Let them Eat Figs

We regularly treat native wildlife at Gladesville Vet Hospital and this summer we seem to have seen more injured flying foxes (also known as fruit bats) than ever before. Most of these injuries are caused by humans and with some forethought can be easily prevented. 

Grey Headed Flying Foxes are classified as a Vulnerable Species by both State and Federal legislation, and it has been estimated that the population dropped by 30% in the decade leading up to the year 2000. They live along the eastern coast of Australia, from Melbourne to Bundaberg, and flying foxes are important in pollinating and dispersing the seeds of native trees and vegetation.

Many people are surprised to learn that the Grey Headed Flying Fox is listed as a Vulnerable

Species as we are lucky to have a very obvious camping site in Sydney’s botanical gardens.

At sunset hundreds can be seen flying overhead and roosting – camps of flying foxes can have tens of thousands of bats in them at one time.

Destruction of foraging habitat, disturbance of roosting sites and unregulated shooting have all played a part in causing the decline of this species.

The main cause of injuries we have seen recently are nets over fruit trees in people’s backyards – fig trees in particular seem to be popular with the bats! The flying foxes come in to feed in the tree and get caught in the net. This causes severe injuries, particularly to the fragile bones in the wings which snap as the bat is struggling, and also the flying fox’s mouth as it tries to chew through the netting. These injuries are often so severe that humane euthanasia is the only choice we have.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service ( http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au) have excellent guidelines on their website for appropriate netting which will protect the fruit on your tree, in a wildlife friendly way. A frame should be built around each tree and a multifilament knitted netting with mesh 40mm or smaller should be pulled taut over the frame and away from the tree. NEVER use nylon

monofilament netting, and NEVER throw it loose over the tree – this is what leads to the entanglement, and monofilament netting will cut into the flying fox easily.

It is actually your responsibility to appropriately net your fruit trees, as you could be liable to prosecution if your trees are netted in a manner that could harm our native wildlife.

Alternatively you can peg shade cloth tightly over a section of fruit or a branch (the fruit will still ripen under the shade cloth) - and share the fruit, some for you and some for the flying foxes!!

If you do inadvertently have a flying fox caught in a net, do not attempt to free it yourself as they can carry a potentially fatal disease that may be transmissible to humans (lyssavirus). It is best to contact your local wildlife group and they can organise a person to rescue the flying fox – Sydney Wildlife Service can be reached on 9413 4300 and WIRES on 8977 3333. Tax deductible donations can be made to both charities.                                                                                                          Sandra