Warning over 'harmful' garden trend as Aussies partake in Halloween celebrations

Fake spider webs are having a horrifying impact on wildlife, and Aussies are being urged to ditch them.

Fake spider webs along a fence in Seddon, Victoria.
A safety warning has been issued that birds and bats could become entangled in fake spider webs this Halloween. Source: Michael Dahlstrom

Aussies celebrating Halloween this week are being warned a common decoration being placed in gardens could cause serious harm. Cheap fake spider webs made from artificial fibres are having a terrifying effect on the nation’s wildlife.

Native birds, bats, lizards and possums are all at risk, according to experts at the University of Sydney. Its experts have urged residents wanting to celebrate the event to seek alternative decorations, as those made from natural materials are less likely to cause harm.

Biology lecturer and researcher Dr Catherine Price issued an alert on Monday, saying animals can become trapped while collecting food or nesting material. “Research suggests about 30 per cent of birds’ nests may include human-made materials, posing a risk to nestlings,” she said.

In recent years internet posts featuring images of animals caught in the webs have gone viral, but this year Yahoo News has collected evidence proving they're also a problem in Australia.

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A collage of warnings about fake spider webs and wildlife posted online.
While most of the viral Halloween warning posts feature images of overseas wildlife, Yahoo News has found fake webs are now a problem in Australia too. Source: Facebook

The American practice of decorating front yards to celebrate the ancient pagan tradition has surged in popularity in Australia over the last five years, and rescue group WIRES has responded to several callouts since then.

Already this year, a yellow-throated honeyeater was reported to have strands of spider web caught around its wings in the western Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill. Sadly it disappeared before rescuers arrived and whether it survived is unknown.

Right: Fake spider webs along a fence in Seddon, Victoria. Left: A rope alternative fake spider web.
Aussies celebrating Halloween are being urged to ditch synthetic spider web decorations (right), and consider natural alternatives (left). Source: Michael Dahlstrom

Last year, a magpie’s foot became caught in webs in the city’s north. While in the eastern suburbs, an unidentified brown and white bird became trapped and was left dangling for “some time”.

University of Sydney’s Professor Dieter Hochuli said fake webs act like real ones, but they don’t feed spiders and serve no real purpose.

“They seem like a needless way to cause harm. There’s a chance you will trap a bunch of unsuspecting and harmless animals in your polyester decoration, which can also end up being incorporated into nests,” he said.

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