For Jenny Kingdom, dedicating her time to helping wildlife was always a path she was going to follow.
While she has a love and passion for all animals, it’s some of the smaller and lesser-known creatures that have captured her attention. Jenny is a part of Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland and along with her partner, they are carers for orphaned flying foxes.
“We have chosen to focus on flying fox orphans as we have the time to facilitate the regular required feeds throughout the day,” Jenny said. “However, many of our members who work full-time care for microbats, which only need feeding once at night and are typically in care for about three days. Other members chose to focus on rescues alone, especially if they have work or time constraints.”
Like many other animals, microbats and flying foxes are impacted by the effects of deforestation (including bushfires), general tree clearing and urbanisation. Being displaced from their natural habitat sees them resorting to seeking food in our gardens and parklands.
“Microbats are insectivores and eat the insects that are out at night, such as mozzies and moths,” Jenny explains. “They have a very small flight range from their roost sites. These are traditionally in a tree hollow and under the bark. Sometimes, when they lose their home, they are forced nearby to people’s houses – we receive a lot of calls each year about microbats in people’s outdoor umbrellas, for example.
“Flying foxes prefer to feed on the nectar and pollen of native trees, also the fruit of natives such as the Moreton Bay Fig. Like microbats, flying foxes are sometimes forced to nearby houses and parklands to find food.”
How to Help Our Local Bat Population
So, how can we as a community help/lessen the impact on these creatures and their habitat?
“Microbats can be helped by installing microbat boxes and keeping pets inside at night,” Jenny said. “The Redcliffe Men’s Shed has very kindly made 20 boxes for our organisation (10 of which are a 100% donation from them) to sell at a very reasonable price. Thank you so much Redcliffe Men’s Shed!
“Flying foxes can be helped by people keeping their pets inside at night and supervised when out for a toilet break. Please report flying foxes on power lines even if you think they are dead and use wildlife-friendly fruit netting (nothing with holes big enough you can stick your little finger through).”
Believe it or not, there are microbats and flying foxes all around us! From a semi-permanent flying fox colony in Sandgate to a large permanent one in the Redcliffe Botanic Gardens, all the way up to Caboolture and beyond. Microbats can find homes and live side by side in harmony in buildings, without us even knowing they are there!
“Bats are social and prefer to be with their colony – any bat on its own during the day, or on the ground day or night (they cannot take off from the ground like a bird) would be in trouble,” Jenny said. “Please ring our rescue phone which is monitored 24/7 on 0488 228 134. And please remember no touch equals no risk, so please do not handle the bat and risk being bitten or scratched.”
Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD is based in Brisbane and surrounds. They are always looking for volunteers to join the friendly and supportive ‘batty’ family.
For further information, visit the Bat Conservation and Rescue website.
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