The Nature Conservation Act 1992 protects all flying-foxes in Queensland. There are four types of flying-foxes that are native to mainland Australia.

Three of these live in Logan:

• Grey-headed flying-foxes are one of the largest bats in the world. They have grey fur on their heads and orange-brown furry collars. These flying-foxes are vulnerable to extinction. They are further protected by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
• Black flying-foxes have black fur, sometimes with a brown patch on the back of their neck and shoulders. They like to form permanent camps and live in similar places as the grey-headed flying-fox.
• Little red flying-foxes are the smallest of the flying-foxes in Logan. They follow the flowering patterns of the eucalypt and paperbark trees from Western Australia to Queensland. They sometimes like to live with the black and grey-headed flying-fox. You are most likely to see them in summer, roosting in trees in clusters. They won't stay for too long in Logan, before they fly home to north Queensland.

Flying-foxes help keep our native habitat and forests healthy. They pollinate plants and help spread tree seeds over large areas.

Read the Department of Environment and Science - flying-fox information to find out more.

Living with flying-foxes in Logan

Flying-foxes are important but living near them can be challenging.

Urban growth, land clearing and drought can cause flying-foxes to seek new places to live around our city. Sometimes we may worry about living near flying-foxes.

Here are some important things to remember:         

• Flying-foxes do not transfer disease to humans when they fly overhead, roost or feed in garden trees.
• Flying-foxes are not in plague proportions - females only have one pup each year.
• The earthy, musky smell of flying-foxes is one of the ways they communicate with each other.

Here's a few tips to help if you live near a flying-fox roost:

• Bring your laundry in at night or cover the clothesline.
• Cover or park cars undercover before dawn and dusk.
• Move pet food and water bowls under shelter away from roost trees.
• Wash your children’s hands with soap and water after playing outside.
• Bring children's toys inside or store them undercover.
• Plant roost trees away from the house and trim the branches to make it less inviting to flying-foxes.
• Remove cocos palms or fruit to discourage flying-foxes from feeding.
• Use nets on fruit trees, or put bags around individual clumps of fruit to discourage flying-foxes. For more information about how to use nets on your fruit, please visit Wildlife Friendly Backyard fruit netting or Queensland Government flying-fox.
• You can reduce noise and smell by using double glaze windows and air-conditioning.
• Do not disturb void roosts. Frightened flying-foxes make a lot more noise.
• Install first flush diverters in rainwater tanks to clear contamination. Cover the tank and screen inlets and outlets.

Do you have a flying-fox roost on your property?

If you have a flying-fox roost on your property, you can undertake low impact activities like:

• weeding
• mulching
• mowing
• minor tree trimming - if the intention is not to disturb, destroy or drive flying-foxes away

The Department of Environment and Science provides a Code of Practice detailing low-impac activities affecting flying-fox roosts. 

If your activity is not low impact, you may need a Flying-fox Roost Management Permit. For more information about permits, please visit Department of Environment and Science.

Please remember that operating outside of the Code of Practice may have legal consequences.

What are we doing about flying-foxes in Logan?

It is our commitment to find a good balance between people and flying-fox roosts. We will continue to engage and educate people about these native animals.

We have also developed our Statement of Management Intent (PDF 6.5 MB) according to Queensland Government requirements.

Our Flying-fox Management Strategy 2019 to 2029 (PDF 775 KB) outlines our planned actions.

Two roost management plans have been completed and habitat improvement works undertaken with funding support from the Queensland Government’s Local Government Flying-Fox Roost Management Grants Program

For more information, or to report a new flying-fox roost please call us on 3412 3412.

Flying-foxes and your Health

Flying-foxes can carry bacteria and viruses which can be harmful to humans. Please avoid handling them.

If you get bitten or scratched by a flying-fox:

• Contact your doctor immediately (even if you are already vaccinated).
• Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least five minutes - do not scrub.
• Apply an antiseptic (iodine or ethanol alcohol based) and cover the wound.
• If you get flying-fox blood or saliva in your eyes, nose or mouth, flush the area with water and seek immediate medical advice.
• Check your tetanus vaccination status to see if you need a booster.

For more information please visit Queensland Health and Biosecurity Queensland websites. 

Sick or injured flying-foxes

Do not touch or handle sick or injured flying-foxes.

Signs of a sick or injured flying-fox include:

• Hanging low or by itself, or clinging to a tree trunk during the day
• Lying on the ground, disorientated, confused or aggressive
• Approaching people (healthy bats do not like to interact with humans)
• Damaged wings or other physical injuries.

Immediately call one of the following organisations if you see a flying-fox with these symptoms. A trained and vaccinated rescuer will come to assist.

• Bats QLD on 0477 222 889
• Bat Conservation and Rescue Qld on 0488 228 134
• RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625)

If you are certain a flying-fox is deceased, please call Council on 07 3412 3412 for further advice.