Wildlife Victoria aims to raise awareness about fruit tree netting and reduce the use of illegal or unsafe netting by providing public resources and information. By increasing awareness and understanding, we hope that individuals feel empowered to deal with wildlife situations confidently in an informed, safe, and appropriate manner.
The facts
- Most birds and animals trapped in netting will need to be euthanised as their injuries are often very severe
- Since 1 September 2021, netting with a mesh size greater than 5mm x 5mm has been illegal on household fruit trees in Victoria, with penalties applying
- Each year, Wildlife Victoria rescues over 200 native animals from household fruit tree netting, including the threatened grey-headed flying fox, an ecologically important species that supports seed dispersal and pollination
Key actions
- Wildlife Victoria partnered with RSPCA Victoria, Zoos Victoria, the Conservation Regulator and Animal Welfare Victoria to urge household fruit growers to check their netting ahead of harvest
- 19 councils across Victoria hosted community “net swap” events where residents could exchange illegal netting for wildlife-safe alternatives, making it easier for households to comply with the law and immediately reduce risk to wildlife
- So far, 614 illegal nets have been surrendered for recycling, and 359 legal nets have been handed out to residents free of charge
- 450kg of materials were diverted from landfill by sending to textiles recycler UPPAREL, avoiding further entanglements in landfill sites
- The campaign highlighted that many households may unknowingly have been using illegal netting, and promoted practical solutions including legal fine-mesh netting, selective netting, and alternatives such as individual fruit bags or sleeves.
Clear guidance was also shared with the community: do not handle trapped flying-foxes and contact trained, vaccinated wildlife rescuers immediately.