On Monday, October 15 a FAWNA volunteer rescued the first flying-fox pup of the season after its dead mother was reported on powerlines in the Camden Haven.
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This rescue prompts the wildlife rescue group to remind the community about some dos and don’ts about handling flying-foxes now the birthing season is here and those animals that migrate have joined the local camps while their young are born.
A small percentage of flying-foxes and insectivorous bats can carry the Australian Bat lyssavirus (ABL) and anyone handling them needs to be vaccinated. Anyone who is not vaccinated against ABL should not handle a flying-fox for health and safety reasons.
The ABL is transmitted through saliva, and not faeces or urine as sometimes reported.
FAWNA urges everyone in the community to contact the FAWNA wildlife rescue hotline on 6581 4141 if they are aware of any bat alone during the day, or if one is sighted on powerlines. Flying-foxes can also be entangled in netting loosely placed over fruit crops, and they are often found caught by the wing membrane in barbed wire fences.
“The FAWNA rescue line is the go-to source for any flying-fox perceived to be in trouble,” FAWNA’s president and central area flying-fox co-ordinator, Meredith Ryan said.
“Infant young are often not apparent because they are attached to the mother’s nipple up in the armpit area.
“A dead adult flying-fox electrocuted on the powerlines may have an unharmed pup aboard and it is important we get to them quickly. Sometime a shrill whistle up at the bat will elicit a chirruping response from the pup,” Ms Ryan said.
The rule of thumb is DO NOT TOUCH any bat but call FAWNA for assistance.
- Meredith Ryan, FAWNA
She urges callers to be patient if the phone line is busy, to wait a few minutes and ring back. It is the busiest time of year now and resources are stretched.
“The rule of thumb is DO NOT TOUCH any bat but call FAWNA for assistance,” Ms Ryan said.
FAWNA rescuers have tricks to get flying-foxes off barbed wire without causing more harm to delicate wing membranes, so at the most the group asks the public to cover them with a towel or cloth remembering they can have a long reach. As the animals would be stressed they might perceive anyone trying to help them as a threat and react accordingly.
If anyone is bitten or scratched by a bat of any kind they should immediately wash the area with soap and running water for a good few minutes then seek immediate medical attention to ascertain whether they need to undergo a course of vaccination.
FAWNA has 22 trained and vaccinated flying-fox rescuers in the Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey, MidCoast and Dungog local government areas.
FAWNA’s vaccinated carers take any live young into care and put them through the group’s targeted release program.
FAWNA’s volunteers responded to 3560 reported wildlife cases last financial year and will welcome any new member recruits to its next induction training course in February 2019.
Details will be on the website www.fawna.org.au closer to the time.