Pittsworth residents crack the whip on flying foxes

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GETTING some early morning rest may prove difficult in Pittsworth this week as residents amp up their efforts to disperse roosting flying foxes.

The crack of a whip together with the bashing of pots and pans rang out before dawn this morning as residents began their mission to drive the bats out of town.



Green firewood was burned in steel drums at the base of roosting trees to maximise the smoke deterrent while spotlights were directed at the populated limbs.

Rangers from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection coordinated the dispersal.

Bat Conservation and Rescue Queensland president Louise Saunders was pleased with the method of dispersal.

"The rangers were good and could see that the animals were tiring so they stopped the dispersals," Ms Saunders said.

The flying foxes relocated to trees about 500 metres from their long term roosts.

Pittsworth District Alliance president Mark Droney said the plan was to continue the dispersal efforts until the flying foxes moved to trees out of town.

"We had people turn up and volunteer to come back tomorrow," Mr Droney said.