Helping hands can pick up phone, not bats
MARYBOROUGH wildlife rescuers have received five orphaned baby flying foxes in the past week and want to warn the public not to touch the animals.
Drought conditions have contributed to the number of orphaned flying foxes and October is also birthing season for bats.
Local wildlife rescuers Natalie and Val Richardson are vaccinated and licensed to care for bats.
"It happens every year that babies are separated from their mum.
"One we got the other day - the mum was dead on the powerline.
"The babies can stay alive for several days, so if people see a dead flying fox on the powerline, they can ring us."
The experienced wildlife rescuer said it was imperative people did not touch the animals.
"People think they are doing a kindness but there is a chance the animal will scratch and the only way to test if the bat has a virus is to kill the bat and do a test on the brain."
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