Why Should I use a Wildlife Friendly Bird Netting?Updated a month ago
Why Should I use a Wildlife Friendly Bird Netting?
Fruit on household trees and plants is a tempting snack for hungry wildlife. While netting is a common method for protecting fruit, using the wrong type can harm or even kill animals like birds, possums, and flying foxes. Netting with a large mesh size increases the likelihood of animals becoming entangled, and their attempts to escape can result in serious injury or even death. Using netting with a small hole size can significantly reduce the risk of entrapment and harm to wildlife.
Laws related to the use of Bird Netting have recently been introduced in Victoria, with the associated coverage heightening awareness (across broader Australia) of this ongoing issue. In Victoria, netting used to protect household fruit-trees, vegetable gardens, or other fruiting plants must have a mesh size of 5mm x 5mm or less at full stretch. Despite the law not being enforced in other states, it is now best practice and more socially expected that a Wildlife Safe Netting is the most appropriate way to protect your garden when necessary.
Selecting the right netting
Education and awareness of the issue is complimentary to any laws that are introduced. Using the correct type of netting is crucial for protecting both your fruit and the local wildlife, as it will support a productive harvest while also protecting our vulnerable wildlife from harm.
When selecting the “right” netting, there can be some technical specifications that can be difficult to decipher (less than 5mm mesh size, strand diameter > 500 microns) or are not displayed on the product packaging. To simplify your decision, two simple ways to help identify a Wildlife Safe Netting:
If you can’t fit your finger through the holes (<5mm openings), it is most likely to be safe unless it is an extremely thin material that you can easily tear with your hands.
WHITE colour is recommended, making it easier for nocturnally active animals to see and avoid it at night.
Wildlife Safe Netting can generally be grouped into 2 main categories:
Traditional Bird Netting: These Bird Nets will generally feature traditional materials and design, however the mesh size has been carefully manufactured to ensure the openings are <5mm at full stretch. These nets are common place in backyard Fruit trees and Vege Gardens across Australia to deter birds (primarily) and other wildlife.
https://haverford.com.au/collections/victoria-safe-bird-netting
Insect / Fruit Fly Netting: These nets feature much smaller holes to deter smaller pests and insects. They are safe for wildlife and can be used to cover everything from greenhouses and large trees through to backyard vege-gardens and individually bagged fruit.
Protecting Wildlife
Some tips to keep in mind when using netting products…
Remove old netting that is not protecting fruit and dispose of safely. If the chosen method is disposal to landfill it is recommended that you place it into a strong biodegradable bag first.
Check netting regularly: It's a good idea to inspect your netting often to ensure no wildlife is caught in the netting, it's still secure and there are no holes that could possibly allow wildlife to get caught.
Use white netting with a mesh size of <5mm from a reputable and locally based supplier who can ensure compliance with the detailed specifications required for safe use.
