Photograph by Peter Hammond
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Replace your fruit nets for free
Image: Courtesy of Tolga Bat Hospital
Netting fruit and vegetables can harm native wildlife. Flying-foxes, possums, birds and other wildlife can tangle themselves in netting when the mesh is too big. This can cause serious injuries or death.
ACT Wildlife is swapping ACT residents’ – not businesses’ – non‐wildlife friendly fruit netting for FREE throughout September and October.
Use netting that protects your fruit and our wildlife
To check if your mesh is too big, do the ‘finger test’. If you can easily poke your finger through the mesh of your netting, or any holes in it, then animals could become tangled.
If that sounds like one of your nets, we can replace it for free.
Check our Net Swap Calendar to find out when and where to swap your net. We may make more times available, so keep an eye out for updates.
Net Swap Calendar
ACT Wildlife Jerrabomberra Office, 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick:
- Every Saturday in September and October – 10am to 3pm
- Thursday 7 and 28 September – 11am to 2pm
- Wednesday 4 and 11 October – 11am to 2pm
- Sunday 8 October – 11 am to 2pm
Bunnings info sessions
Come along to our sausage sizzles and learn about the net swap while you’re there. Note we won’t be swapping nets at these sessions.
- Tuggeranong, Sunday 3 September – 9am to 4pm
- Gungahlin, Saturday 23 September – 9am to 4pm
Wildlife Warriors meet and greet
Gavin the snake guru and friendly python
In August we caught up with our wonderful Wildlife Warriors as part of part of our Sponsor a Species program. Sponsors got to see:
- snake guru Gavin show a blue-tongue lizard, shingleback and python
- carer Corin speak about her wallaby Marla and possum Patricia
- carer Sharon show cute little wombat joeys Acacia and Banksy.
Become a sponsor today and we’ll see you at the next meet and greet!
Below: Wombats Acacia and Banksy; Wallaby Marla
About Us
We are Canberra’s only multi-species wildlife care group in the ACT that rescues, rehabilitates and releases native animals. As a not-for-profit and charity we rely on donations to support the work of our volunteers.
Get Involved
Volunteers are our backbone. We welcome you to help in all aspects of rescue and care of the common species in the ACT including behind the scenes work. Training is provided.
Found an Animal?
Call our 24/7 Hotline
0432 300 033
Gently place the animal in a box with a towel or cloth and keep it warm and quiet. If you are unable to contain the animal, please stay near it and call our hotline with directions for rescue.
Important points:
FLEDGLING BIRDS DO NOT ALWAYS NEED RESCUING
Baby birds come out of their nests and cannot fly well for a few days. They are attended to by their parents during this time. Please watch from a distance and if you do not see parents then they may need to be rescued. This is usually not necessary. Call if you want to report an ‘abandoned’ magpie or bird – 0432 300 033
KEEP YOUR FELINE FRIEND INSIDE
You can love your cat and wildlife too. Under the ACT government’s plan, all new cats obtained by owners after July 1, 2022 will have to be contained, regardless of which suburb they live in.
PLEASE DO NOT FEED BIRDS
Birds, especially magpies are abundant in the ACT. They frequent places where people eat and because people feed them they begin to rely on this (inappropriate) food and demand it.
BIRD NETTING DANGERS
With fruit ripening on trees inappropriate netting traps birds and flying foxes. Netting should have holes that you cannot put your little finger through and be stretched on a frame away from the branches. This means that birds and flying foxes can land and take off from the netting. Otherwise they get hopelessly caught up in loose, sloppy nets. Protecting Wildlife Netting Brochure: Flying foxes should not be touched because of the danger of Lyssavirus, a fatal disease unless you are vaccinated. If you should be bitten or scratched you should attend the hospital emergency clinic immediately and leave rescue of the animal to vaccinated carers with ACT Wildlife.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY POISONING
Poisons used to kill rats and mice are threatening wildlife and their environment. They are also a threat to children and pets with consequences that can lead to death. Read the full document here outlining the dangers and how to reduce the risk.
Meet Bunny, the Tawny Frogmouth
Bunny arrived with an injured shoulder. He was released after 17 days in care, fully recovered and flying well. Bunny made the 2023 ACT Wildlife calendar for the month of March. If you love this photo then look for the 2024 calendar coming soon!