Flying-foxes

The Gympie region is home to three native flying-fox species. These animals are protected and important for ecosystem health and are the only mammals in the world capable of sustained flight.

Explore the following information regarding their ecological role, behaviour, breeding patterns, local occurrence, human interactions and management obligations for Council and private landholders.

Flying Foxes of the Gympie Region factsheet(PDF, 662KB).

Your activities and actions can impact these protected species, so it’s important to understand your obligations and know which actions are considered ‘low impact’ and how to report any deliberate attempts to harm or disturb them.

Guidance for Activities Affecting Flying-Fox Roosts.(PDF, 298KB)

Flying Foxes on Private Property

If flying foxes have begun roosting in trees on your property, please review the information below to understand their roosting behaviour, your responsibilities as a resident, Council’s role, and relevant legal and health resources.

Important Information for Property Owners

Flying Fox Roosting Patterns

  • Flying foxes are highly mobile and often move between roosts depending on food availability and other environmental factors.
  • It is common for them to establish temporary roosts and leave shortly afterward. The sudden appearance of flying foxes on your property does not necessarily mean they will stay permanently.
  • Nevertheless, Council encourages residents to report any new roosting activity, regardless of duration.

Permanent or Long-Term Roosts

  • Long-term roosts may expand, contract, or shift slightly within a general area based on the season, weather conditions, and population size.
  • If flying foxes appear to be establishing a permanent presence on your property—or if you are concerned that this may occur—please take note of the following:

Key Information for Residents:

  1. Legislative Responsibility
    • Local Government entities are not legislatively obligated to manage flying foxes on private property.
    • All matters involving potential harm or disturbance to flying foxes fall under the jurisdiction of the Queensland Government, specifically the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
    • Reports regarding flying fox harm or roost disturbance should be directed to DETSI.
  2. Council's Role
    • Councils may manage flying fox roosts on public land located within Urban Flying Fox Management Areas, in accordance with a defined Code of Practice.
    • Gympie Regional Council (GRC) follows a low-impact, staged approach to roost management as outlined in its Statement of Management Intent(PDF, 2MB) (SoMI).
  3. Legal Protections
    • Flying foxes and their roosts are protected under the following legislation:
      • Nature Conservation Act 1992 (QLD)
      • Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
      • Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (QLD)
    • It is an offence to harm or disturb flying foxes. Breaches are investigated by the appropriate state departments and may result in prosecution and substantial fines.
    • Any suspected disturbances or harm to roosts must be reported to DETSI via their Wildlife Reporting page.
  4. Council Resources
    • Council provides a range of information, updates, and resources related to flying fox management on our pages below.
  5. Resident Activities on Private Land
  6. Health Considerations
  7. Important Safety Reminder
    • DO NOT touch flying foxes. Injured, sick, or orphaned flying foxes should only be handled by authorised personnel. The primary health risk is through direct contact, particularly bites.
    • If you find an injured or distressed flying fox, contact:
      • ANARRA Wildlife Rescue: (07) 5343 4859
      • 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625)

 

Council's Community Grants Program now includes a Flying-fox Roost Resident Assistance Grant for eligible private landholders. The Purpose of this Grant (Maximum value of $1,500) is to mitigate and minimise impacts on directly affected residents resulting from Flying-fox colonies on or adjacent to their property/residence. This Grant is jointly funded by Council and funding received through the QLD State Department of Environment Tourism Science and Innovation (DETSI), Flying Fox Grant Program, Round 8.

Click HERE to determine eligibility and apply for this funding assistance, via the Rolling Round link. 

Flying-fox Ecology

Flying foxes play an important role in maintaining Australia's native forest. As Australia's only known long-distance pollinators, they are critical for the continued existence of more than 50 native trees and many Australian eucalypt species that can only be pollinated at night.

The flying-fox is also an important seed disperser and can carry large fruit and seeds over considerable distances, helping to spread seeds throughout the landscape. In fact, each flying-fox can each spread up to 60,000 seeds along a 50km stretch of land every night.

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