Three flying-fox species have been recorded in the Camden local government area (LGA):

• Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – listed as vulnerable under NSW and Australian legislation
• Little Red Flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus)
• Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

While flying-foxes have been recorded in the LGA previously, the camps have been transient and comprised of relatively low numbers.

The recently reported increase in numbers is most likely due to annual northerly migration when flying-foxes leave their southern camps prior to winter from as far south as Victoria. Movement could also be related to mass flowering of Eucalypts and other food sources in nearby bushland, noting that flying-foxes can travel anywhere from 20-50 kilometres each night.

Flying-foxes are nomadic mammals that travel up and down the east coast of Australia, primarily along the eastern coastal plain from Bundaberg in Queensland, through New South Wales and south to eastern Victoria.

Flying-foxes are native animals that are critical in ensuring ecosystem health and the long-term survival of our Eucalypt forests. They forage on the fruit of native forests and vines, as well as the nectar and pollen of native trees, particularly Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and Banksia species. Flying-foxes spread seed and pollen over long distances improving the health and diversity of native forests.

The grey-headed flying-fox (pteropus poliocephalus) can be recognised by its rusty red coloured collar, grey head and hairy legs.

Flying-foxes are intelligent, social animals that live in large colonies, known as camps, that are made up of individuals and family groups. They roost in trees during the day and establish permanent and semi-permanent camps near food sources and for birthing. Camps may also form seasonally in response to food availability, disturbance and weather, and camps can shift location over time.

Research from Western Sydney University found that Flying Fox numbers can fluctuate around 20% each night

Three flying-fox species have been recorded in the Camden local government area (LGA):

• Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) – listed as vulnerable under NSW and Australian legislation
• Little Red Flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus)
• Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)

The grey-headed flying-fox (pteropus poliocephalus) can be recognised by its rusty red coloured collar, grey head and hairy legs. Check out the photos and information at Grey-headed Flying-fox - profile | NSW Environment, Energy and Science

Flying-foxes use various calls as a form of communication:

• They tend to make the most noise at dawn and dusk, when flying out to feed at night or returning to camp trees to sleep during the day.
• They continue being noisy as they fly around trying to find a roost.
• Noise increases dramatically when animals are disturbed.
• During the day, flying-foxes are generally quiet as they are nocturnal animals .
• However, during the day they can fight over a favoured spot, usually trying to find one as close as possible to water. This is a daily event while the camp is active.

When flying-foxes are stressed or frightened they make a lot more noise.

• Colonies tend to be noisiest when they are disturbed by people and machinery and least noisy when left alone.
• If you plan on making some noise near a camp, such as mowing the lawn, using a leaf blower, etct you can expect the flying-foxes to get rowdy for a while.
• Try to be considerate if you are visiting an area with a flying-fox camp - do not disturb the animals, and help keep noise to a minimum.

Unfortunately no one can accurately predict how long the flying-foxes are likely to remain in a camp. Flying-foxes are nomadic and their stay in a camp may vary significantly based on food availability, migration patterns, or disturbances.

The main odour associated with flying-foxes is the scent male flying-foxes use to mark their territory and is strongest at the camp. It is not associated with the faeces dropped during flight or around the camp. The most important thing to note is that the odour is not a risk to human health.

The smell is usually at its strongest during hot, humid and still or low wind days. The wind direction will often determine when the odour will be at its most difficult, and good rain may wash away the smell for a period of time.

You may find it useful to follow weather forecasts to help predict high odour days and when there may be some relief.

A significant colony of Grey‑headed Flying‑foxes established at Harrington Park Lake in early 2026. Council acknowledges community concern about the rapid increase in flying-fox numbers; however, there are strict limitations on how these animals can be managed.

All native wildlife is protected under NSW legislation. The Grey-headed flying-fox is additionally listed as vulnerable to extinction due to a significant decline in population,

meaning further protections are in place to minimise disturbance and ensure their conservation

This species is protected under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, and is listed as vulnerable under both the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has developed referral guidelines for managing flying-fox camps. These guidelines help determine whether approval is required for specific management actions.. The referral guide for Grey-headed and Spectacled Flying-fox camps is available on the department’s website.

In accordance with NSW and Commonwealth legislation and these guidelines, Council must obtain approval before undertaking any actions that may harm the species or impact their habitat.

You can download the Referral Guide for Management Actions in Grey-headed and Spectacled Flying-Fox Camps from their website.

Urban expansion and the loss of natural habitat are the primary pressures on Grey-headed flying-foxes, contributing to more frequent interactions with local communities and making their management more complex.

Clearing and modifying native vegetation removes appropriate camp habitat and limits the availability of natural food sources, particularly winter feeding habitat. In NSW, less than 15 per cent of potentially suitable forest for the grey-headed flying-fox occurs in protected conservation areas and only five per cent of roost sites are similarly reserved.

Grey-headed flying-foxes are increasingly setting up camp near towns and people in search of food and shelter because of loss of their natural habitat and in response to local food availability. They forage opportunistically, often at distances up to 30km from camps and occasionally up to 60-70 km per night in response to patchy food resources.

In March 2021 the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment released the National Recovery Plan for the Grey-headed Flying-fox.

The plan identifies recovery objectives and actions to improve the national population of the grey-headed flying-fox by identifying and conserving critical foraging and roosting habitat and increasing awareness and understanding of flying-foxes, their importance to our ecosystems and mitigating the threats they face.

The plan also sets out ways to improve the community’s capacity to coexist with flying-foxes, while acknowledging the social and economic impacts and issues associated with urban camps.

Flying-foxes excrete either during flight or by turning heads-up and holding onto a branch by their thumbs.

The flying-fox digestive system is much faster than a human system (12 to 30 minutes between eating and excreting). They often don't physically chew and swallow their food – they crush it against the roof of their mouth and spit it out after swallowing the juice. This primarily liquid diet contributes to their quick digestive system.

Faecal drop increases under flying-fox foraging routes, or when they are disturbed and airborne for longer periods of time. Outdoor lighting can disrupt flying-fox navigation and alter natural flight paths , so where possible, turn off outdoor lighting at night.

Drying your clothes outdoors

You will experience the greatest impact from faeces on washing as the flying-foxes fly over when they are leaving their camp in the evening, or arriving in the morning.

It may help to note the approximate times the flying-foxes leave and return in relation to sunrise and sunset to gain some level of control and ensure washing is not left on the line at these times. Another option to consider , is to ensure washing is hung undercover.

To remove flying-fox faeces from washing the best advice is to treat them like fruit stains.

Cars and other painted or outdoor surfaces

Some residents have reported that flying-fox faeces seem to strip paint from cars, houses and garden furniture. There is some information to suggest that this is more likely due to the faeces drying and peeling off a surface and, especially if the paint is older, lifting a patch of paint with it.

Where possible park vehicles undercover, for example under a carport or garage, or use a car cover/tarp.

As with bird droppings the best response is to remove the faeces as soon as possible with soapy water.

Swimming pools

If you pool has a filter system installed and you follow the correct maintenance for your pool this should be adequate to keep it clean and you shouldn’t have to take any additional actions.

If you’re experiencing a large and / or regular volume of faeces a pool cover is an option that will have added benefits in terms of stabilising pool temperature and reducing evaporation. In general, flying-fox faeces are no different to bird droppings landing in your pool.

Water tanks

If there is potable drinking water available, NSW Health recommends that you use this for drinking and limit the use of water from your tanks for gardening, toilet flushing and car washing. Faecal contamination in rainwater tanks from wildlife is a known risk that is not just associated with flying-foxes but also birds, possums and other animals.

For households using rainwater for food preparation and drinking the risk of getting a gastro-like illness from bat faeces is no different than for other animals. Australian Bat Lyssavirus cannot be contracted from drinking or using water from rainwater tanks that are contaminated with flying-fox faeces.

To minimise the risk of faecal bacteria and other microorganisms contaminating your rainwater tank here are some methods you can use:

• Install a ‘first flush’ device that will divert the first dirty water flow away from the tank.
• Clear and trim vegetation (eg, overhanging tree branches) away from awnings, gutters, and tanks to reduce accessibility from wildlife.
• Install a <1mm screen to filter material entering the tank.
• Regularly flush your tank to ‘de-sludge’ and remove accumulated debris.
• Disinfect your tank (eg, add 40ml of sodium hypochlorite per 1KL of water).
• Disinfect water prior to use through filtration and boiling.
• Regularly inspect the tank for signs of animal access.

It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure rainwater collected is treated to a healthy standard prior to consumption.

Visit the NSW Health website for advice on safely managing rainwater for drinking purposes where there is no alternative supply.

If you experience an individual or small group of flying-foxes feeding at night in your fruiting or flowering trees and shrubs, including palm trees, this is likely to continue until the fruit is finished.

• If you do not want flying-foxes feeding in your backyard, you can remove the fruit manually or properly net the tree to make access for the flying-foxes difficult.
• Only use netting with holes smaller than you could fit your finger through to prevent the flying-foxes getting tangled.
• Find more information about netting on the WIRES website.

There are simple, non-harmful deterrents which may be of assistance at your property, such as:

• creating visual/sound/smell barriers with fencing or hedges using plants that do not produce edible fruit or nectar-exuding flowers;
• placing predator decoys (eg, owls) on verandahs or in trees;
• keeping food or habitat trees in your yard trimmed and pruned;
• placing reflective or shiny deterrents (eg, cds or aluminium foil strips) in tree branches; or
• when landscaping, plant fruit or habitat trees away from the home, or avoid these plants.

Residents are not allowed to conduct flying-fox removal or dispersal activities, so these actions are only able to be used in locations prior to flying-fox camps establishing.

If a camp has been established, residents are reminded that any activities that may result in the disturbance of a roosting flying-fox colony or individual flying-fox can result in prosecution under the NSW National Parks and Wildlife ACT 1974, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The disease risk to people, their pets and horses from flying-foxes is very small.

NSW Health reports that there is no evidence of dog to human transmission of Hendra virus. According to the RSPCA there have been no reports of dogs being clinically ill from either Hendra Virus or Australian Bat Lyssavirus caused by flying-foxes. However, pets should be kept away from flying-foxes, if possible, to reduce the likelihood of scratches or bites. If a pet becomes sick after contact with a flying-fox, seek advice from a veterinarian.

Find out more about risks to pets on the RSPCA webpage ‘Do flying-foxes pose a disease risk to my dog?’.

Horses may get the Hendra virus infection from eating food recently contaminated by flying-fox urine, saliva or other body fluids.

But there is no evidence of human to human, bat to human, bat to dog, or dog to human transmission of Hendra virus. All confirmed human cases to date became infected following high level exposures to body fluids of an infected horse or being extensively sprayed with mucous from infected horses.

If you have horses, keeping them away from flying-fox camps and vaccines are the best way to reduce the risk of infection. Vaccines are available from your vet.

You can get more information on managing horse health risks from the Hendra virus on the Department of Primary Industries website.

Human infections from viruses borne by flying-foxes are very rare.

There are no confirmed cases of anyone ever getting sick by touching flying-fox faeces, urine or blood, but of course you should still wash your hands after touching any of these materials.

Importantly:

• Do not attempt to touch or handle live or dead flying-foxes.
• Only trained, vaccinated bat handlers should attempt to catch injured or sick bats.
• If you encounter a sick, injured or dead bat, contact the experts at WIRES on 1300 094 737 or Sydney Wildlife on 9413 4300 .
• If you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, gently, but thoroughly, wash the wound immediately with soap and water for at least five minutes and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

There are two well-publicised viruses borne by flying-foxes:

Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Australian Bat Lyssavirus is a virus that is similar to rabies.

The virus can only be transmitted through contact of mucous membranes (including the eye) or broken skin with saliva or neural tissue of an infected bat.

To date, there have only been four confirmed cases of Australian Bat Lyssavirus in humans. Three occurred in Queensland and one in New South Wales, and all were the result of direct flying-fox bites or scratches during the handling of infected animals.

There are no obvious indicators that a flying-fox is carrying the virus, therefore it is always best to assume that any flying-fox could be infected.

You can view the Rabies and Australian Bat Lyssavirus Infection Fact Sheet on the NSW Health website for more information.

In some communities there has been concerns regarding flying-foxes exacerbating poor health conditions for people with compromised immune systems or chronic respiratory problems. This has not been reported in relation to other flying-fox camps, and Southern NSW Local Health District advises that there has not been an increase in respiratory-related admissions. However, if you are experiencing any medical concerns, it is recommended that you visit your doctor.

Hendra virus

Hendra virus is an influenza-like virus and infection in horses and humans, and is rare.

There is no evidence of bat to human, human to human, bat to dog, or dog to human transmission of Hendra virus.

Horses may contract Hendra virus infection from eating food that has been recently contaminated by flying-fox urine, saliva or other body fluids. All seven confirmed cases of Hendra virus in humans have been caused by exposure to high levels of virus in body fluids from infected horses, with all occurring in Queensland.

You can view the Hendra Virus Fact Sheet on the NSW Health website.

If you experience any medical concerns it is recommended that you visit your doctor for advice.

If you notice an injured flying fox, please do not attempt to assist it yourself; instead, contact a licensed wildlife rescue organisation such as WIRES on 1300 094 737 or Sydney Wildlife Rescue on 9413 4300.