Flying-Foxes of Sydney

03/07/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CYiEJugkE/

Our Graphic Designer is away today but we desperately needed an image for attention because we are getting a lot of calls about fruit bats, so our social team drew this masterpiece!

We want to alleviate any concerns, while letting you know why you might see fruit bats in the coming weeks, and the vitally important role they play in pollination.

In Adelaide, there is one single colony of flying foxes, also known as fruit bats. They roost in Botanic Park during the day, then travel up to 50km at night looking for food, before returning to Botanic Park at dawn.

They are important because hardwood eucalypts only blossom at night when bees and other pollinators are asleep. Because flying foxes feed at night, they are responsible for pollination of 70% of all hardwood eucalypts in Australia, making them vital to the survival of native animals such as koalas and birds who call these trees home.

Flying foxes are a threatened species and protected by law because their numbers have rapidly declined in a short period of time. For that reason, it is illegal to harm or disturb these bats.

Less that 1% carry a disease called Australian Bat Lyssavirus. A person would have to be directly bitten to catch it and it is not transmissible by faeces. If you get bitten, there is an effective vaccine available.

If you find an injured or dead flying fox, do not touch it, but please contact Fauna Rescue SA on 8486 1139 or Bat Rescue SA.

27/06/2025

21/06/2025

It's Baturday! A common misconception about flying-foxes is that they are 'resident' to their roost. This is incorrect -- flying-foxes are continuously turning over, similar to how a motel operates. Check out this nice bit of art! (Art and info: Karly Fowler.)

21/06/2025

17/06/2025

You know it's a hard rescue and dedicated efforts are needed by passionate carers when a third wheel is needed and in our case WIRES member Inga.

This male Flying-fox had his toes wedged in the opening of a seed pod of a cocos palm, a tree that can cause toxicity in bats when unripe fruit is eaten.

This rescue was not easy given the area and surroundings. The height of the flying-fox was not ideal and we were also approaching darkness at the time of rescue.

Melanie (the member of public) was doing all she could to help keep some noisy visitors away from him who were constantly squawking at him (the cockatoos).

Thanks Melanie for watching over Mr Cranky Pants who was named Bruce by Melanie and her family.

This rescue was done by joining 2 very long extendable poles together plus a net and some very strong arm muscles to manouver the poles & net. It soon became obvious that we weren't getting this bat unless he was cut down because we couldn't leave him there as blood had been visible.

The net was then changed to a saw and we had one of us doing the pole and saw work, one of us doing the lighting with torch and Inga on ground with net and blanket ready to catch.

After a while the bat was finally cut from the tree and fell, with a nice save in the net by Inga. With the weight of the bat and angle of capture Bruce landed in the pool but was quickly scooped out and wrapped in a blanket before being placed in the basket.

We checked Bruce over and found he was an old gummy boy with barely any teeth left. He had bloody gums from trying to chew his way free and 2 injured inner toes which were caught in the tree and a thumb we will monitor for movements as it did not appear to be working well at the time.

This rescue couldn't have been done without our third wheel, that's for sure, it was very much a joint effort to get this boy down quickly and safely.

So everyone please meet Bruce (aka Cranky) lol.

Bruce is now in care with us in Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services) and doing well with lots of yummy fruits on hand.

Please always remember if you ever see a bat in trouble or alone during daylight please call your local wildlife organisation immediately so a trained and vaccinated member can attend. Never attempt to touch or handle a bat unless you are trained and vaccinated.

Bats - Bomaderry and Beyond

Photos by Melanie, Inga, Bel and Carla.

15/06/2025

11/06/2025

Not bat related but a very good point on these beautiful creatures

They're rare. They're breathtaking. And they're at risk.

Lucistic and albino animals are nature's miracles - born different in a world that demands camouflage. But their beauty comes at a cost.

Because they're so visible, valuable, and vulnerable, sharing their location can make them a target for poachers and illegal collections. The black market in the unusual and rare can lead to animals being trafficked for large sums of money.

Even well-meaning posts can lead danger right to their doorstep.

If you take a photo and upload it to social media then -
Please, don't say where.
Remove location data from photos.
Protect them by protecting their privacy.

If you truly love them — let them stay wild. Let them stay safe. Let them stay free.

📷 Australian Magpie

11/06/2025

:( bloody disgusting :(

🔔 REMINDER 🔔

Residents are reminded that the Flying-Fox Dispersal Maintenance Phase will be occurring daily 5:00am – 7:00am until Tuesday, 17 June 2025.

The community is likely to experience temporary disturbances. Please ensure noise-sensitive pets are kept indoors during this time.

We thank the community for their continued patience and understanding during this time.

10/06/2025

Meet Pip.
A victim of barbed wire sadly.
But fortunately for her she was not a euthanasia.
Rescued by Inga (a WIRES trained & vaccinated carer) who took her to the vets and got her quickly assessed and on the medication she needs to heal, she is now in care with us in Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services).
Little Pip as some damage to her eye, lips and wing membrane which will hopefully heal nicely over time.
Pip is ONLY 11wks old and is terrified this is to be expected because to her we are big and scary but with time and reassurance and TLC her attitude will change.
Keep lil Pip in your thoughts and pray for a full recovery, we need to get her through so she can be released so she can do what bats do and have a chance at reproducing.
Our camps still have babies in them and alot of youngsters (first flyers) have been coming into care sadly.

Barbed wire is horrible and many animals suffer because of it like Gliders, Kangaroos, birds and especially our Flying Foxes.
So if you see any animal stuck on barbed wire please call your local wildlife organisation so a volunteer can attend but especially with Flying Foxes please call and report as a trained and vaccinated carer must attend these rescues and every minute counts.

Bats - Bomaderry and Beyond
Wildling Wildlife Rescue
Wildlife Friendly Fencing
Wild Animals Australia

10/06/2025

Meet lil miss Stevie an Eastern Broadnosed bat.
This lil one was found drenched in a woodpile by a member of public who was chopping wood.
This is time to remind everyone that we are now in winter and alot of microbats are in torpor and/or seek shelter for other reasons and woodpiles are a common place to find them.
In care they are one of the laziest and chilled bats but a pleasure to cafe for and just so gentle unlike the Goulds and Lessers we get.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR WOODPILES BEFORE CHOPPING!

This lil miss was lucky enough to be seen and is now safe in care with us in Sydney Wildlife (Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services).

Eastern Broadnoses are typically found only in Australia, east of the Great Dividing Range, from about Rockhampton to Melbourne, with a small isolated population on the Atherton Tablelands.

They roost in tree hollows but have been reported to roost in buildings. They are known to share roosts with other similar-sized bats such as the Chocolate Wattled bat. A single young is born in November or December.

Predators are generally the likes of Goannas, hawks and owls. Their thrrats are usially Tree hollow and habitat loss like most wildlife.
Very little is known about their feedimg habits.

Please remember to never touch or handle any bat unless you are trained and vaccinated and always report a bat alone in daylight to your local wildlife organisation because a bat alone in daylight is a bat in trouble and in need of help.

Bats - Bomaderry and Beyond

19/05/2025

Occasionally I interview batty people and find out how they accidentally or on purpose became batty people. Everyone's journey is different.This is Bel's jo...

19/05/2025

**Update**
Wazza came home from the vet last night and At this point, he only has grazes to both thumbs and some knuckles- considering how he appeared at rescue, he is very lucky.
He is on medication to help stop those grazes becoming a bigger problem before they heal and we will be keeping a close eye on his progress.
He had a yummy dinner of soft fruits last night which he polished off every piece of- he has been given more this morning in case he wants a daytime snack!

Our new addition Warren (Wazza) after being found at Peter Warren car yard.
We do not know his circumstances but could be a mix of things from the weather to collision with either building or trains.
He is safe and currently being vet assessed where we are hoping for a good outcome and the staff were very caring of him and helped by placing a box over the top of him to help protect him.

Keep Wazza in your thoughts as we await the outcome of his assessment.

Always report any bat by itself during the day to your local wildlife organisation so a trained and vaccinated carer can attend promptly and never attempt to handle or touch a bat unless you are trained and vaccinated