Bat colonies

For many years Grey and Black flying foxes have been seasonal visitors to the Kearney's Spring area.

Flying foxes (commonly referred to as fruit bats or bats) are a protected species and it is an offence to kill or injure them or to interfere with their roosts. Flying-foxes are social animals that usually live in large colonies or camps. Their roosts can be as small as a dozen animals but usually number in the thousands.

Camps are often semi-permanent, sometimes dispersing seasonally or when food is no longer available nearby or an area is overtaken by the impacts of encroaching development.

Flying-foxes can carry a variety of diseases.

Hendra Virus: Queensland Health advises that there is no evidence that the virus can be passed directly from flying-foxes to humans, from the environment to humans or that it is airborne. Hendra infection in humans has only ever been recorded from close prolonged exposure to secretions (saliva, nasal discharge) from a sick horse infected with Hendra Virus.

Lyssavirus:   Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) can only be caught from untreated bites or scratches from infected bats. They usually avoid contact with people, more commonly scratches or bites occur if someone handles an animal. If you find a sick, injured or orphaned animal, do not touch it. Contact your local wildlife care organisation or the EPA hotline on 1300 130 372 or the RSPCA on 1300 264 625.

For further information or assistance, please check the DERM web link below or refer to related documents at the bottom of this page.

Department of Environment & Resource Management web link: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/living