Thousands of native animals in Australia are killed or injured each year by entanglements in fruit tree netting, fishing gear, and barbed wire. A study published in Pacific Conservation Biology found that flying foxes account for two-thirds of all entanglement cases in New South Wales, particularly the grey-headed flying fox, which is listed as vulnerable under national environment laws.
Scale of the problem
At least 3,500 entanglement cases are reported annually in New South Wales, and more than 2,000 were recorded last year in Victoria. Ecologist and bat rehabilitator Jasmine Vink said: “These issues are just so much greater than people realise.” Flying foxes often get caught in backyard nets and barbed wire in regional areas. “Very, very few of those bats are able to be treated,” Vink said. “They die of exposure, heat, dehydration, blood loss, predation. You have raptors that come down and eat them from the fences.”
Species affected
Entanglements affect hundreds of species, including kangaroos, platypus, raptors, and gliders. Lisa Palma, chief executive of Wildlife Victoria, described these incidents as some of the most preventable wildlife emergencies. “They are the result of everyday human activity – not deliberate harm – but they can cause devastating injuries and unnecessary suffering to wildlife,” she said. “The good news is that [through] simple actions like disposing of rubbish appropriately, using wildlife-friendly netting and fencing, we can reduce the number of native animals injured or killed by entanglement.”
Fruit tree netting risks
Backyard netting protects fruit but poses a deadly trap for animals. Nets with mesh larger than 5mm are particularly dangerous. “The rule of thumb is that if you can poke a finger through it, it’s not safe for wildlife,” Vink said. Flying foxes suffer severe injuries: “The constriction is incredibly painful for them, those parts of their wings just slowly start to die.” In some cases, mothers and pups become entangled together, with pups dying while still attached. Safer alternatives include smaller mesh nets with cross-weave design, fruit tree protection bags, and white or light-coloured materials that are easier for animals to see at night. Nets should be taut and checked regularly.
Net swaps and regulations
Some states and bat rescue organisations run free “net swaps”. A program in Victoria last year collected over 600 lethal nets and provided 359 replacements. In Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, it is illegal to use or sell large-aperture fruit netting. Victoria’s conservation regulator has investigated 37 reports of illegal netting in the past year.
Fishing gear and hair ties
Aquatic debris accounts for about 10% of entanglement cases in NSW. For platypus, fishing gear and rubbish cause 8% of mortalities in Victoria. Dr Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy said: “Fishing line is probably the most difficult type of litter for platypus to cope with, and causes horrendous injuries – it basically just cuts through the skin.” Hair ties are a growing concern, especially in swimming areas, as they wash into creeks. Williams advises to “snip it and bin it”. Flying foxes also get caught in fishing line when skimming water surfaces. Western Australia’s Reel It In program has installed 192 bins at fishing spots, collecting over 250 km of fishing line. Most states, except Queensland, have banned enclosed yabby nets (opera house traps) that kill turtles, platypus, and rakali.
Barbed wire threats
Barbed wire fences injure many animals. Wildlife Victoria rescued over 800 kangaroos from fences in the past year. “As a land-based species they are often confined by fencing and need to jump over fences to navigate around and through properties. Unfortunately, if a kangaroo is startled or travelling at speed, their hind legs can clip top wires, causing their legs to become entangled,” the organisation said. Vink noted that in north Queensland, nearly 250 little red flying foxes were caught in one week on a single property. Solutions include replacing the top strand with plain wire or adding reflective tape or discs to make fences visible.
What to do if you find trapped wildlife
Do not approach or touch the animal. Contact your local wildlife rescue or use the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s wildlife rescue app. Flying foxes should only be handled by vaccinated and trained individuals. With H5 bird flu in Australia, avoid contact with sick or dead birds and report sightings to the emergency animal disease hotline 1800 675 888 or birdflu.gov.au.
