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Starving and dehydrated flying-foxes are turning up from South East Queensland down to Port Macquarie.
There are many reports of bats being found alone in trees in the daytime, not having the energy to return to roost in their colony.
Bellingen flying-expert TIm Pearson said the colony here only has about 5000 animals at the moment, instead of its usual 20,000 to 30,000 and he's not sure where they've gone.
He said he hadn't been finding dead ones on Bat Island, but they are roosting in unusual places.
"Someone rang me about a bat in their mulberry tree," he said. "It had found something to eat and was just staying there."
Judy Wood from WIRES Mid North Coast said they'd seen a big increase in starving bats coming into care.
"We'd normally have three or four flying-foxes in August but we had well over 50 last month," Judy said.
"In September, we would generally have between six and 10, but this year in September we're up to almost 90 halfway through the month.
"And every bat has come in grossly underweight."
She's seen a full-grown male that should be 700g weighing in at 410g and a juvenile that should be 500g being only 188g.
It's thought that unusually dry conditions have affected their feed trees, reducing moisture, nectar and fruit.
"Even when you see a blossoming tree, that's not necessarily an indicator that it's providing food," Judy said.
"Those blossoms are empty of the usual loads of nectar that they carry. It's the nectar and the pollen that the bats need for their sugar and their protein.
"If you run your fingers inside the flower of a blossoming tree, at this time of year it should be dripping honey. This year, they're not. And the foliage the bats normally eat is very dry too."
The situation is so dire that WIRES has taken the unprecedented step of suggesting people put out fruit for starving bats.
"It's something that we would normally never consider," Judy said. "Because we don't feed animals in the wild. But this year they are so hungry. They are starving to the point where they are incapable of moving to look for food.
"So they're sitting in odd places in small groups, because they don't have the energy to go back to the colonies in the morning. They're hanging wherever they find a food source."
She suggested people put non-acidic fruit, such as halved apples, pears or rockmelon (but not pineapple) on a shallow pot as high in a tree as possible.
The North Coast Public Health Unit is reminding people to avoid touching injured or dead flying-foxes or microbats due to the risk of contracting rabies.
North Coast Local Land Services are also warning pet and stock owners to be careful.
District Veterinarian Phil Kemsley said Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) is usually transmitted via bites or scratches and is known to affect bats, humans and horses.
Sick or injured bats are often found on the ground or low down on trees, making them easy for curious animal to catch.
"Although there have been no recorded cases of ABLV infection in dogs or cats in Australia, it is possible that domestic pets are susceptible to the disease," Dr Kemsley said.
He recommends that if you know or suspect your pet has been in contact with a bat, clean any apparent wounds by washing under running water for five minutes and apply an iodine-based antiseptic.
"After cleaning any wounds, seek veterinary assistance without delay," Dr Kemsley said. "Post-exposure vaccination is available for pets."
With a limited number of volunteer vaccinated bat rescuers, WIRES is stretched to the limit.
The advice from WIRES Northern Rivers, should you see a flying-fox alone, is as follows:
- Most importantly, please do not attempt to handle the flying-fox. There is no risk to you if you do not handle the bat.
- Observe the flying-fox and check if it is actually still alive. Many bats are hanging dead in trees - some are dead on the ground. If it is dead, simply scoop it up in a towel or newspaper and dispose of it
- If it is alive, DO NOT disturb the flying-fox or attempt to shoo it away. This will just stress it further and make it weaker. It needs to rest and regain strength so it can return to the colony.
- Keep people and pets such as dogs and cats away so they don't stress the already compromised animal.
- If the bat looks sick or injured, or is low down in a particularly public space, phone WIRES on 1300 094 737. They will help assess the situation and determine whether it needs to be brought into care.
- If the bat appears uninjured and is moving around wait until the following day and see if the animal flies off overnight.
- If the bat is still there the following day, phone WIRES on 1300 094 737 for advice.
- If you do want to assist further you can try putting some fruit such as apple or pear in nearby trees, making sure not to go close to the bat. This may in some instances give it the extra nutrition and moisture it needs to survive.
Of course, if you find a live bat on a barbed wire fence or entangled in netting, call WIRES immediately and a rescuer will attend.
Flying-foxes are very intelligent creatures and play an important role in Australian environments. They are natural pollinators and seed dispersers and are crucial for the survival and regeneration of native forests.