{"id":9625,"date":"2025-09-15T05:40:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T05:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/?p=9625"},"modified":"2025-10-23T23:47:23","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T23:47:23","slug":"baby-bat-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/baby-bat-season\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Baby Bat Season"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sff2-banner.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]IT’S BABY BAT SEASON[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]SPECTACLED FLYING-FOXES ARE GIVING BIRTH TO PUPS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1757915077677{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]15 SEPTEMBER 2025[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757916069762{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]If you\u2019ve walked past a flying-fox camp lately, you may have noticed a lot of chatter in the treetops. It\u2019s baby season for Spectacled Flying-foxes and they are congregating and settling into \u2018maternity roosts\u2019 to give birth and raise their young.<\/p>\n

By next Easter the pups will be independent and ready to start flying off.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758160816064{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757915847310{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]What\u2019s happening during the baby season?
\n<\/strong>
\n\u2022 Mothers and pups<\/strong> \u2013 Newborns cling to their mother\u2019s belly for the first 3\u20136 weeks, feeding exclusively on her milk. At around three months, they begin flying and start to wean onto fruit and nectar, though they continue to rely on their mother\u2019s milk for up to five or six months.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Flying-fox cr\u00e8ches<\/strong> \u2013 At around six weeks old, pups are left together in the roost (like a day-care centre) while their mothers head out to feed at night. Each mother recognises her pup by its unique call \u2014 which is why higher-pitched trills can often be heard in parts of a roost.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Learning to fly<\/strong> \u2013 By three months, young flying-foxes can manage short flights, and by five to six months they are able to feed on their own.<\/p>\n

\u2022 A vulnerable stage<\/strong> \u2013 During their first three months, pups are unable to move themselves away from danger. If disturbed or stressed, mothers may abandon their young. For this reason, local councils avoid management actions during this critical period.<\/p>\n

Why baby season matters<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spectacled Flying-foxes are listed as endangered, and they only have one pup a year, so every pup counts towards the recovery of their populations. These animals are critical for the health of our rainforests – they pollinate trees and disperse seeds over long distances, helping shape rainforest diversity and regeneration.<\/p>\n

Baby bat season is a vulnerable time. Young pups can be injured if disturbed or stressed, and entire colonies can be disrupted by human interference.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757915058794{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"baby[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1758162361576{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]How you can help<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Keep your distance:<\/strong> If you\u2019re near a flying fox roost, admire them from afar. Noise, smoke, and tree disturbances can cause mothers to drop or abandon pups.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Protect roost trees:<\/strong> Large shady trees provide essential roosting space for both mothers and their young.<\/p>\n

\u2022 If you own a farm or property:<\/strong> Look into wildlife friendly fencing<\/a><\/strong> and fruit tree netting to help prevent entanglements.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Report observations: <\/strong>If you see Spectacled Flying-foxes feeding or roosting anywhere, report your sightings to the Bat Society<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Report sick, injured, or dead bats<\/strong> to FNQ Wildlife Rescue on (07) 4053 4467 (avoid touching them).[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757915751901{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Thanks for giving a flying-fox…a chance!<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1761263226060{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Terrain NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/spectacled-flying-foxes-faqs\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1743711316392{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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