Anti-Bird Netting on Fruit Trees and Welfare Harms

Nets placed on fruit trees and bushes to exclude birds frequently trap and kill protected species; welfare-friendly alternatives protect crops without the indiscriminate bycatch of netting.

Key Facts

Garden and commercial netting traps thousands of birds, hedgehogs, and bats annually in the UK
Birds caught in netting suffer wing injuries and exhaustion before dying
RSPB and wildlife charities receive thousands of netting entanglement reports each year
Reflective tape, scarer devices, and fine mesh correctly sized nets can protect crops without entrapment risk

Welfare Considerations

Anti-bird netting that is incorrectly sized or loosely applied creates a trap for any wildlife that encounters it. Birds and bats become entangled in loose mesh and die from exhaustion, starvation, or hypothermia. Hedgehogs entering nets to forage can become fatally trapped. Welfare-friendly alternatives achieve comparable crop protection without these bycatch harms, and correct netting installation — taut, fine mesh of appropriate gauge — eliminates most entrapment risk.

What You Can Do

Use fine-gauge, tightly installed netting or welfare-friendly alternatives to protect crops
Check any garden netting daily and remove it when not needed
Raise awareness in your community about the wildlife entrapment risk of loose bird netting