Make your garden wildlife safe
A garden that is safe for wildlife is safer for pets and children too.
Fruit tree netting
Unsafe fruit tree netting can trap and kill flying foxes and birds. If you want to protect your fruit with netting, you must use wildlife safe netting. Netting with a mesh aperture (hole size) of 5mm x 5mm or less when fully stretched is safe. If you can poke a little finger through the net it is not wildlife safe.
A good alternative to netting a whole tree is using net bags or fruit socks to protect bunches of fruit or individual branches. Leave what you don’t need to share with wildlife. Remove old netting that is not protecting fruit and check netted trees every day to ensure the nets are not loose and that no animals are trapped.
Visit My Smart Garden or Managing Wildlife for more information about safe netting.
Report illegal nets
In Victoria, all wildlife is protected by law, and it is illegal to use or sell illegal household fruit netting. You can report illegal net sightings online to Crime Stoppers Victoria or on 1800 333 000.
Net Swap Program
We are excited to help make local backyards safer for native wildlife.
Yarra will be participating the Net Swap Program 2026/2027, to give residents the opportunity to swap fruit netting that can harm native animals for a safer alternative.
In Victoria, netting on household fruit trees must have a mesh size of less than 5mm x 5mm at full stretch.
The Net Swap Program is delivered by the Conservation Regulator in partnership with participating Victorian councils.
Swap or surrender your fruit tree net
Spring is the perfect time to think about what netting to use on your fruit trees or garden beds.
Yarra City Council Net Swap
If you’re a Yarra resident, you can surrender your illegal netting at the Clifton Hill Depot from 1 October 2026. Yarra residents are eligible to receive a replacement legal fruit tree net, free of charge. The nets will be available until we run out.
From 1 October, until we run out of nets, we will have a drop in Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at the Clifton Hill Depot Reception, 168 Roseneath St, open between 8am and 4pm. This is the building closest to the corner of Gray St, not the Recycling Centre which is further down the hill.
What you need to do:
- Bring your illegal net to swap, we will not be swapping old legal nets.
- Come to the front desk and let the person there know that you have come to swap a net.
- Have your proof of address - ID or a recent rates notice will be required to prove that you are a Yarra resident.
Limited nets are available and a limit of one net per household applies. If you picked up a net last season we ask that you don’t get a second one this season. Surrendered illegal netting will be collected and recycled through our project partner UPPAREL.
Surrendering fruit tree nets
Anyone, including non-Yarra residents, can surrender an illegal fruit tree net outside of Net Swap events at our Clifton Hill Recycling Centre during hours of operation commencing Friday 1 October 2026. Surrendered illegal nets will be sent off for recycling. Please be aware that replacement legal nets are only available to Yarra residents at Net Swap events.
The Fruit Tree Net Swap Program begins on Friday 1 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
An easy way to check if your net is legal is the finger poke test. If an adult finger can fit through the gaps, chances are that the net is illegal.
Netting used to protect household fruit-trees, vegetable gardens, or other fruiting plants must have a mesh size of 5 mm x 5 mm or less at full stretch.
If you use netting to protect your household fruit or vegetable harvest you will need to comply with this new mandatory requirement introduced under Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 (POCTA Regulations).
Any existing household fruit netting that does not meet this specification must be replaced with appropriate netting.
The regulation applies to both the sale and use of household fruit netting. It does not apply to sale or use of netting in commercial circumstances.
Fruit on household trees and plants is a tempting treat for wildlife. Netting is a popular way to protect fruit, but inappropriate types of netting can kill or injure animals such as birds, possums or flying foxes.
Netting with a large mesh size is more likely to entangle animals and their struggling can cause deep cuts and strangulation, often leading to death.
Reducing the mesh size of netting will greatly reduce the risk of animal entanglement.
Never attempt to touch or handle a flying fox. Flying foxes can carry rare diseases that are transferable to humans. Only experienced and vaccinated people wearing appropriate personal protective equipment should handle flying-foxes.
If you find a flying-fox trapped in fruit tree netting, call 136 186 to find an experienced rescuer or use the Help for Injured Wildlife tool.
Tips to keep wildlife safe
Poisons and baits
Avoid using poisons and baits as these may kill non-target animals. Rat poison may kill owls and other native animals, while snail pellets will kill blue tongue lizards. These products pose a risk to children as well as pets.
Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife
Keep your cat indoors or in an outdoor enclosure to protect them and wildlife. For ideas on keeping kitty happy, visit Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife.
Fishponds and pools
Water in your garden is great for attracting frogs and birds. However, you should make sure anything that falls in the water has a way to climb out again. You can use rocks and branches or a “frog log” in your pool. Find out how to build a frog pond.
Water for wildlife
Put water out for wildlife in summer. Add sticks and stones to make sure anything that falls in can climb out again. Change the water regularly to prevent mosquitoes breeding.
Slow down on the road
Wildlife are at risk on our roads. Always observe speed limits. Slow down in wet weather and when it is dark, dawn or dusk. If you hit a bird or mammal, stop and check. Call Wildlife Victoria for help. A possum or kangaroo may have a surviving joey (baby) in its pouch that can be saved.