Dead bat clean-up ‘like scene from horror film’
“HORRENDOUS” scene of hanging bat carcasses dripping blood and maggots has forced an Edmonton family from their home.
Philippa Schroor described the horror of seeing hundreds of dead flying foxes and the shocking nature of the clean-up.
“It was a scene out of a horror movie and there is still putrefied rotting carcasses everywhere,” she said.
“I co-ordinated the first response to get wildlife carers to the site. We have been working daily trying to co-ordinate assistance with the clean-up of rotting carcasses.”
The mother of two has also had to take time off work.
“Imagine what the smell would be like if 5500 bats were rotting outside your home,” she said. Ms Schroor said the family had been forced from their home to a hotel for five nights since the heatwave began killing bats. She said the smell of the dead and rotting bats had permeated her house and she is concerned with the long-term health risk.
“I cannot return home until I get a cleaner to scrub my walls, furniture, linen, vehicle upholstery before the smell has permeated everything,” she said.
“This is a public health issue.”
Ms Schroor was critical of the way Cairns Regional Council responded.
The Cairns Post understands red-lidded bins were provided by council but were then removed, some empty, as they were not the correct biohazard-style waste containers.
Division 1 councillor Brett Moller was at the scene during the week and said it was a “severely distressing” situation.
“Bins were made available and the priority was dispose of dead flying foxes in whatever bins were made available,” he said.
Cr Moller said he would meet Mayor Bob Manning today to discuss the clean-up.
FNQ Wildlife Rescue Association estimates 6500 bats died and yesterday bat carers gathered at the Manunda base of FNQWRA to discuss how future responses to mass deaths can handled.