Bats are flying mammals that give birth to live young which suckle milk from their mothers. They are active at night and can be observed when they leave their roost to feed at dusk. Flying-foxes form large permanent groups called ‘camps’.
Camps roost in large numbers during the daytime in tall trees and sometimes in cave entrances. These species eat nectar, leaf material and fruits, including native and horticultural fruits.
Animals from the camps may travel up to 50km each night in search of flowering and fruiting trees. A single young is born to breeding females in the camp from January to March each year. In dry conditions, flying-foxes have been observed skimming the surface of water, then licking their wet fur to drink.
Insectivorous bats are common and widespread in the rural and urban areas of Western Australia. Many landholders are probably unaware that bats occur on their property. These bats have small eyes and large ears and they locate their prey in darkness via echo-location.
They can consume up to half their body weight in insect prey each night and thus, may play an important role in the ecosystem. Many species of microbat are important pollinators of a range of tree species. Insectivorous bats roost singly or in small groups in tree hollows (Menkhorst and Knight 2004).
Damage:
Most people are unaware that bats live on their property, where they cause no problems at all. Other people are well aware that the bats are present, because they can hear them foraging or roosting at night, and they appreciate that they are part of the natural ecosystem and are doing no harm. Bats may be natural pest control agents, feeding on moths, beetles, mosquitoes, invertebrate larvae, flying ants and other invertebrates (Lumsden and Platt 2002).
Much of the distress some people feel toward bats is based on myth and misconception. For example, some people think bats feed on blood and that they can become tangled in a person’s hair. Australia has no bats that feed on blood and it would be very unlikely for bats to interact with humans unless by mistake or if distressed or threatened. Even then, they would be unlikely to cause any physical harm unless they were cornered, captured or injured.
Nuisance and Fouling:
Flying-fox camps in townships and urban areas may cause a nuisance via noise and odour. Similarly, if insectivorous bats roost in the ceiling or wall cavities, the noise, smell and droppings can cause a nuisance.
Occasionally, a bat that roosts in the ceiling or wall cavity may mistakenly enter the living space of the house. They can make their way through small gaps and this can alarm some people.
Health:
Similar to other wildlife, bats may carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Australian Bat Lyssavirus has been detected in Flying Foxes and some insectivorous bats and this can be transmitted to humans via a bite or scratch. Only those people who have been vaccinated against Lyssavirus should handle bats. For more information on Bat Lyssavirus, refer to the Western Australian Department of Health Australian Bat Lyssavirus Guidelines 2004.
Biodiversity:
Roosting activities by Flying Foxes can cause considerable damage to native vegetation at camps, particularly when camps are located within small patches of vegetation. Although flying foxes are gregarious, Australian native bats are not aggressive are not known to affect other native fauna.
Primary production:
On occasion, when resources are scarce, Flying- foxes can feed on blossoms and fruit in backyards and commercial orchards. At the same time, they can damage tree limbs, buds, foliage and branches.
Environmental Law:
Commonwealth
At present, one Australian bat species is thought to be extinct in the wild (Lord Howe Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus howensis) and a further 8 species are threatened nationally under the EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna.
State:
In Western Australia, the Orange Leaf-nosed Bat Rhinonicteris aurantius is a threatened species. All remaining bat species are native and as such are protected and may not be taken (including being captured, moved or relocated) without a permit.
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