Bats
Australia has over 90 species of bats. Bats are nocturnal mammals and are an important part of the ecosystem for dispersing seeds, pollinating plants and helping keep insect populations under control.
Grey Headed Flying Fox
The Grey Headed Flying Fox is about 23-28 cm in size and is one of the largest bats in Australia. They often injure their wings when caught in barbed wire fences and cheap fruit tree netting. It is best to call an experienced rescuer in these situations so a full assessment of injuries can be made.
Microbats
Microbats are small insectivorous mammals, weighing from 2 grams to 170 grams. They are easy prey for cats and sometimes find their way into houses through small holes. Microbats can eat between 500-1200 insects, such as mosquitoes, an hour so they are great animals to have around your house.
If you do have to handle or capture a microbat please be very gentle. It is very easy to damage their wings or fracture their bones. We suggest using cotton gloves.
Australian Bat Lyssavirus
Australian health authorities suggest lyssavirus poses a low public health risk.
If bitten or scratched by a bat that is infected or a carrier of the disease, the virus may be transmitted to humans. Innoculations & booster shots are available.
A pre-exposure course of vaccine should be taken by high-risk category people, such as:
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bat carers
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veterinarians
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wildlife officers
It is strongly recommend that anyone scratched or bitten by a bat should immediately wash the affected area with soap and water and contact their local doctor.
For more information visit the CSIRO web site.
