Hundreds of flying foxes, bats and birds suffering because southeast growers using wrong fruit tree netting
HUNDREDS of flying foxes, bats and birds are perishing in the southeast every year because growers are using the wrong fruit tree netting.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
HUNDREDS of flying foxes, bats and birds are perishing in the southeast every year because growers are using the wrong fruit tree netting.
Black Rock rescuer Bev Brown said she got calls every day to rescue bats caught because growers were using nets that allowed birds and animals to become tangled.
Casey was the fifth highest for bat rescues in Melbourne, and Ms Brown said she had also cut high numbers of animals out of nets in Kingston — particularly Bentleigh and Mentone.
She said bats could appear fine after being cut from a net only to die from injuries days later.
Ms Brown said bats were integral to the proliferation of native forests, spreading between 60-90,000 seeds each night through their fur and faeces.
“I get calls every day,” she said.
“We see bones showing through, we see ligaments and it becomes quite horrendous — it can be quite distressing for us because we bond with them.
“It’s baby season so we know there are a lot of lactating mums ... that go back to feed the babies in the middle of the night.
“The babies will die a slow death (if their mothers die).”
Department of Environment wildlife officer Suriya Vij said much of the netting commonly used to protect fruit trees could be fatal to birds and flying foxes.
“Where netting holes are too big, flying foxes get their wings and feet stuck — they can be injured and many have to be euthanised,” she said.
“Wildlife safe netting has holes 5mm x 5mm or smaller, ‘flywire’ size.
“Fruit socks or bags are very wildlife safe.”
Ms Vij said people should remove nets that were not needed, including netting on trees with old fruit, and consider picking fruit earlier.
If a finger fits through a net’s hole, it is too dangerous for animals.
To find a rescuer, go to the Department of Environment website here: delwp.vic.gov.au