Safer backyards for wildlife as Net Swap program triples

Image: A grey-headed flying-fox entangled in illegal fruit tree netting.

Backyards across Melbourne and Geelong will soon be safer for native animals, with more households set to make the switch to legal fruit tree netting this spring.

As home-grown fruit ripens in backyards over the warmer months, many Victorians will use netting to protect their harvest; but the wrong netting can become a deadly trap for wildlife.

Building on a successful pilot program across five metropolitan councils, Net Swap is now extending across Melbourne, Greater Geelong, the Yarra Ranges and Macedon Ranges.

The Conservation Regulator program is expanding to allow residents in 18 councils to exchange illegal fruit tree netting for legal netting at no cost.

The expansion comes as wildlife continues to be trapped in illegal household fruit netting, with Wildlife Victoria reporting 320 wildlife rescues over the last 12 months.

In Victoria, netting on household fruit trees must have a mesh size of 5 mm x 5 mm or less, as large mesh can entangle birds, possums and bats, causing serious injury and death.

The Net Swap program helps residents comply with Victoria’s wildlife laws, as on-the-spot fines of $395 apply to the use of illegal fruit netting.

Illegal netting surrendered through the program will be collected and recycled, helping prevent future wildlife entanglements while reducing waste.

During the pilot program, 614 illegal fruit nets were surrendered and 359 legal nets distributed.

The Net Swap program is part of a partnership campaign with RSPCA Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria to raise awareness of fruit tree netting requirements and help prevent wildlife entanglements. The educational campaign is encouraging Victorians to understand the law and use legal fruit tree netting to make their backyards safer for wildlife.

View a list of the 18 councils taking part in the education campaign.

Wildlife found entangled in fruit tree netting should only be handled by experienced wildlife rescuers. Contact 136 186 to find a rescuer or use the Help for Injured Wildlife Tool. 

Quotes attributable to Chief Conservation Regulator Callie Donaldson:

After the success of the pilot program, we're pleased to expand Net Swap to more councils, helping even more Victorians make the switch to legal fruit tree netting.

Every illegal net removed from circulation is one less risk to birds, possums and threatened grey-headed flying-foxes.

Quotes attributable to RSPCA Victoria Head of Prevention, Rebecca Cook:

If your finger fits through the mesh in a fruit net, it is unsafe and can trap and injure native animals.

Using legal netting is one of the easiest ways Victorians can help protect wildlife in their own backyard.

Quotes attributable to Dr Sally Sherwen, Director Wildlife Conservation & Science, Zoos Victoria:

We see the devastating impacts of illegal fruit tree netting on wildlife every year, particularly for grey-headed flying-foxes moving through urban areas in search of food.

Choosing the right netting for backyard fruit trees is a simple action that can prevent significant wildlife suffering and help protect vulnerable species.