Situation normal for Eurobodalla’s flying foxes

Situation normal for Eurobodalla’s flying foxes

Flying-foxes are sticking to their regular migratory pattern and returning to the Eurobodalla for Spring.

Eurobodalla Council has confirmed there is one known camp in Catalina, near Batemans Bay.

Mayor Liz Innes said the camp is small and will have minimal impact on residents, located well away from houses.

She said dispersal activities were not an option while there were dependent young in the camp, which will be the case for some months.

“We certainly don’t predict a repeat of last year when the massive spotted gum flowering brought unprecedented numbers to the region.

“However, this Council now has a flying fox dispersal plan in place which can be invoked under specific circumstances, and we’re ready to go if we need to,” Clr Innes said.

“Spring is the time of year when flying foxes return to the Eurobodalla and in response we’re stepping up our monitoring. They follow food sources, and at the moment everything is normal.

“In the past few years, we have seen camps in Batemans Bay Water Gardens, Catalina, Moruya Heads, Tuross Head and Narooma, but people can expect to see and hear the flying foxes going about their night time foraging right across the region.

“We’re in constant contact with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and surrounding councils so that we understand the movements of flying foxes across NSW and the rest of the country,” she said.

At the peak of last year’s influx in April, Council established vegetation buffers around the Batemans Bay Water Gardens and Catalina area where the largest flying-foxes populations were located.

An authorised dispersal took place during June and July when the animals were ready to head north.

Residents can report sightings of daytime camps to Council on 4474 1000.