CAIRNS Regional Council is only weeks away from pulling the trigger on a controversial plan to shoo a colony of flying foxes from their in...
CAIRNS Regional Council is only weeks away from pulling the trigger on a controversial plan to shoo a colony of flying foxes from their inner-city camp.
The Federal Government's approval of the Cairns Regional Council's flying fox management plan last year came after the annual breeding season began, delaying the planned eviction of the bats by about six months.
CRC's parks and leisure manager Brett Spencer said the council was waiting for the Department of Environment to give it the green light once the breeding season ends, which should be in the next three weeks.
"(The department) will advise us in the next two to three weeks with a date when we can start," he said.
The plan to cut back the trees to drive the flying foxes out of their CBD roost has been met with strong community opposition, while experts have also warned the vast majority of eviction attempts fail.The plan to cut back the trees
Local wildlife carer Heather Owen said the dispersal was likely to leave vulnerable pups at risk.
"There will still be young ones which are dependent on their mothers, but too big for their mothers to carry," she said.
"They'll be unable to look after themselves and that will be a problem."
Ms Owen, who often visits the area below the colony looking for hurt bats, said rats posed a bigger problem.
A Department of Environment and Heritage Protection spokeswoman said staff were not currently monitoring the colony but had worked with the council to set a timetable for dispersal, due to begin in March.
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