When properly and responsibly installed, garden netting can discourage pests and wildlife from ruining your plants. However, this is not always the case. A Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) was brought into CROW after being found entangled in garden mesh. Unfortunately, it did not survive due to extreme lacerations on its head and body. This is just one example of the negative impact certain netting can have on wildlife.

Black racers are small nonvenomous snakes and pose no threat to humans or pets. Their existence is crucial for ecosystems as they regulate rodent populations.. Habitat loss, road mortality, and intentional killings are the main reasons for their declining populations in certain regions. While not yet listed as endangered, their protection is crucial for the well-being of numerous ecosystems. 

Garden nets with excessively small gaps, or fine mesh, can mean important pollinators like bees and butterflies cannot make it into your garden. Conversely, nets with too big of gaps can entangle and kill animals such as birds, small mammals, and snakes. Therefore, it is crucial to strike a balance between protecting your garden and preserving wildlife. 

To minimize risk, ensure the mesh sizes are no larger than 5mm, or ¼ of an inch wide and thoroughly secure all edges of the netting. Rather than plastic netting, opt for a more rigid or biodegradable source of mesh. Chicken wire or burlap is sturdier and safer for wildlife, and it won’t break down into microplastics over time. 

There are also many ways to create other kinds of removable garden or crop covers that are fool-proof for critters and easy to use for humans! It is important to maintain that balance so we can continue to protect our wildlife and our gardens.

CROW Case A Week stories are written by Jordan Bryant. These stories appear weekly in Santiva Chronicle.