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The facts about bats and bat

September 2011

About bats alone, bats pose very little risk to people, pets and livestock. Bats are an important part of Victoria’s unique wildlife. Larger bats such as flying foxes play a role in • Don’t be concerned : If a bat or flying fox is roosting maintaining many ecosystems by transferring pollen and or feeding on your property, in most cases they will seeds over great distances, while smaller bats consume move on after a few days. Lyssavirus cannot be large quantities of insects. transmitted through droppings or urine. Bats are mammals. Their babies are born well developed Some people use netting to deter bats from feeding on and are nourished on their mother’s milk, just like their fruit. If you do this, make sure the netting is humans. stretched tightly over a frame and well maintained to avoid bats becoming entangled. There are over 1000 species of bats comprising two suborders: • - about 170 species. These larger bats feed on nectar, pollen and fruit. • Microbats - the majority of bat species. These smaller bats are usually insect-eating, carnivorous bats. One quarter of all mammal species in the world are bats. In Australia there over 90 species - both Microbats (including flying foxes) and Megabats. Bats in Victoria Bats and flying foxes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 . B at species listed as threatened in Victoria are: • Common Bent-wing bat • South-eastern Long-eared bat • Grey-headed Flying-fox Grey-headed flying fox Photo: L Lumsden • Eastern Horseshoe bat • Yellow-bellied Sheathtail bat. Camp management What to do if you see bats or flying foxes It is an offence for an unauthorised person to disturb or attempt to relocate bats or flying foxes. Remember three simple rules: Relocation involving a threatened species (such as the • Don’t touch bats : Never handle a bat and avoid Grey-headed flying fox) would only occur in very rare direct physical contact under all circumstances. circumstances and may require approval from the Without physical contact, there is little-to-no risk of Commonwealth government. human infection with bat lyssavirus. • Don’t disturb bats : It is an offence to harass, disturb or hurt wildlife in Victoria and shooing them will only scatter them into adjoining properties. If left

The facts about bats and bat viruses

Bat viruses Flying foxes are known to carry a number of diseases that are either directly transmissible to humans or are transmitted via a third party. Recent reports of two diseases carried by flying foxes have been reported. These two diseases are the Australian Bat Lyssavirus and Hendra . Australian Bat Lyssavirus Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) is a virus from the same group of viruses as . ABL is known to have caused two human deaths in Australia, both in . ABL is present throughout the Australian bat Photo: L Lumsden population in both flying foxes and small insect-eating bats. All four species of flying fox in Australia, Cross-over of the virus from flying foxes to horse has including the Grey-headed Flying-fox, are potential been recorded in northern and carriers of ABL. Queensland. There has been one case of the virus spreading from a horse to a dog. Hendra Virus has ABL can be transferred between bats and from bats not been recorded in humans in Victoria. As a result, to humans. It is thought that the virus can only be Hendra Virus is considered a low risk disease for transmitted via saliva in a penetrating bite or scratch. Victoria. If people do not handle bats, there is little to no risk of When you should notify DSE : infection. People should avoid direct physical contact under all circumstances. • If you see an injured or dead bat or flying fox, call Wildlife carers and other people who are likely to our Customer Service Centre on 136 186, who come into contact with bats or flying foxes should be will direct the call to an authorised wildlife officer. • vaccinated against ABL. If a bat roosts or feeds in your yard for more than one week continuously, or if you have over 50 If you are bitten or scratched by a bat or flying fox, bats on your property contact Customer Service wash the wound with running water and soap for at Centre on 136 186. least 10 minutes. Visit a doctor for treatment such as • Do not contact DSE if you spot the occasional a post-exposure rabies (lyssavirus) vaccination or bat or flying fox on your property. booster vaccination. When you should notify others: Hendra Virus • If bitten or scratched, wash the wound carefully Hendra Virus is a disease that is passed from flying with soap and water for at least 10 minutes and foxes to horses and horses to humans. Direct bat-to- see a medical practitioner for advice on the same human or human-to-human transmission has never day. been observed. • You may wish to contact the Department of Hendra Virus is most likely transmitted from flying Health’s Communicable Disease and Prevention foxes to horses via contamination of horse feed and and Control Unit on 1300 651 160 to arrange water by flying fox saliva, urine and birth products. vaccination. • Vaccination is recommended for staff or Infected humans contract Hendra Virus after coming volunteers who regularly handle bats. into contact with an infected horse’s blood, nasal • If wildlife carers and authorized officers suspect discharge, saliva or urine (e.g. when carrying out an Lyssavirus in a flying fox or bat, notify the autopsy or other close contact). Department of Primary Industry’s animal disease Hendra Virus has been found in all four species of hotline on 1800 675 888. flying fox, including the Grey-headed Flying-fox, which is found in Melbourne. For more information contact DSE on 136 186 or go to: www.dse.vic.gov.au/bats

Published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, September 2011 © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2011 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 . Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne [or other DSE location]. ISBN 978-1-74287-176-9 (online) For more information contact the DSE Customer Service Centre 136 186 Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employe es do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility: If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, please telephone 136 186, or through the National Relay Service (NRS) using a modem or textphone/teletypewriter (TTY) by dialling 1800 555 677, or email [email protected] . This document is also available in PDF format on the internet at www.dse.vic.gov.au