Thousands of flying foxes overrun residential area of Mount Isa in Australia — ABC News Australia
In the Sunset area of the Australian city of Mount Isa, thousands of flying foxes have settled in trees near private homes. Local residents say the animals are covering cars and homes with droppings, while branches falling from the trees are damaging property and blocking driveways.
As ABC News Australia reports, doctor Aaron Gray bought a house in Sunset in June, and about a week later the number of flying foxes in the area increased sharply. According to him, the garden on the property is covered with droppings, dead animals, leaves and branches. At first, he spent three to four hours cleaning every day, but later stopped doing so.
Residents' complaints
Property owner Tony Tolke said he had never seen such a large colony. According to him, branches blocked access to the house, while droppings covered cars, the roof and a boat. The family also had to move the pre-birth celebration for his pregnant daughter to another location.
Tolke said repair work after the rainy season was delayed because builders did not want to work on the property while the flying foxes remained there. Residents are asking authorities to help clean the areas and take measures that would encourage the animals to leave the residential zone.
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City council measures
Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation confirmed that a colony of little red flying foxes had formed in trees on private properties. The department expects the animals to leave after the trees finish flowering. Under state laws, landowners may use noise, lighting and water spraying to deter the animals if this does not harm them.
Mount Isa City Council chief executive Tim Rose said the flying foxes are not breeding at the site. According to him, this makes it possible to consider measures to encourage the animals to leave the area. Options include noise disturbance and a possible reduction of vegetation as part of an approach coordinated with residents.
The council received a state government grant of $38,500 last year to develop a flying fox management plan, the draft of which was submitted to the department for feedback. Rose also said the council was unlikely to compensate residents for cleaning costs, additional water use or property damage. Residents suggested that vegetation clearing along Breakaway Creek may have affected the appearance of the flying foxes, but he said it was impossible to determine whether it had such an effect.
