2020-21 flying fox season update #1, Isaac region

Isaac Regional Council advises it is monitoring several flying fox roost locations across the Isaac region.

Flying foxes migrate into the Isaac region townships between September and April each year which is a part of a greater yearly migration across the Australian eastern coast.

Flying foxes are protected wildlife in Queensland under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, with some species classified as endangered.

It’s important to note that Australian flying foxes DO NOT carry COVID-19 following several enquiries made to Council this season.

Residents are reminded that it is against the law to harm or disturb a flying fox roost, and unplanned and unauthorised actions can impact on you, your neighbours and your community.

If your property has been a popular roosting site for flying foxes in the past, and they haven’t yet arrived in 2020, we recommend taking proactive vegetation management activities to deter flying foxes from roosting in your backyard.

The best way to do this is to trim or remove potential camp trees prior to arrival of the flying foxes, commonly mature Mango, Fig, or Poinciana species. Little red flying foxes can also camp in eucalypts, palm and other trees.

Flying fox roost management needs to be undertaken in accordance with the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) guidelines and codes of practice.

Information is available on the below link: https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/living-with/bats/flying-foxes/roost-management#management_of_flying_fox_roosts

We have adopted a Statement of Management Intent to guide its management of flying foxes in the Isaac region.

Since its adoption, Council has saved ratepayers over $200,000 per annum in costs associated with management of flying fox roosts.

Dispersal activities have no guarantee of success, and potentially spread roosts over a larger area or shift roosts from public lands into private backyards.

MORANBAH

An estimated 35,000 Little Red flying foxes have roosted in backyards in Koala Terrace and Forrest Drive, with a small splinter colony in the Chifley Court and Mills Avenue area. This area has been occupied by flying foxes a number of times in the last six years – drawn to the large dense canopies of the trees in private backyards.

CLERMONT

Little Red flying foxes have roosted at Centenary Park on 21 September 2020. Current numbers are estimated at around 1500 animals, with fluctuations in numbers experienced over the previous week.

The Centenary Park roost is protected as it is used by the Little Red flying foxes for breeding and the rearing of their young.

This brings additional considerations and responsibilities for management of the roost.  

Initial approved vegetation trimming recently occurred within Centenary Park to improve park amenity and to manage risks of falling tree limbs associated with high-density roost.

Further works are scheduled in coming weeks to undertake additional vegetation management activities within Queensland Government’s DES guidelines.

Council’s vegetation management activities of roost trees are capped at 10 per cent of the canopy, per annum, in accordance with the DES Code of Practice for low impact activities affecting flying-fox roosts.

For more information visit https://www.isaac.qld.gov.au/environment-water-waste/flying-foxes or phone Council’s Customer Service Centre available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1300 ISAACS (1300 472 227).

Gary Stevenson PSM Chief Executive Officer