Tree-damaging bats to be smoked out

COLAC Otway Shire will smoke out bats who have been destroying heritage-listed trees at the Colac Botanic Gardens.

The council plans to start the process, which could also include sprinklers, on Wednesday under the supervision of flying-fox experts.

Colac Otway services and operations manager Frank Castles said there were up to 6500 bats roosting in the gardens.

“The intent is to create an environment that is unattractive to bats and encourages them to find an alternative and suitable place to roost in future years,” Mr Castles said.

“A tried and tested method involving sound, light, smoke and water will be used initially for a 15-day period to disperse the bats and then deter them.

“Council is seeking a further licence to continue dispersal actions, such as the use of sprinklers, to discourage them from returning.”

The project aims to encourage about 100 male bats, which are roosting, to find a new base for the colony before the birthing season and deter migrating bats from returning.

Strict adherence to DELWP licence conditions will be observed during the process as the flying foxes are listed as protected.

Mr Castles said an independent arborist report confirmed that if the bats were not dispersed, at least three heritagelisted trees would be dead within three years.

“The bats arrived in 2016 and with increasing numbers roosting at one time in just a few trees, they have caused significant damage to trees, as well as impacted the amenity of the gardens and surrounding area,” he said.

“We will cease the program immediately if there are any signs of the bats being highly distressed during the process.”

The public is urged not to come in to contact with bats and not to apply any initiatives outside the approved program.

Contact Colac Otway Shire Customer Service Centre on 5232 9400 to report any unusual daytime behaviour of the bats in the dispersal process.