Flying foxes

Council monitors flying fox numbers at known roosts in the region throughout the year, and the data is used to inform flying fox management. View Council’s monitoring data.

Council adopts a balanced approach to flying fox roost management that recognises the well-being of residents and the need for responsible management of wildlife. Council’s preferred approach is to create buffer zones between flying foxes and houses through modification of non-native vegetation within roosts on Council-managed land.

Council can provide advice to property owners but does not reimburse residents for work to mitigate impacts of flying foxes on privately owned land. Further information can be found in Council's Statement of Management intent to manage flying fox roosts(PDF, 943KB).

In 2021, the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science announced the delivery of $2 million in grant funding over a four year period (2021-2024) to assist Local Governments to mitigate the impacts of flying fox colonies on the community. 

Council has successfully obtained funding through this grant to contribute towards several projects to assist with mitigating the impacts of flying fox colonies in our region, including:

• Collaborative project between 12 Local Governments to develop a ten-year best-practice regional management plan for flying fox roosts.
• Roost habitat predictive modelling and analysis of historic roost sites.
• DNA analysis of urban flying-fox diets to inform landscape planning and guidance materials for residents, planners, developers, business owners and conservation groups on co-existing with flying-foxes.
• Develop an interactive, interpretative, and portable digital touch screen display which will educate the community about flying foxes, their role in the environment and how to co-exist with them.
• Relocate an existing footpath and park furniture away from a flying-fox roost and install associated interpretative signage at Sweeny Reserve, Petrie.
• Install interpretative signage and a cantilevered roof over a pedestrian path that is beneath a flying-fox roost at Shirley Creek, Bongaree.

Dispersal involves intentionally disturbing flying foxes (e.g. using smoke, noise, and/or light) to encourage them to move elsewhere. This is typically carried out in the early morning as flying foxes return to roosts from foraging. Council does not support this approach for several reasons:

• Dispersed flying foxes do not move far, and often into similar areas of conflict (i.e. someone else’s backyard).
• Dispersal can splinter one roost into several roosts, increasing the overall level of conflict in the community.
• Unless there is extensive vegetation removal, flying foxes will continually return to the original site, requiring ongoing resources over a prolonged period to continue the dispersal activity.
• Dispersal is expensive and ultimately there is a poor chance of success.

A very small percentage (<1%) of wild flying foxes carry Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV). A bat bite, scratch or mucous membrane exposure to bat saliva (through eyes, nose or mouth) is necessary to transmit the virus. Coming into contact with flying fox urine or faeces does not pose a risk of exposure to ABLV, nor does living, playing or walking near roosts. For further information, visit Queensland Health.

Unfortunately, there have been instances where well-meaning individuals have been bitten or scratched when attempting to assist an injured flying fox on the ground. Like any wild animal, an injured flying fox is likely to defend itself if stressed or provoked. If you see an injured flying fox, do not attempt to handle it, and phone the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). A trained and vaccinated wildlife carer can collect the animal for treatment.

Flying foxes are native animals and all three species are protected under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act (1992). Local Governments are authorised to carry out certain activities within flying fox roosts in mapped urban areas in accordance with the Code of Practice - Ecologically sustainable management of flying fox roosts.

In addition, the grey-headed flying fox is classified as vulnerable under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999).

Little red flying foxes are the smallest of Australia’s flying foxes but are capable of flying huge distances. One little red flying fox fitted with a tracking collar at Woodford was later recorded north of Yeppoon ten days later. Little red flying foxes are nomadic and track the flowering of their preferred food trees, and are particularly fond of pink bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia). They are typically present in south-east Queensland during the warmer months.

Little red flying foxes will roost amongst the other flying fox species, and upon their arrival can swell roost numbers into the tens or even hundreds of thousands. They can be distinguished from black and grey-headed flying foxes by roosting closer to the ground, and also cluster together like grapes on a vine.

The arrival of little red flying foxes can trigger heightened discussions in the community, and also create the perception of flying fox ‘population explosions’. However, little red flying foxes will move on when their preferred feed trees are no longer in flower (unlike the other two species which are present year-round). While flying foxes are still unpredictable animals, monitoring data collected by Council shows that little red flying foxes will typically be present at roosts from between six to eight weeks.