Living with Flying Foxes in Singleton

Singleton Council’s Burdekin Park Flying‐Fox Camp Management Plan provides a framework for managing flying fox camps on Council land, particularly at Burdekin Park. The Plan was developed as part of a regional approach with other Hunter and Central Coast councils to ensure consistent and best-practice flying fox management.

The Plan has evolved over time following community consultation and to reflect the cultural significance of Burdekin Park, including important historical monuments. The current Plan outlines approved actions Council can take to reduce impacts on nearby residents while meeting state and Commonwealth legislative requirements.

Prepared in consultation with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and regional councils, the Plan supports informed decision-making, helps manage risks, and aims to balance community wellbeing with the conservation of Grey-headed Flying Foxes. Its overarching goal is to support long-term coexistence between flying foxes and the Singleton community.

Council is working to revitalise areas along the Hunter River upstream of the Dunolly Bridge to create suitable alternative habitat where flying foxes can roost and feed. Grant funding is being used to develop and manage new habitat areas, alongside community engagement activities designed to improve understanding of flying foxes and monitor how perceptions change over time.

This project forms part of the Flying-fox Habitat Restoration Program assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust, in association with Local Government NSW.

Flying foxes, like many wild animals, can host diseases, however less than 1% of them are carriers. Therefore, human illness from flying foxes is extremely rare. The two viruses sometimes associated with flying-foxes are Australian Bat Lyssavirus and Hendra virus.

• Lyssavirus can only be transmitted through bites or scratches. Contact with bat faeces, urine, or blood, or being near roosting sites, does not pose a risk.
• Hendra virus has only been contracted through contact with infected horses. All confirmed human cases involved high-level exposure to bodily fluids, such as during horse autopsies without protective equipment. There is no evidence of human-to-human, bat-to-human, bat-to-dog, or dog-to-human transmission.

Pets that encounter bats could still be at risk, so precautions are recommended. Keep dogs and cats indoors at night when flying foxes are feeding nearby and keep pets on a leash near roosting sites.

As with any dead animal, bacterial infections are possible if safe handling practices are not followed. Avoid contact with bodily fluids and wash hands thoroughly. If bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.

To help reduce impacts to flying foxes during extreme heat, Council has installed a sprinkler (spritzing) system in trees at Burdekin Park. The system is used sparingly and only during heat stress events, generally when very high temperatures occur over consecutive days. Council assesses each event individually and works with licensed wildlife rehabilitators to determine whether intervention is appropriate.

Flying foxes may show signs of heat stress as temperatures rise, including changes in behaviour such as clustering, panting or moving lower in vegetation. Council’s actions are guided by animal welfare needs, available resources and any restrictions in place, including water availability. Under permanent Water Wise rules, water may be used at any time to cool animals during heat stress events.

Flying foxes should never be handled by members of the public, as they can bite or scratch if stressed or injured. If you come across an injured flying fox, keep a safe distance and contact Hunter Wildlife Rescue for assistance.

If a flying fox is deceased and needs to be moved, avoid direct contact. Use thick gloves and tools such as tongs or a shovel, place the animal in a sealed plastic bag, and dispose of it appropriately. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical advice as soon as possible.