Trees and bats

Grey-headed Flying Foxes are a type of bat found in Sydney’s bushland and urban areas, including Woollahra. These bats forage in a variety of trees at night and return to their colonies to roost during the day. Because there are no colonies in our local government area, they are generally only seen here when they leave their home camps to feed.

Why are Grey-headed Flying Foxes important for the environment?

Flying-foxes play an important role in seed dispersal and pollination of trees in our bushland and rainforests. While they may seem common in some parts of our cities, studies show that grey-headed flying-foxes have declined by around 30 percent in recent decades. They are now listed as Vulnerable to Extinction under state and federal legislation. Loss of habitat, storms and extreme heat are key threats to their population.

Can trees be pruned to keep bats away?

As a Vulnerable Species, approval is required from the State Government to disturb or relocate a Grey-Headed Flying-Fox or modify its habitat. Based on this, we are unable to prune or remove trees specifically for bats.

Woollahra Council Tree Management Policy(PDF, 1MB) outlines that generally, we will not consider leaf or fruit fall, or sap drop, or bird or bat droppings as valid reasons for pruning trees as these are natural processes of trees and wildlife.

What can I do if I find an injured or dead bat?

If you find an injured bat don’t touch it. Call WIRES on 1300 094 737 or Sydney Wildlife Rescue on 9413 4300 and they will assign a trained volunteer to help.

If you find a dead flying-fox in a public area, such as on a road or in a park, call Council’s Customer Service team on 9391 7000 to arrange removal.