SINCE the arrival of spring, grey-headed flying-foxes are coming into strife in suburban and rural gardens from Bulahdelah right up to the top of the Kempsey Shire.
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FAWNA’S (For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid) president Meredith Ryan said volunteers have been called to several rescues involving adults, juveniles and baby flying-foxes that have been caught by their wing membranes and mouths in barbed wire fences and netting loosely draped over fruit trees.
Ms Ryan said October and November are the main birthing months for the vulnerable flying-foxes with females carrying their young on their body when they fly out on their nightly feeding trips.
“Sometimes the adult might land on power lines for a ‘rest’ and stretch out a wing causing it to be electrocuted,” she said.
“If female, she may have a baby aboard that is unharmed, so the wildlife rescue group asks members of the public not to assume that nothing can be done.
“Always report any flying-fox you see anywhere alone during the day and if you have bottle brushes and other flowering native trees, or fruit trees near fences or covered in netting, please check the area carefully each morning.”
If you have ever come across injured wildlife but weren’t sure who to report it to then have no fear because a new app has been development to make reporting a whole lot easier.
The Wildlife Rescue app connects you to your nearest wildlife rescue group anywhere in NSW at the touch of a screen while offering helpful advice about injured wildlife.
To download the app, simply purchase it from the Apple Store or by visiting: www.wildliferescue.ifaw.org
Call FAWNA on 6581 4141 for a trained and vaccinated volunteer to deal with any flying-fox in trouble. Never attempt to extricate a flying-fox from netting or barbed wire as you may cause harm to yourself and more harm to the animal.
If you have fruit trees in your garden or are you thinking of planting some then make sure you get up-to-date information and see a video on how to net your trees in a wildlife-friendly way. Visit: www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com for more information.
FAWNA suggests talking to your local garden centre about the wildlife-friendly netting alternatives available to buy to save your home-grown fruit and to prevent harming wildlife.
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