Flying-foxes

• The Spectacled Flying-fox Baby Bat season is between October and December.
• Spectacled Flying-foxes mate in March/ April and give birth to a single young between October and December.
• Young bats are carried by their mother for three or four weeks, fed on milk, and then crèched at the roost.
• Pups begin to fly at around two to three months old but don’t fly out to forage until some time later.
• They are weaned at five to six months of age by which time males are marking territories for mating again.

• Flying-foxes are highly social animals that rest together in communal roosts during the day.
• The number of flying-foxes in roosts increase seasonally during the birthing and mating season.
• At night, they can travel up to 20 kilometres in search of food. Roost sites are typically found near water and food sources.
• Roosting locations act like temporary stopovers, with most flying-foxes staying only around nine days before moving on—unless they have dependent young.
• While their movements can be unpredictable, Council is working with researchers to better understand their behaviour and patterns.

• Spectacled Flying-foxes are naturally vocal, particularly during dawn and dusk.
• Noise levels generally decrease after they leave to forage at night.
• Roosts can become louder during the birthing and mating seasons. Typically, after March, the colony moves on and the noise subsides.
• To help minimise disturbance (and the noise), try to move quietly around roost sites—they are more likely to become loud if agitated.

• The distinctive smell often noticed near flying-fox roosts is caused by pheromones released by males during the mating season.
• These musky scents are used to mark territory and attract mates, and also help individuals recognise each other within the colony.
• The odour is most noticeable between January and March, particularly in hot or humid conditions, and typically fades once the mating season ends.
• It is strongest close to the roost but varies in intensity—some people find it unpleasant, while others are less affected.
• Importantly, the smell is not caused by waste build-up and poses no risk to human health.
• It is temporary and will diminish as the flying-foxes move on.

It’s illegal to harm or harass flying-foxes with noise or threatening behaviour, fines may apply. Also, attempting to disturb flying-foxes is likely to make flying-foxes even noisier for you and your neighbours.

If you are impacted by noise or odour near a flying-fox roost:

• Close windows and doors to limit smells and sound
• Use air-conditioning or fans for comfort
• Consider using diffusers or air purifiers indoors
• Be patient—roosting is usually short-term and will pass

Council adopted a multi-faceted strategy to managing flying-foxes in urban areas and aims to balance protection of spectacled flying-foxes and the amenity of residents through:

• management approach – using scientific advice and data on spectacled flying-fox population numbers and movements to determine what actions (if any) will occur;
• action - responding to immediate concerns and acting to minimise conflict;
• community education and awareness to debunk myths about flying-foxes and provide residents with scientific facts about spectacled flying-fox populations, behaviours and diseases; and
• collaboration with State and Federal Governments on all matters relating to management of spectacled flying-foxes, including compliance, conservation and recovery planning.

Bats and Trees Society of Cairns (BatSoc) Inc is a not-for-profit incorporated association dedicated to the care, protection and conservation of bats in the Cairns region.  If you are interested in helping BatSoc deliver school education, community events, train as a volunteer carer, support the committee or simply want further information.

Visit the Bat and Trees Society website

Council acknowledges that spectacled flying-foxes are an important part of the natural environment and is concerned that leaving them at roost in the CBD will result in further negative impacts upon them.

Cairns Regional Council has approval from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) to implement deterrent measures to disperse and permanently relocate a nationally important population of Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) at the Cairns City Library,151 Abbott Street. The objective is to relocate the Cairns City Flying-fox colony to a suitable alternative site.

The proposed action has been referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and determined to be a “controlled action” under the EPBC Act to be assessed on Preliminary Documentation. The controlling provision under the EPBC Act is - ‘Listed threatened species and ecological communities’ (Sections 18 and 18A), specifically the endangered Spectacled Flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus).

• DAWE Variation to conditions 29 July 2020
  ( PDF, 0.12 MB )
• DAWE Variation to conditions 10 August 2020
  ( PDF, 0.09 MB )

An Implementation Plan ( PDF, 8.28 MB ), prepared by independent consultants and approved by the Federal regulator, involves several steps ahead of, during and subsequent to the relocation activity.

The relocation activity is undertaken by appropriately qualified and experienced individuals and non-lethal methods are used.

An Operation Plan ( PDF, 2.55 MB ), cognisant of the conditions set by the Federal regulator and commitments made in the Implementation Plan, details the steps required to relocate the colony.

• Cairns Regional Council published the Final Preliminary Documentation for information purposes only in accordance with Part 16.03 [5 - 7] of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 [EPBC Regulations]. Copies of the Final Preliminary Documentation Report (including all attachments) were available to be viewed for information only for 20 business days between the 23 March 2020 until C.O.B Friday 17 April 2020.
• Cairns Regional Council, in accordance with Section 95A(3) of the EPBC Act,  published the Preliminary Documentation for public comment. Copies of the Preliminary Documentation Report (including all attachments) were made available for public comment from 6 January 2020 until C.O.B Friday 31 January 2020.
• Council has been in discussions with the Federal regulator since April 2019.