2015-10-13 Planning & Organisation Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 6 Draft Flying Fox Management Plan

 draft
Initial dispersal generally spans several weeks, with maintenance dispersal required as flying-
foxes attempt to re-establish the roost. Some level of maintenance dispersal is usually
required for at least several years, and often indefinitely without habitat modification.

In addition to risks detailed above, dispersal activities at this location are likely to:

    •   disrupt residents (including potential health impacts associated with smoke, which is
        a key dispersal tool)
    •   stress noise-phobic pets
    •   increase flying-fox vocalising during the day
    •   result in trampling damage to the understorey.

As detailed above, additional risk management and welfare impact mitigation strategies are
required for active dispersal, and if this is the desired strategy a detailed site-specific dispersal
plan will be required.

Where this last-resort option is required, Ecosure advocates a gentle approach aimed at
irritating (rather than stressing) flying-foxes so fewer return to the roost each day. An
aggressive approach to dispersal (i.e. using excessively loud noise, not allowing flying-foxes
to settle in any area of the known roost) forces flying-foxes to find an alternative roost on the
morning of dispersal, which is much more likely to stress the animals, and cause them to
splinter to other undesirable locations.




Flying-fox roost management options                                               ecosure.com.au | 19