Two grey-headed flying-foxes hanging from a tree with blue sky in the background banner image

Flying-foxes

Flying-foxes, also known as fruit bats, are the largest members of the bat family.

Flying-foxes are listed as a threatened species. They are protected by law and their numbers have rapidly declined over a short period of time.

These nomadic mammals:

  • are intelligent, social animals that live in large colonies of individuals and family groups
  • play an important role in pollinating native plants and dispersing seeds - they can transport pollen over vast distances
  • are vital to the health and regeneration of our native forests.

There are eight known flying-fox camps in Eurobodalla. Flying-foxes occupy these camps during the day. At night they forage for food and often travel long distances. They mainly eat nectar, pollen and fruit, and will also feed on flowering and fruiting plants in gardens.

Council manages flying-foxes in line with the Eurobodalla Flying-Fox Management Plan 2018 (the plan). The plan:

  • considers the impacts of flying-foxes on residents and the animals' welfare
  • allows us to carry out approved flying-fox dispersal activities, when required

We only carry out dispersal activities - on Council land - in extreme circumstances, where the impacts on residents are very high.

Latest news: December 2024

Moruya Riverside Park currently has 7,000 flying-foxes, Catalina golf course has 5,000, and the Tuross Head camp has 400 flying-foxes.

Flying-fox roosts

If you see flying-foxes camping in new areas, please let us know so we can monitor them:

If you see a dead flying-fox on power lines, report it to Essential Energy:

  • T: 13 20 80

What we're doing

We manage the impacts of flying-foxes in many different ways. These include:

  • educate students and adults about flying-foxes and other bats
  • maintaining buffer zones on Council land
  • restoring Batemans Bay Water Gardens - planting native species and weed control
  • collaborate with other councils, agencies, land managers, and community groups
  • develop and implement a communication strategy based on community feedback

Pressure washers

We offer high-pressure washers for free loan to clean hard surfaces, vehicles, and homes.

To borrow a washer, contact our Batemans Bay Depot on:

  • T: 4472 4035.

If an excessive number of flying-foxes are impacting you, we may be able to provide further help.

Removing trees

Cocos palms attract foraging flying-foxes. You can remove these trees from your private property without Council approval.

Under our Tree Preservation Code, you cannot remove native plants - such as Lilli pillies, gum trees and Banksias - without approval.

The code has approval exemptions for situations where a tree presents an immediate risk to people or property.

Contact our Development Help Desk for more information:

Council and Wires volunteers offer education programs on flying-foxes in Eurobodalla.

School children and parents will learn about:

  • the vital role bats play in our environment
  • flying-fox health concerns
  • threats to their long-term survival
  • where flying-foxes live.

Teachers can contact our flying-fox officer, India Howlett, to arrange an education session on:

Grey-headed flying-foxes have always had camps in Eurobodalla. Population numbers vary with seasonal migration.

Flying-foxes usually forage in residential areas at night, wherever there are food sources.

After the influx of flying-foxes in 2016, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) monitored camp areas at Batemans Bay. This occurred until dispersal activities finished at the end of July 2016.

We continue to monitor Eurobodalla's eight known flying-fox camps. When we monitor flying-fox camps, we assess the:

  • population
  • camp footprint
  • distance to nearby residents
  • presence of dependent young
  • health of the flying-foxes.

We also respond to the community's concerns about flying-foxes and offer advice and help where we can.

We provide regular reports to DPHI on flying-fox populations. This allows us to better understand flying-fox behaviour and their movements within Australia.

The CSIRO has developed a method to measure national flying-fox populations:

Learn about flying-foxes

Find out about flying-foxes, their movements, and camp populations in Eurobodalla:

Watch this short film to learn about grey-headed flying-foxes in Eurobodalla.

More information

DPHI also has some interesting information about flying-foxes:

Contact us

To find out more about flying-foxes, contact:

  • Council's Natural Resource Management Officer (Flying-Foxes), India Howlett:
  • Damon Oliver, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water:
    • T: 02 6229 7112