{"id":111834,"date":"2025-11-05T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/?p=111834"},"modified":"2025-10-29T17:42:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T06:42:01","slug":"illegal-netting-puts-wildlife-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/illegal-netting-puts-wildlife-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal netting puts wildlife at risk"},"content":{"rendered":"

WILDLIFE regulators and organisations are banding together in an effort to protect vulnerable wildlife.<\/p>\n

Ahead of this year’s fruit harvesting season, RSPCA, Zoos Victoria, the Conservation Regulator, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria are urging growers to check their fruit tree netting.<\/p>\n

Illegal netting on household fruit trees and vegetable gardens can be a threat to animals, with Wildlife Victoria rescuing 189 native animals from netting last year.<\/p>\n

Netting with a mesh size greater than 5mm x 5mm is illegal to use on household trees in Victoria.<\/p>\n

RSPCA Victoria head of prevention Rebecca Cook said to check if their netting is potentially dangerous, people can try to poke their finger through it.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Fruit socks are an alternative method to protect fruits.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The safe, legal netting will be too small to poke your finger through and will keep our native wildlife safe from being tangled in your fruit trees,” she said. “An alternative to netting your entire fruit tree is to use individual fruit bags or sleeves around your tree’s fruit instead.<\/p>\n

“If you’re preparing to net your fruit trees during spring, please make sure your netting is the right type to help protect your fruit harvest and the vulnerable grey-headed flying fox.”<\/p>\n

Forest and wildlife officers can issue on-the-spot fines of $395 or a maximum $2,964 if people are prosecuted in court for using illegal fruit nets.<\/p>\n

Community members should not attempt to touch or handle a flying fox if they find one trapped and should instead call 136 186 to find a rescuer.<\/p>\n

The species is pivotal in nature, dispersing seeds and pollinating flowering plants, with many plants relying on natural pollinators. For more information head to rspcavic.org<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WILDLIFE regulators and organisations are banding together in an effort to protect vulnerable wildlife. Ahead of this year’s fruit harvesting season, RSPCA, Zoos Victoria, the Conservation Regulator, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria are urging growers to check their fruit tree netting. Illegal netting on household fruit trees and vegetable gardens can be a threat […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":111835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-111834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIllegal netting puts wildlife at risk - Bellarine Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wildlife groups warn against illegal fruit netting (over 5mm x 5mm mesh). Protect bats & wildlife! 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