Flying-foxes
Flying Foxes on Private Property
If flying foxes have begun roosting in trees on your property, please review the information below to understand their roosting behaviour, your responsibilities as a resident, Council’s role, and relevant legal and health resources.
Important Information for Property Owners
Flying Fox Roosting Patterns
- Flying foxes are highly mobile and often move between roosts depending on food availability and other environmental factors.
- It is common for them to establish temporary roosts and leave shortly afterward. The sudden appearance of flying foxes on your property does not necessarily mean they will stay permanently.
- Nevertheless, Council encourages residents to report any new roosting activity, regardless of duration.
Permanent or Long-Term Roosts
- Long-term roosts may expand, contract, or shift slightly within a general area based on the season, weather conditions, and population size.
- If flying foxes appear to be establishing a permanent presence on your property—or if you are concerned that this may occur—please take note of the following:
Key Information for Residents:
- Legislative Responsibility
- Local Government entities are not legislatively obligated to manage flying foxes on private property.
- All matters involving potential harm or disturbance to flying foxes fall under the jurisdiction of the Queensland Government, specifically the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
- Reports regarding flying fox harm or roost disturbance should be directed to DETSI.
- Council's Role
- Councils may manage flying fox roosts on public land located within Urban Flying Fox Management Areas, in accordance with a defined Code of Practice.
- Gympie Regional Council (GRC) follows a low-impact, staged approach to roost management as outlined in its Statement of Management Intent(PDF, 2MB) (SoMI).
- Legal Protections
- Flying foxes and their roosts are protected under the following legislation:
- Nature Conservation Act 1992 (QLD)
- Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
- Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (QLD)
- It is an offence to harm or disturb flying foxes. Breaches are investigated by the appropriate state departments and may result in prosecution and substantial fines.
- Any suspected disturbances or harm to roosts must be reported to DETSI via their Wildlife Reporting page.
- Council Resources
- Council provides a range of information, updates, and resources related to flying fox management on our pages below.
- Resident Activities on Private Land
- Health Considerations
- Residents with concerns about human health risks related to flying foxes are encouraged to review the following Queensland Government resources:
- Important Safety Reminder
- DO NOT touch flying foxes. Injured, sick, or orphaned flying foxes should only be handled by authorised personnel. The primary health risk is through direct contact, particularly bites.
- If you find an injured or distressed flying fox, contact:
- ANARRA Wildlife Rescue: (07) 5343 4859
- 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625)
Flying foxes play an important role in maintaining Australia's native forest. As Australia's only known long-distance pollinators, they are critical for the continued existence of more than 50 native trees and many Australian eucalypt species that can only be pollinated at night.
The flying-fox is also an important seed disperser and can carry large fruit and seeds over considerable distances, helping to spread seeds throughout the landscape. In fact, each flying-fox can each spread up to 60,000 seeds along a 50km stretch of land every night.