BARBED WIRE VERSUS NATIVE WILDLIFE

Silent Peril: The Hidden Dangers of Barbed Wire to Australian Wildlife

Imagine the Australian bush at dusk. The air is crisp and alive with the sounds of cicadas, while subtle fragrances of eucalyptus drift on a gentle breeze. Branches sway softly, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow. Amongst this tapestry, Grey-headed Flying Foxes begin to stir. Their wings stretch, catching the last rays of sunlight as they glide silently, searching for flowering gums or ripening fruit.

But beneath the beauty, lurking almost invisible in the dimming light, is a danger made not of nature, but invention: barbed wire.

The Tragedy: How Barbed Wire Harms Wildlife

Across the land, barbed wire fences—erected for livestock and property—have become deadly traps for creatures large and small.

• Flying Foxes launch themselves between trees in a graceful arc, only to collide with an unseen strand. Their delicate, leather-like wings can easily catch. The struggle that follows is more than a fight for freedom; it’s a race against pain, injury, and even death.
• Gliders—Sugar gliders or the Greater glider—suffer in similar ways, their flights abruptly halted, fur and membrane torn.
• Tawny Frogmouths, owls, and even crows can be caught while swooping on prey or seeking food, often at night when barbed wire is hardest to see.
• On the ground, possums and small mammals exploring for food or shelter become entangled, their soft fur no match for sharp metal barbs.
• Snakes, too, sometimes fall victim while investigating old, coiled wire on the ground.

The sounds of struggle are rarely loud. More often, the bush’s gentle symphony is disrupted by a silence—an absence, where once there was life and movement.

The Aftermath

Animals caught in barbed wire often suffer:

• Lacerations and torn membranes, especially in bats and gliders
• Broken bones from desperate attempts to break free
• Infection and flystrike, as wounds become infested
• Dehydration, exhaustion, and shock

Without help, many quietly succumb, their suffering hidden amid the leaves and long grass.

Why Barbed Wire? A Brief History

Barbed wire may seem like a part of the landscape, but it is a relatively recent addition:

• First designed in the United States in the late 1800s to keep livestock from breaking through fences, various inventors contributed to its development.
• The most famous and enduring design was patented in 1874 by Joseph Glidden. The innovation: double-stranded wire with barbs locked firmly in place, easily manufactured in bulk.
• Known as “the Devil’s rope” by Native Americans, it spread rapidly, changing both agricultural and wild landscapes.

While effective for livestock management, barbed wire has had considerable unintended impacts on wildlife across the world, especially in Australia’s unique ecosystems.

What Can You Do? Wildlife-Friendly Solutions

The story need not end in tragedy. Even small changes can transform fences from hazards into harmless boundaries:

Barbed Wire Modifications

• Replace the top strand with smooth wire, especially near trees, fruit, or water sources.
• Cover barbs with hose or tubing—a simple, affordable measure.
• Mark dangerous sections with bright flagging tape, fabric strips, or reflective markers. These visual cues help animals detect and avoid the wire.

Longer-Term Solutions

• Use alternatives to barbed wire, such as Wildlife friendly fencing, electric fencing or plain wire in lower-risk areas.
• Create wildlife corridors: Plant native trees so that gliders or possums don’t need to cross open gaps or fences. Ideally, space trees less than 20 metres apart.
• Remove unused wire and netting. Even discarded fencing on the ground can trap wildlife.

In Case of Emergency

If you find an animal caught on barbed wire:

• Do not attempt to free it yourself; untrained handling may cause further injury.
• Contact a local wildlife rescue organisation immediately. They can advise on the safest action and send trained volunteers.
• If safe, provide shade for the animal while waiting.
• Never cut the animal free without veterinary support, as this can lead to severe trauma.

Conservation Begins With Awareness

Every barbed wire fence is a potential threat to Australia’s remarkable and often endangered fauna.
But every caring landholder, every community member, can be a guardian of the wild.
When fences are made with wildlife in mind, the bush remains a sanctuary—a place where the only stories are those of life, growth, and flight.

Resources and Further Information

Remember: Awareness is the first step. Even simple changes can save lives and help preserve Australia’s extraordinary natural heritage for generations to come.