Flying Fox/Fruit Bat Rescue From Improper Fruit Tree Netting HD

http://forgreenies.com
Hundreds of flying foxes need to be rescued from Queensland backyards because of the lack of thought that goes into fruit tree netting. The nets are commonly draped loosely over the tree to protect ripening fruit from birds and flying foxes. Problems occur when native wildlife land on the loose netting and the more they struggle to free themselves, the more entangled they become often resulting in a torturous death.

Gardeners need to be educated about effective and wildlife-friendly netting methods. By erecting a frame around the tree, the netting can be stretched over the frame so it is taut and wildlife just 'bounce' off. A great frame is made using star pickets and black poly pipe to create a 'dome'. The best netting to use is white or brightly coloured and with a mesh that does not tighten if something is entangled.

If a flying fox becomes entangled in your netting, please do not attempt to handle it. Call the RSPCA on 1300 animal or Bat Conservation & Rescue Qld on the rescue phone: 0488 228 134 and they will send out a trained and vaccinated rescuer.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• fruit bat
• flying fox
• netting
• rescue
• fruit tree
• queensland
• australia

[jihadacadien]

Poor bat! Great someone cared enuf to saved it AWSOME!

[forgreenies]

@jihadacadien yes bats don't tend to have a good reputation. All stems from 'dracula' films and negative media coverage.. Little do people know is that fruit bats do a great job to regenerate native forests and they are really intelligent mammals

[jihadacadien]

@forgreenies Oh I know! Here we have really small bats and all they eat is bugs and mosquitos...still people hate them(?) I just might build some houses for them one day.

[forgreenies]

yes we have microbats aswell! we built a roost box for them so they would hopefully move in and eat the mosquitos and insect pests from around our house. Still don't know if there are any in there yet... the gap they go through is too small to see in. They are gorgeous little things

[KeepEarthWild]

Great Job.....Louise and her team are so dedicated. Can't wait to get my vaccinations and start volunteering!

[Jennivision]

Poor thing, I'm glad it was rescued, I will never put netting over a tree like that! There's a flying fox outside in the gum tree in my front yard as I type this :)

[jihadacadien]

@forgreenies I've read that it can take some time before they start roosting in a box. And there's a lot of specials recomndations on where to put the box. Oh and look for guano under the box. Then you'll know there's someone in ;)