Fruit tree netting that can entangle flying foxes and birds is now banned in Canberra backyards, with residents facing fines of up to $800 if caught continually using it.

The ACT government introduced the ban to protect native wildlife which can get caught up in large-gauge netting, causing serious injury or death.

Netting must now be wildlife-friendly with a mesh size of 5mm by 5mm or smaller, and there should be no gaps for wildlife to enter from the ground or above.

If your finger can fit through the mesh, then it is considered unsafe netting.