Grey-headed flying foxes starve en masse across NSW and Victoria

Grey-headed flying foxes are starving en masse across New South Wales and parts of Victoria. Since late September, wildlife rescue groups have been called to more than 460 reports of malnourished bats, with daily call volumes now exceeding the total bat callouts from the previous nine months.

Starving bats are entering residential areas to feed on ornamental plants and fallen fruit due to widespread food shortages. The food shortages are occurring across NSW, from the northern rivers to the south coast. Animals are crawling on the ground eating unripe dropped fruit and consuming ripe and unripe cocos palms. Bats are dropping out of trees due to starvation and lack the energy to fly back to their camps. This desperate search for sustenance is leading to unusual and risky behaviour. Bats are spending time in people’s back yards during the day, a significant red flag, and are drinking water from the grass after rain. Some are hanging too low in trees, making them more vulnerable.

Rescue services overwhelmed by premature births and deaths

Wildlife rescuers are responding to record numbers of malnourished adults and premature pups, many of which do not survive due to maternal malnutrition. The surge in reports involves exhausted, emaciated adults and skeletal pups. On the NSW mid-north coast, Fawna wildlife rescue, where Rachael Smethurst is bat coordinator, receives 50 to 90 calls a day. Many bats are already dead, including pups born prematurely. In Victoria, rescue groups are also experiencing an uptick in callouts, particularly in East Gippsland and Castlemaine, with rescuers seeing many exhausted and emaciated bats and starving babies that appear to be coming from NSW.

Malnourished and dehydrated female flying foxes in the final month of gestation are losing their young due to a lack of nutritional health or strength to produce milk or carry to full term. Caring for the premature pups that are found is labour intensive and not universally successful. Wildlife carer Kerryn Parry-Jones became alarmed after volunteers began encountering hundreds of premature bats, some weighing less than 40 grams. A newborn pup should weigh about 80 or 90 grams. Trista Thorpe, co-ordinator with Wildlife Rescue South Coast, said volunteers began receiving abnormal reports in late September. By October, they were responding to dozens of calls per day across the Shoalhaven.

Public health and safety concerns rise with bat activity

Increased bat-human interactions have led to a rise in scratches and bites, prompting health warnings. NSW Health reported that 43 people were assessed after scratches or bites in the past two weeks. The state’s health department reminded the community to avoid touching or handling bats. Incidents involving barbed wire, dog attacks, and electrocution have also increased as distressed bats move into urban areas. The cause of this mass starvation incident is not yet known for certain.

Experts cite habitat loss and climate as contributing factors

Rescue organisations and officials point to habitat loss, dry winter conditions, and poor native flowering as likely drivers of the food shortage. Wildlife rescue organisation Wires said the event was likely the result of habitat loss and a dry winter, with poor seasonal flowering of eucalypts and other natives contributing. A NSW environment department spokesperson said food shortages can be aggravated by climatic events such as drought and El Niño conditions. The federal environment department is investigating whether a mass starvation event prior to the October birthing season is responsible.

Wildlife rescuers continue to respond to dozens of daily calls for malnourished bats and premature pups across NSW and Victoria. Residents are encouraged to report sick or dead bats to local rescue groups for pup checks and rehabilitation, but are urged never to touch the animals themselves.