ACT Wildlife have launched a new program, supported by the ACT Government, to replace fruit netting with wildlife safe options for free.
An upcoming amendment to the Nature Conservation Act 2014 will ban the use of unsafe netting in the ACT.
This new program is aimed at supporting the ACT’s transition to wildlife-safe netting ahead of the amendment, to protect native wildlife from population decline.
There will be free pop-up events over the coming months where Canberrans can bring their unsafe netting and have it replaced for free.
Netting protects fruit trees from native animals, like birds and bats, that are keen for a snack. However, it can also entangle threatened wildlife if the mesh size is too large or it is not installed correctly.
“Unsafe netting causes death and injury to flying foxes, birds, lizards, snakes and other wildlife. Seeing the harm these nets cause is heartbreaking for wildlife rescue volunteers,” Clare Wynter, Flying Foxes Co-Ordinator at ACT Wildlife, said.
Fruit netting should have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or smaller, with no gaps for wildlife to enter from the ground or sky.
“Backyard fruit trees can be protected with far less chance of harming wildlife simply by using nets with holes smaller than you can put a finger through. These kinds of nets are better for both fruit trees and wild animals,” Clare said.
This small change will make a big difference to native wildlife in the ACT, which is currently facing an extinction crisis.
Find out more about the pop-up events and how to replace your nets for free on the ACT Wildlife website.
Find out more about wildlife-safe fruit-tree netting on the ACT Government Environment website.
If you come across entangled wildlife, please don’t try to release animals yourself. Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to arrange a safe rescue with a qualified wildlife handler.
Source: ACT Government
