Flying-foxes

The Clarence Valley is home to three species of flying-foxes: Little Red flying-foxes; Black flying-foxes; and the threatened Grey-Headed flying-foxes.  

Flying-fox ID

Grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Vulnerable and protected

• Light grey fur on head and body with rusty-red or orange collar around the neck
• Fur extends down the legs to the toes
• Body length 23-29 cm
• Pointy ears
• Hang spaced apart in upper tree branches
• May have a strong smell

Black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

Protected

• Black fur, sometimes with slightly rusty-red fur on the back of the neck and some silver or grey fur on the belly
• Fur extends to the knees, lower legs are bare
• Body length 23-28 cm
• Rounded ears
• Hang spaced apart in upper tree branches
• May have a strong smell

Litte red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus)

Protected

• Rusty-reddish brown fur, with reddish wings and claws, sometimes with slightly grey fur on head and lighter blonde fur on shoulders
• Fur extends to the knees, lower legs are bare
• Body length 12-20 cm
• Pointy ears
• Hang close together on lower branches, almost in bunches
• May have a strong sickly-sweet smell

They are nomadic species, travelling long distances and setting up camps seasonally based on food and water supplies. In the Clarence Valley there are 34 established flying-fox camps, where they can be found roosting in trees during the day depending on the time of year. Some camps are permanently occupied, while others attract flying-foxes in the warmer months when numbers in the region generally increase.

Due to the loss of natural habitat, we are increasingly seeing flying-foxes move into urban areas in search of food and shelter. This has been exacerbated in recent years by extreme weather conditions, where droughts have caused food shortages and heat stress for flying-foxes and led to them setting up temporary camps in residential areas of our region.

You can view locations of local flying-fox camps on our Flying-fox Camp Monitor, or add new ones if you notice a camp forming.

Clarence Valley Council acknowledge the difficulties that can arise when living close to flying-foxes. Council is working to develop an LGA-wide Flying-fox Management Strategy to address the concerns and impacts of flying-foxes on the local community, while ensuring flying-foxes are protected from harm.

Maclean Flying-fox Management Strategy 2018 has been developed for the region’s largest permanent camp in Maclean. This strategy aims to reduce conflicts between humans and flying-foxes in Maclean, addressing the concerns of the local community who are impacted whilst conserving and co-existing with the flying-fox population.

Susan Island – Restoring to Reduce Conflict is a new project funded through the Local Government New South Wales 10-year Flying-fox Habitat Restoration Program. This project will improve flying-fox habitat on Susan Island – already an important roosting and breeding area - by restoring remnant floodplain rainforest. The aim is to encourage flying-foxes back to the island and reduce ‘spill-over’ influxes into residential areas in South Grafton and Grafton. This long-term project will not only increase suitable habitat that supports healthy flying-fox populations but will have positive flow on effects for the overall biodiversity of Susan Island. 

Flying-foxes in the Clarence Valley provides up-to-date information on Council’s flying-fox projects and management activities. This Clarence Conversations webpage has been created as an engagement tool to communicate with the local community on everything flying-fox related, including helpful resources.

Flying-foxes and the trees they roost in (their ‘camps’) are protected by law in NSW. They are important pollinators and seed spreaders for native vegetation. They can’t be relocated or ‘moved on’ and it is illegal to remove or trim the trees they are roosting in.

What can you do?

Your health – no touch, no risk

• Never touch or approach a flying-fox.
• There are no reports of people contracting diseases from living close to flying-fox camps.
• Flying-foxes pose no major health risks to you, unless you are bitten or scratched.
• If a flying-fox bites or scratches you:
  • immediately wash the wound gently but thoroughly with soap and water for at least fifteen minutes.
  • apply antiseptic such as povidone-iodine.
  • see a doctor as soon as possible and report the incident to NSW Health.
• Australian bat lyssavirus can only spread from flying-foxes to people through bites or scratches. It isn’t spread through droppings or urine.
• Hendra virus can spread from flying-foxes to horses. Horses can then infect people. See ‘Your horses’ section below.
• Like other types of animal droppings, you could get gastro-intestinal and lung diseases from directly touching flying-fox droppings. If you need to clean up droppings:
  • avoid brushing or scraping dry droppings creating dust.
  • wear disposable gloves and a mask, and afterwards put them in a sealed rubbish bag.
  • soak or spray the droppings using a low-pressure water spray.
  • wipe up droppings with a sponge or rag and then put them in sealed rubbish bags
  • if needed, clean the area again with soapy water.
  • wash your hands with warm soapy water after the clean-up.
• It’s best to call WIRES, but if you need to dispose of a dead flying-fox wear gloves and use a shovel, avoid directly touching it, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

If you find a sick, injured, or dead flying-fox call WIRES on 1300 094 737

Your kids:

• Schools near flying-fox camps must keep students away from flying-foxes (dead or alive), their droppings and their urine.
• Clean droppings off play equipment and outdoor furniture daily with a high-pressure hose or warm water.
• Store all moveable play equipment inside.
• Cover sandpits at night.
  
  

Your horses:

• Horses can catch Hendra virus if infected flying-foxes’ urine, saliva, or birth products contaminate their food.
• Vaccinating horses against Hendra virus is the best form of protection.
• Don’t place feed and water under trees.
• Cover feed and water containers with a shelter so they cannot be contaminated from above.
• Don’t leave food lying about that could attract flying-foxes, such as apples, carrots, or molasses.
• Inspect paddocks regularly for trees that are flowering or fruiting.
• Remove horses from paddocks where fruiting or flowering trees have attracted flying-foxes.
• If the horses cannot be removed from the paddock, erect temporary or permanent fencing to keep horses from grazing under trees.
• If these measures are not practical, consider stabling horses, or removing them from the paddock before dusk and overnight, when flying-foxes are most active.
• Clean up any fruit debris under the trees before horses return to the paddock.
  
  

Your pets:

• Keep pet food and water away from trees used by flying-foxes.
• Keep dogs and cats away from flying-foxes.
• Best evidence suggests there is no need to vaccinate dogs and cats against Australian bat lyssavirus.
• If a pet becomes sick after contact with the flying-fox, contact your vet.
  
  

Your washing:

• Take washing off the line before sunset to avoid droppings, or cover washing lines with old sheets or shower curtains.
• Consider using a clothes dryer where possible.
• Soak dropping-stained washing in stain remover as soon as possible. Droppings with fruit like mulberries in them can leave a permanent stain.
  
  

Your cars:

• If possible, keep cars under cover, especially at night. Use a car cover or marquee if you don’t have a carport.
• Remove droppings regularly with soap and water and wash your hands afterwards.
  
  

Your trees:

• To protect backyard fruit trees, use white, knitted netting (not fine nylon monofilament or black netting) that you can’t poke a finger through, and keep it taught to stop other animals getting caught in it. Avoid eating fruit that is partly eaten by flying-foxes. Wash intact fruit before eating it.
• An arborist can advise if a tree has become unsafe due to flying-fox roosting.
  
  

Your rainwater:

• Install a first-flush diverter to clear contaminants before clean water is collected in the tank.
• Screen inlets and outlets.
• Cover the tank with a roof structure.
• Boil and cool water before drinking it or chlorinate it.
• Periodically de-sludge the tank.
  
  

Your pool:

• Normal pool maintenance and chlorination should remove any contamination from droppings.
• Consider using a pool cover.
  
  

Your peace and quiet:

• Don't disturb flying-foxes - they are quietest when left alone.
• Consider double glazing windows to reduce noise inside.
• Consider planting low vegetation to provide buffers between your house and flying-foxes.
• Manually remove the fruit from fruit trees and palms in your back yard, or place taught nets over them to prevent flying-foxes night feeding close to your house.
• If flying-foxes are causing sleep deprivation, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
  
  

Your nose:

• The smell of flying-foxes is not a health risk but can be irritating to some people.
• Consider sealing and air-conditioning at least one room in your home to provide relief from the smell.
• Try using scented deodorisers.
  
  

Can you trim trees to discourage flying-foxes?

• You can only trim trees to discourage flying-foxes once the flying-foxes have moved on. It is illegal to trim the trees that flying-foxes are roosting in.
• If flying-foxes are roosting in trees on private property, residents may submit an application for a licence to harm a threatened species (by trimming or removing trees) here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/licences-and-permits/wildlife-licences/licences-to-control-or-harm/licences-to-harm-threatened-species
  
  

Fore more information about flying-foxes and why they are important, protected animals, visit: https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Flying-foxes

References:

• https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/land-mammals/flying-foxes/living-near-a-flying-fox-camp
• https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/land-mammals/flying-foxes/health-and-handling
• https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/310492/Hendra-Virus-Primefact-970-1.pdf
• Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus infection fact sheet