CASINO residents could be forgiven for going "batty" or feeling their home town has become flying fox central.
Each night at sundown the skies are clouded with huge numbers of the temporary colony of little red flying foxes, as they were a year ago.
It's estimated the numbers are around the 50,000 mark.
"They are back in plague proportion this time," one reader posted on our Facebook page.
Last year Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis organised a petition to be tabled in parliament to help solve the bat issue.
"I am aware of the high numbers of flying foxes in Casino and I am disappointed that the Department of Environment and Heritage have not provided the public with information on the reason for the influx, the anticipated duration of the influx, the precautions that the community should take to protect themselves and any assistance they can offer to Richmond Valley Council to help minimise the impact on the community," he said.
"I have discussed the matter with Richmond Valley Mayor, Ernie Bennett and I understand that council is investigating their options."
With this new population explosion on the Richmond River in Casino, Richmond Valley Council has been prompted to prepare a new camp management plan.
The new plan, if approved by the Office of Environment and Heritage, would lead to a five-year licence to manage the flying fox camp.
Richmond Valley Council general manager John Walker said the new management plan would improve on work last year to move the flying foxes away from Casino Public School, private residences and businesses.
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