Flying-fox camp management policy

Three species of flying-fox roost in camps in NSW: the grey-headed, black and little red flying-fox. These flying-foxes help to preserve native forests by pollinating plants and dispersing seed. As a result, they have a crucial role to play in conserving native plants and animals.

As the clearing and modification of native vegetation in eastern Australia has greatly reduced their habitat, flying-foxes are increasingly roosting in camps near urban areas, where they may disturb residents or other members of the community, and may create conflict.

This flying-fox camp management policy:

• helps stakeholders to understand and meet their legal responsibilities in regard to flying-fox camps in NSW, and appropriately conserve and manage these camps
• advises on ways of dealing with public complaints about flying-foxes
• outlines strategies for a flying-fox education and communication strategy
• provides guidelines to assist in forward planning, so conflicts caused by locating inappropriate land uses near flying-fox camps are avoided or mitigated
• provides recommended procedures for relocating flying-fox camps
• informs those wishing to relocate flying-fox camps how to obtain and meet licence conditions.

OEH does not generally support disturbing flying-fox camps as:

• they provide flying-foxes with access to available food resources
• relocation attempts are often unsuccessful
• disturbance creates stress for and can injure the animals, especially the young.

However, OEH acknowledges that there may be circumstances in which a relocation attempt may be warranted.

More information:

For more information and links to other OEH policies on flying-foxes visit the OEH Flying-fox webpage.

Page last updated: 03 November 2011