Wildlife Friendly Fencing

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Atherton, QLD
Wildlife Friendly Fencing

The wildlife friendly fencing project is raising awareness of the impact of fencing on Australian wildlife, and developing guidelines for good practice.

Wildlife friendly fencing avoids the use of barbed wire, but is safe effective fencing for wildlife, people and livestock. Barbed wire in particular is a major hazard for wildlife. Each year thousands of animals face a cruel death or permanent injury from entanglement on barbs, usually on the top strand. More than 75 wildlife species have been identified in Australia as occasional or regular victims of barbed wire fences, especially nocturnal animals such as bats, gliders and owls. Many fail to see the fence, or cannot clear the height under windy conditions. Most of those rescued are too severely damaged to return to the wild. There are also other fencing hazards. Kangaroos get hung up in fences that are too high, whether plain or barbed, a situation made worse by the bottom strand of the fence being too low. Wetlands fenced too close to the waterline prevent wetland birds from landing or taking off, especially cranes. Barbed wire is both an animal welfare and conservation issue. It is recognised as a threatening process in the draft / recovery plans for a number of species. These include the Yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), the Mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis), the Spectacled flying fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) and Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalis). We seek a fundamental change in the approach to fencing, a change that considers the welfare of wildlife in the landscape. The project is looking to establish partnerships with a wide range of organisations to help promote and implement wildlife friendly fencing. These include wildlife rescue groups, natural resource management groups, all levels of government, fencing manufacturers, contractors and suppliers. There is no ongoing funding to run or coordinate the project. Tolga Bat Hospital was been awarded 2 grants, the first from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Federal Government’s NHT program in 2006, and the second a Community Action Grant from Caring for Our Country in 2010. We welcome donations to continue this work. All donations are tax deductible. We need your help
1. Familiarise yourself with the project through this website. Tell others.
2.Make your fences wildlife friendly and encourage others to do likewise.
3.Monitor fences in your local area and report any entangled animals in your area to your local wildlife group. You can find them at www.fauna.org.au Contact us if you find species that are not already on our list. Send us photos.
4.Give us your ideas on wildlife friendly fencing.
5. Help introduce wildlife friendly fencing into your community through appropriate channels eg Landcare or NRM groups. Please contact us for educational resources.
6.Support us by making a donation, or purchasing WFF promotional products - tshirts and car stickers. You can contact us by email info(at)wildlifefriendlyfencing.com or by telephone 07 4091 2683

25/11/2025

A wildlife-friendly fencing advocate sent in these photos after remedying a local “hot spot” where native animals were getting entangled on barbed wire.

This fence has four strands of barbed wire stretched across a creek. Waterways attract all kinds of wildlife — birds, bats, wallabies and more. Unfortunately, fencing is very hard for wildlife to see, especially at night when many species are flying or gliding through the dark.

By making fencing more visible, wildlife can recognise it as a hazard and manoeuvre around it, instead of becoming entangled — something that is often fatal.

This fence has now been retrofitted with UV-resistant white tape, and we’re hopeful it will prevent future entanglements at this site.

Read more about improving fence visibility here: https://wildlifefriendlyfencing.org/friendly-fencing/improve-visibility/

17/11/2025

14/11/2025

This beautiful Brown Goshawk was found with its talons tangled in illegal household fruit tree netting. Thankfully, it was assessed as uninjured and safely released back into the wild - but not all wildlife is so lucky.

Does your household fruit netting pass the “poke test”? Check if your finger easily fits through the mesh.

👉 If it doesn’t, then you’re good to go!

👉 If it does, then it's most likely illegal, and you risk entangling and seriously harming wildlife.

Safe, legal fruit netting has a maximum mesh size of 5x5mm.

By choosing a legal netting option, you're helping protect our precious native species while still enjoying your harvest. 🍎

Let’s keep our backyards safe for all creatures.

The Conservation Regulator, RSPCA Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Wildlife Victoria and Animal Welfare Victoria want Victorians to make sure their household fruit netting is legal.

To help households keep wildlife safe, the Conservation Regulator and five local councils (Brimbank, Manningham, Merri-bek, Yarra and Boroondara) are piloting a free net swap program for residential household fruit growers, partnering with UPPAREL to recycle collected netting.

For more information go to https://rspcavic.org/grey-headed-flying-fox-spring-netting.

If you see someone selling or using illegal fruit netting report it to the Conservation Regulator, via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

RSPCA Victoria
Wildlife Victoria
Zoos Victoria
Animal Welfare Victoria
Merri-bek City Council
Yarra City Council
City of Boroondara
Manningham Council
Brimbank City Council

13/11/2025

11/11/2025

10/11/2025

Did you know it’s illegal in Victoria to use or sell household fruit tree netting with holes larger than 5mm x 5mm? Larger mesh can trap and seriously harm wildlife.

A new Tree Net Swap Program is now underway in five participating councils. You can hand in any illegal netting and receive a free wildlife-safe replacement net. Nets are limited, and it’s one per household. Click the link for more info.

https://rspcavic.org/grey-headed-flying-fox-spring-netting/ #:~:text=Victorians%20are%20encouraged%20to%20surrender,tree%20net%2C%20free%20of%20charge.

07/11/2025

06/11/2025

Beautiful work from all of the volunteers from Tolga Bat Hospital! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to remedy these vicious hotspots!

05/11/2025

01/11/2025

31/10/2025

Wongarra man Doug Gimesy removes more than 18 kilometres of barbed wire from his property to create a wildlife haven.

30/10/2025

☹️So sad to see this little tube nosed bat on top strand barbed wire
Nobody found him in time … please don’t use top strand barbed wire and if you see a stranded bat please call a wildlife care group

Address

134 Carrington Road
Atherton, QLD
4883

Website

http://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.org/

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