A recent study published in Pacific Conservation Biology has found that flying foxes account for two-thirds of all wildlife entanglement cases in New South Wales (NSW), with grey-headed flying foxes—listed as vulnerable under national environment laws—being particularly affected. The research highlights a broader crisis: thousands of native animals across Australia are caught annually in everyday items such as fruit tree netting, fences, and fishing gear, often leading to severe injury or death.
Rising Entanglement Numbers Across States
Wildlife entanglements are on the rise, with at least 3,500 cases reported each year in NSW alone. In Victoria, more than 2,000 cases were recorded last year. Jasmine Vink, an ecologist and bat rehabilitator, emphasizes the scale of the problem: “These issues are just so much greater than people realise.” Flying foxes frequently become entangled in backyard nets and barbed wire in regional areas. Vink notes that “very, very few of those bats are able to be treated. They die of exposure, heat, dehydration, blood loss, predation. You have raptors that come down and eat them from the fences.”
Beyond Flying Foxes: A Multispecies Threat
Entanglements affect hundreds of species, including kangaroos, platypus, raptors, and gliders. Lisa Palma, chief executive of Wildlife Victoria, describes these incidents as among 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 says. “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.”
Choosing Wildlife-Friendly Fruit Tree Netting
Backyard netting, commonly used to protect fruit from pests and weather, poses a major hazard. Animals like flying foxes, birds, and possums are attracted to flowers and fruits and get caught in nets with mesh larger than 5mm. Vink advises: “The rule of thumb is that if you can poke a finger through it, it’s not safe for wildlife.” Entanglements cause severe constriction and pain. In some tragic cases, mothers are trapped alongside their dead pups. Safer alternatives include smaller mesh netting with a cross-weave design, fruit tree protection bags, and white or light-coloured materials that are more visible at night. Nets should be taut and checked regularly. Some state governments and bat rescue organisations run free “net swaps”; for instance, a Victorian program last year saw over 600 lethal nets surrendered and 359 replacements provided.
Legal Restrictions and Safe Disposal
In Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, the sale and use of large-aperture fruit netting is illegal. Victoria’s conservation regulator has investigated 37 reports of illegal netting in the past year. Proper disposal of fishing gear and hair ties is also critical. Aquatic debris accounts for about 10% of entanglement cases in NSW. For platypus, fishing line is particularly dangerous, causing severe cuts. Dr. Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy warns that hair ties are a growing problem: “Elasticated hair ties are a really significant problem because no matter where they get dropped, they tend to get swept along in the rain, go down in the drains, [and] end up in creeks.” He advises to “snip it and bin it.” Even flying foxes get caught in fishing line while skimming water surfaces.
Fixing Fatal Fences
Barbed wire in rural areas poses a serious risk to kangaroos and flying foxes. Wildlife Victoria rescued more than 800 kangaroos from fences in the past year. Vink reports that in north Queensland, close to 250 little red flying foxes were caught on a single property in one week. Solutions include replacing the top strand of barbed wire with plain wire or installing reflective tape or discs to increase visibility.
What to Do If You Find Trapped Wildlife
If you encounter entangled wildlife, avoid approaching or touching the animal to prevent stress. Contact your local wildlife rescue service or use the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s wildlife rescue app to find a licensed carer. Flying foxes should only be handled by vaccinated and trained individuals with proper protective equipment. With the arrival of H5 bird flu in Australia, report any dead or sick birds to the emergency animal disease hotline at 1800 675 888 or visit birdflu.gov.au.
