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All types of netting have the potential to kill wildlife if not erected properly, but the most most deadly is MONOFILAMENT netting, also known as “Bird Netting”. This fine nylon netting (not actually designed for use in trees) is readily available to backyard fruit growers through the many Bunning’s stores, nurseries, produce stores and cheap outlets such as Crazy Clarks.The netting is available in black, green and white, but being so fine is invisible to nocturnal wildlife. A high majority of flying foxes caught are females supporting young. For every lactating female that dies or has to be taken into care for rehabilitation, a dependant young is left in the colony to die slowly. The mother flying foxes carry their young for the first month of life, but they are then too heavy to carry wile foraging and are left at home in the colony. These deadly products lack any labelling for their correct use and potential danger to wildlife. Less lethal alternatives are available for netting, namely nets made of white knitted materials. These are more visible and less likely to pull tight, with less blood flow constriction and likelihood of strangulation. We still recommend their erection over frames, as detailed on our Netting Solutions page. Please note that we are not referring to the canopy netting of commercially grown fruit trees.
HISTORY OF THE FIGHT TO BAN MONOFILAMENT NETTING To date there has been media in newspapers, magazines and on television programs such as Totally Wild and Channel 9 Extra plus others. This media focus has unfortunately only ever provided bandaid solutions to a very serious and urgent matter. The offending netting is increasingly being sold throughout Australia, is cheap and deadly. No matter where it is used it can kill animals. It has the greatest impact on nocturnal wildlife where it is used in trees, and most especially flying-foxes. It is cruel and inhumane, it causes serious injury (we euthanize more than we rehabilitate) and a long and horrid death if the animal is not found in time. The extent of the problem is unknown, as many deaths go unreported and many different wildlife rescue groups / individuals are involved in rescue around the various States. Bat Care Brisbane rescued 90 flying-foxes in a 2 month period in 2007, 31 from back yard fruit tree netting. In Sydney, one wildlife care group (there aret 3 wildlife care groups in Sydney) rescued 70 Grey Headed flying-foxes from inappropriately netted backyard fruit trees in just 3 months. This species is listed as Vulnerable to extinction. The Humane Society International and the Environmental Defenders Office have both been involved in the campaign to ban monofilament netting.and we have both written to State and Federal Ministers. Through the Federal Member for Bowman Andrew Laming, a proposal to ban monofilament netting was presented to the then Minister for the Environment Senator Ian Campbell. A lletter writing campaign from wildlife organizations nationally and internationally supported this push . Unfortunately the Federal Minister referred the matter to the State and Territory Ministers who in turn replied to us saying they were concerned about the issue and would look into the matter. In a letter from the NSW Minister for the Environment, he reported" I am pleased to note that DEC (Department of Environment and Conservation) has recently reached an agreement with major hardware retailer, Bunnings Pty Ltd, whereby Bunnings has agreed to distribute DEC information on appropriate netting structure and design with the netting material at point of sale" This was a great step forward - DEC and KBCS designed appropriate wording for information. But before this could be put in place Bunnings notified DEC that due to policy changes they would no longer do this as the suppliers of the netting must agree to the netting being labelled. This was a major setback. The Victorian Advocates for Animals entered the struggle to have monofilament netting in March 2005. They began a direct action campaign, encouraging people to write / ring / email individuals in the management of Bunnings. To their credit, Bunnings agreed to `trade out` and not re-stock its supplies of black and white monofilament netting. Black `knitted` netting will be sold with installation instructions. Other stores, Danks (Thrifty Link & Home Hardware) and Flower Power have also agreed. Mitre 10 with over 400 stores nationally have agreed to cease stocking monofilament netting following negotiations with VAFA. In total 1050+ outlets have agreed to de-range monofilament netting including Bunnings and they have agreed to review the retailing of black knitted netting with VAFA in 12 months time. More information on Netting Solutions page.
There were 9 bats rescued from this 1 tree near Ulladulla in NSW, 22 from another nearby tree the day before.
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