28/08/2025
Important information regarding bats! 🦇
⚠️IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: BAT MORTALITY EVENT AND YOUR SAFETY
Wildlife hospitals in Northern NSW and Southern QLD are currently seeing a high volume of flying fox patients, due to an unusual mortality event.
Flying foxes are being found on the ground barely conscious, severely hypothermic, and minimally responsive. We are working hard to treat as many of these precious pollinators as possible and assist in investigating the situation, and appreciate our community's support.
❗However, it is VITAL that our community ensure human safety first.
We have recently had several flying foxes brought into the hospital by caring members of the public who are not registered, trained wildlife rescuers and are not vaccinated against rabies/lyssavirus. One person was scratched by the bat they were attempting to rescue and had to seek immediate medical attention.
We have set up a restricted access ward for affected bat patients to protect both human and wildlife health.
IF YOU FIND A FLYING FOX OR MICROBAT REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION:
❌DO NOT touch the animal. Keep all pets, children and other people clear of the area and do not attempt to touch, cover or assist the animal.
✔️DO call your local wildlife rescue organisation immediately. A trained, registered and vaccinated carer will be dispatched to your location as quickly as possible to rescue the animal and take it to the nearest wildlife hospital for treatment.
If you, another person or a pet is bitten or scratched by a bat or handle a bat with open wounds on your hands, it is IMPERATIVE that you seek immediate medical attention.🏥 Lyssavirus is fatal if not immediately treated with a course of vaccinations.
We are here for our community- both human and non-human.❤️
Please don't hesitate to call our hospital if you have any questions or concerns regarding the health and welfare of our wildlife.
