with worry.
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“We’re not quite sure how he got down there, but as it was pretty deep, I needed expert help so I contacted Leicestershire Fire & Rescue, who were brilliant.
“A member of their team lowered himself down into the drain and was able to gently contain the baby fox in a carrier.
“When we got him up to the surface, I quickly checked the cub for injuries but luckily, he hadn’t been hurt.
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“Because his mum was in the vicinity, we knew there was a chance to reunite her with her baby.
“So we left the little cub in the carrier, which we placed in a safe place, covered over, hoping mum would hear him call for her.
“Our plan worked.
“Video images from a wildlife trail camera later showed mum cautiously sniffing around the container.
“So once it was clear she realised her baby was inside, the cover was taken off and the lid was removed so the cub could get out.
“It wasn’t long before the young fox realised he could now jump out of the carrier and he soon went looking for his mum, who was nearby.
“Amazingly, after a short while, they found each other and happily disappeared together, presumably towards their den.
”This was such a perfect result.”
The fox had been stuck down the drain for 24 hours before locals heard it barking on Monday (12 May).
Residents assumed a neighbour had got a new dog in the village of Glenfield, near Leicester.
They eventually managed to pinpoint where the noise was coming from and called for help.
Beckie added: “At this time of the year, reports about young foxes getting themselves in a pickle tend to rocket.
“At that age, they’re very curious about the world but unaware of the dangers.
“This incident had a happy ending but could have turned out very differently.
“Our thanks go to the alert residents who discovered the plight of the fox cub and reported it to us.
“We’re also very grateful to Leicestershire Fire & Rescue for their expert and invaluable help”.
A Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “Earlier this week we were called by the RSPCA to a drainage system in Glenfield where a fox cub had been stuck for over 24 hours.
“Our crew could hear the cub barking, and we used a snake-eye camera to locate it, and chimney rods to release and rescue it.
“The RSPCA were keen to return the cub to its natural way of life, so it was left with a local resident who has regular fox visitors to their garden.
“We’re very glad to hear the cub and its mother have been reunited. If you find an animal in distress please contact the appropriate animal welfare organisation, and do not endanger yourself in trying to rescue it.”
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