Flying foxes fall foul of hot weather

THE summer’s soaring temperatures have taken a toll on grey-headed flying foxes, with a number of those living in the colony in Batemans Bay’s Water Gardens dying from the extreme heat last week. 

Eurobodalla Shire Council says while there is an extremely low disease risk, members of the community who come across dead bats on the ground should leave them where they are so they can be correctly handled and disposed of. 

The Australian bat Lyssavirus and Hendra virus are two diseases associated with flying foxes but there is only a low risk of them being transmitted to humans. 

Lyssavirus is extremely rare and preventable but can be transmitted by flying fox saliva coming into contact with an open wound or a mucus membrane like those found in our eyes, noses and mouths. 

Council has been removing and disposing of dead bats within reach and advises that any decomposing bats may cause an odour. 

The Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, better known as WIRES, rescued many of the distressed animals last week. 

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