NETTING backyard fruit trees can be a risk to life and limb - for you and the animals you hope to deter. But there is a safer, and cheaper alternative.
There's the risk of falls - every year about 5000 people in Australia are admitted to hospital after a fall from a ladder; and over 60s are at greatest risk of serious injury.
"Nets can damage new tree growth, make it hard to get to your fruit when you need to, and rats can still get beneath the net to snack on your fruit," said physiotherapist and wildlife enthusiast Megan Davidson.
"Finally, if the tree net has holes you can push fingers through it is dangerous to wildlife, which can become entangled and trapped."
Wildlife rescue groups respond to many hundreds of calls from the public to rescue animals from fruit tree netting each year. Many of the animals - birds, flying foxes, possums, even snakes - are either dead or so badly injured they need to be euthanised.
Dr Davidson said these whole-of-tree nets are not only bad news for our native species but place householders, children and pets at risk of animal bites and scratches.
These days there are some "wildlife safe" nets available which have apertures so close together that you can't poke even your little finger through the holes, meaning animals are less likely to get caught. But these nets still have all the other problems.
"An increasingly popular, easier and safer way to go is by using fruit socks or bags over individual branches, bunches or even individual fruit," Dr Davidson said.
"Fruit socks can be purchased at major hardware stores or made by using simple clothes washing bags or paper bags. Even onion and orange bags are OK (and free). You just pull the bag or sock over the fruit and peg it off. "
And you only bag the fruit you can reach, which is usually more than enough for your needs with plenty of extra to give away.
"The top, hard-to-reach fruit is simply left for wildlife to snack on. So now you're a conservationist!" Dr Davidson said.
"When the season is over there is no clumsy net to manage and store. Just unpeg the bags and fold up.
"That's it! Enjoy the fruit and stay safe in your garden!"