Still Waters Posted May 24, 2016 #1 Share Posted May 24, 2016 An Australian town is in a "state of emergency" because it has been overtaken by a swarming mass of 100,000 bats. The grey-headed flying foxes are overrunning Batemans Bay in New South Wales and the problem is so bad they are on almost every surface and in every tree. Danielle Smith, who lives in the plagued town, said: "I can't open the windows, I can't use the clotheslines, it's just, I can't study because the noise just goes constantly. I can't concentrate. It's not fun." http://news.sky.com/story/1701376/100000-out-of-control-bats-invade-oz-town 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeSember Posted May 24, 2016 #2 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Sounds like it is driving Danielle Smith Batty! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Still Waters Posted May 24, 2016 Author #3 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I had an Uncle and Aunt who used to live in Batemans Bay, both long gone now. I wouldn't like to be there, I'm not at all keen on bats in any numbers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeButterfly55 Posted May 24, 2016 #4 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Is anyone else thinking flying monkeys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted May 24, 2016 #5 Share Posted May 24, 2016 I dont believe it.... Id like a full recount immediately.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer77 Posted May 24, 2016 #6 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Thats nuts. I like bats , but that would be too much. Great for the pot growers though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdyer Posted May 24, 2016 #7 Share Posted May 24, 2016 If it could be determined where the bats came from and why, an answer may present itself on how to get they to move on. One would think 100,000 bats would be easy to trace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawken Posted May 24, 2016 #8 Share Posted May 24, 2016 When they depart they'll leave the area well fertilized. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter B Posted May 24, 2016 #9 Share Posted May 24, 2016 7 hours ago, Still Waters said: I had an Uncle and Aunt who used to live in Batemans Bay, both long gone now. I wouldn't like to be there, I'm not at all keen on bats in any numbers. Batemans Bay is where a lot of Canberra people go during the summer holidays - the population of the town more than triples. But if the bats are still there this summer, I think a lot of Canberrans are going to want to go somewhere else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted May 24, 2016 #10 Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) How, exactly, do an estimated 100,000 bats in a single location qualify as "endangered" or "vulnerable" species? Unless it's their only home I suppose? Edited May 24, 2016 by pallidin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Habitat Posted May 24, 2016 #11 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Carriers of lethal diseases, Hendra virus, Lyssa virus. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highdesert50 Posted May 25, 2016 #12 Share Posted May 25, 2016 I consider flying foxes as rather handsome. But, they can be quite large and in those numbers I would imagine pose an undeniable health risk. There must be a substantial fruit and nectar source to keep them in the area. Interesting that they are protected as I recall them as a delicacy in parts of the Marianas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrLzs Posted May 25, 2016 #13 Share Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) While I too really like bats, and in small numbers they are fine.. As Habitat and others point out, they frequently carry lethal diseases around these parts. I dunno if the Bateman's Bay ones are like the ones here (Brisbane is about 1100km NNE), but their poop is a real problem - it is incredibly acidic (read "it eats paint like you wouldn't believe..") and once dried is like concrete in terms of difficulty to remove... Here, we often see large flocks passing overhead as they go from wherever they feed to wherever they roost, and thus I have quite a few nasty marks on my car's paintwork from their efforts... Nevertheless, they are beautiful creatures, both to see up close and in flight. <shallow hypocrite mode> If only the dam things were ugly then I wouldn't feel so guilty about agreeing that a cull is needed when their numbers get out of control, and that sadly is quite common..</shallow hypocrite mode> Added - BTW these aren't those annoying chirpy little echo-locating thingies, they are large and quite graceful animals, more correctly referred to as the Australian Fruit Bat or grey or black flying foxes - with wingspans often over 1 metre / 3'4".. aaawwwwww!... (from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-13/australian-fruit-bat/6771812) Also see http://www.brisbane-walkabout.com/fruit-bat.html Edited May 25, 2016 by ChrLzs Added stuff for cuteness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyche101 Posted May 25, 2016 #14 Share Posted May 25, 2016 I do not doubt 100,000 for a second, seen them all my life everywhere I have lived. They are often in very large numbers. They really smell too. I have to say I agree with the disease side of things, that is somewhat frightening, Hendra is scary as. My Father used to have one that perched during the day in his Fig bush in the backyard. As you say Chrlz they are handsome, but I wouldnlt touch one with Hendra and Lyssa Virus, which as I understand is rabies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psyche101 Posted May 25, 2016 #15 Share Posted May 25, 2016 13 hours ago, Farmer77 said: Thats nuts. I like bats , but that would be too much. Great for the pot growers though They are in Batemans Bay, not Nimbin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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