All flying foxes and their roosts are protected by law and two species, the grey-headed and spectacled flying foxes, are nationally listed as vulnerable species.
Flying foxes are Australia’s long-range pollinators and seed dispersers.
Without them, eucalypts couldn’t hybridise, rainforests would decline and commercial hardwoods would become weaker and more vulnerable to termites and wood grubs.
Human infections with viruses borne by flying-foxes are very rare. There is no risk of infection if you do not make physical contact with a flying-fox. There are no reports of people contracting diseases from living close to flying-fox camps.
Noise can be an issue when a flying-fox camp is near residential and business areas or schools. Noise from a camp can increase as the flying-foxes leave the camp around dusk and is particularly problematic when they return to the camp in the early hours of the morning. When flying-foxes are disturbed during the day the noise from the camp may also increase.
People have different sensitivities to smells and some people may find the smell of a flying-fox camp difficult to live with. While the odour is not a direct risk to human health, it can impact on some people’s mental health.
The main smell associated with flying-foxes is the scent male flying-foxes use to mark their territory. The smell is usually at its strongest during hot, humid, still or low-wind days. While rain will wash away the smell, unfortunately the males then re-apply their scent, so it is sometimes strongest after rain.
Our office has received complaints from concerned residents in Sarina regarding the flying-fox camp located within the Sarina Bush Track.
Stephen Andrew Member for Mirani would like to gauge the communities expectations regarding these nomadic mammals.
Please vote in the poll:
- Move them on and possibly become someone else’s problem as research indicates if the bats move at all, they typically only move a very short distance… less than 500 metres from the original location. Relocating them on a regular basis would become very costly indeed.
- Leave them be as flying-foxes are highly mobile animals. There movements are generally in response to food availability, rather than any strict seasonal migratory patterns.
Note: If required, we would be looking at using a safe and effective method to displace the flying foxes to another area – this is not a culling exercise.
As Sarina is depicted as the gateway to the Whitsundays, Stephen is also seeking feedback, recommendations and ideas of what could be done to improve this site that would benefit the community and tourism.
7 Responses
Thanks for taking the time and effort to help make this treasure of Sarina revive to a useable standard for all to enjoy.
The track is in dire need of regular and ongoing maintenance. Promoting the walk to tourists is not advisable, due to the poor condition of the track and the stench from the flying foxes.
A bench seat placed at a cleared section of the creek bank, would be a wonderful addition, so that walkers could stop, sit and admire the lovely creek.
It’s a shame that this could be such a local attraction with a minimal financial input.
We used to see kids on tricycle and bikes with training wheels.
Wheelchairs, and wonderers.
A brisk morning walk or a cool walk shaded from the sun.
Who walks it now? Very few.
Weeds growing that shall take over if not removed.
Where is the maintenance.
Bat’s in, people missing.
Rate payers money.
Flying fox tours like they have in Brisbane educated people into the essential nature of the animals for the survival of both native Forrest’s and agricultural endeavours as pollinators
Education is essential
Moving the Bats on will make SARINA park and walking tracks a cleaner quieter place for all to enjoy..
The locals don’t want there environment to stink.either.
Great work guys the smell of these putrid animals as you drive past let alone live in that area are disgusting
There should be another exit point for the bush walk perhaps onto brewers road.
The part of the bush walk closest to the river is fine to walk through, it is when the track loops around to go back towards the entrance is where you have to walk under the flying foxes. Disturbing them and causing them to be noisy.
It would be great if the path exited onto brewers road. The flying foxes tend to stick to one section of the walk. I don’t like walking under them but love that little are near the creek. It is so pretty. I do agree with other comments, the area could use a bit more maintainence but I don’t blame the crews for not wanting to go down there.