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Bare-backed Fruit Bat (Dobsonia magna)

The Bare-backed Fruit Bat is a large Queensland fruit bat found mainly across Cape York Peninsula. It uses caves, boulder piles, vegetation and abandoned structures, so clearing, blasting, demolition and disturbance near roosts can affect groups of bats. It is least concern in Australia, but is a colonial breeder, and tampering with a breeding place in Queensland requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Colonial breeder. Least concern in Queensland, but it breeds in colonies, so tampering with a breeding place needs a high risk species management program rather than the low risk program.

Breeding season

The breeding calendar of the Bare-backed Fruit Bat in Australia is poorly documented. For planning, treat spring to late summer, September to February, as the likely higher-risk period, while allowing for regional and year-to-year variation across northern Queensland.

Breeding mode: Colonial breeder. Breeding may occur in shared roosts or maternity roosts, although species-specific maternity-colony details are poorly known.

Litter size: Not recorded.

Gestation: Not recorded.

Fledging or weaning: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding and roost sites: Roosts have been recorded in caves, unused mines, abandoned structures, houses, boulder piles, thick vegetation and camps. Larger groups occur in caves or boulder piles.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing may shift between years and regions, particularly across Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait, so confirm roost use and breeding activity with seasonal surveys before clearing or construction.

  • Breeding activity and births: Use September to February as a cautious planning window for mating and births because species-specific timing is not well established.
  • Dependent young at roosts: Dependent young may be present in shared roosts during the warmer-month breeding period.
  • Occupied roosts and colonies: Roosts can be used throughout the year, with groups recorded in caves, boulder piles, vegetation and other dark sheltered places.
  • Night-time foraging and roost movement: Adults forage at night and may move between feeding areas and roosts throughout the year.
  • Highest clearing risk: September to February is the highest planning risk because clearing or disturbance may affect maternity roosts, births or dependent young, but occupied roosts require care in every month.

Identification: Appearance and measurements

The Bare-backed Fruit Bat is a large fruit bat with a distinctive wing attachment. The wing membrane extends to the middle of the back, giving the animal a bare-backed appearance.

The fur is brown to greyish black. The tail is short. The body is robust, with long wings suited to manoeuvrable flight.

The wing membrane joins along the vertebral column rather than along the sides of the body. This feature is useful when identifying a bat in care or in a close photograph.

  • Head and body length: 10.2 to 24.2 cm.
  • Forearm length: 13.5 to 15.5 cm.
  • Weight: 350 to 500 g.

Identification: Calls and echolocation

There is no reliable call description for field identification in the information available for this species.

As a fruit bat, it should not be treated like a small insect-eating microbat during acoustic assessment. An Anabat or similar detector can record bat activity, but ultrasonic results may not identify this species reliably.

  • Use direct observation, roost inspection and emergence watches as well as acoustic equipment.
  • Record audible social calls, repeated calling from a roost and flight direction where these can be heard or seen.

Identification: Similar species

Bulmer's Fruit Bat has a similar wing attachment, with the membrane extending towards the vertebral column. Size and location help separate the two where their ranges overlap.

Do not rely on the bare-backed appearance alone. Photograph the animal, record the location and seek expert confirmation if identification affects clearing or construction approval.

  • Check the wing attachment, body size, fur colour and locality together.
  • Avoid handling unless authorised and trained.

Identification: Field signs

Look for bats hanging in dark roosts, fruit remains below feeding or roosting trees, and droppings below occupied roost sites. Droppings may contain fruit material and can be difficult to distinguish from those of other fruit bats.

This species does not build a nest. Whitewash, staining, odour and accumulated debris may occur below a long-used roost, but none is diagnostic on its own.

  • Fresh droppings or fruit debris below a roost.
  • Repeated bat movements at dusk.
  • Darkened surfaces, staining or accumulated organic material at a cave, rock pile or building roost.
  • Calling and repeated use of the same roost entrance.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the Bare-backed Fruit Bat is restricted to Queensland, mainly on Cape York Peninsula. Records extend through northern, north-central and eastern Cape York, with additional records from Torres Strait and a reliable sight record from Chillagoe.

The species is confirmed from Silver Plains, the McIlwraith Range, Iron Range, Lockerbie Scrub and areas north to the tip of Cape York Peninsula. It is also recorded from Moa Island in Torres Strait.

It is common in parts of Iron Range and Lockerbie Scrub based on survey records. The southern limit is less certain, and the species may have occurred as far south as Chillagoe.

  • State: Queensland.
  • Main region: Cape York Peninsula.
  • Other area: Torres Strait, including Moa Island.

Distribution: Overseas range

The broader range extends from northern Queensland through New Guinea and the Moluccas. It is described as widespread in Papua New Guinea.

Distribution: What this means on a work site

A bat record in north Queensland should not be dismissed because the animal is seen away from rainforest. The species uses open forest, rainforest, monsoon vine thickets and human-modified sites where suitable food or shelter remains.

For projects near Cape York, Torres Strait or the possible southern range, check caves, boulder piles, buildings and dense vegetation before clearing, demolition or blasting.

  • Map all roosts and likely flight paths before works begin.
  • Treat an occupied or potentially occupied roost as a fauna constraint until it has been assessed.

Habitat: Vegetation types

The Bare-backed Fruit Bat uses a range of tropical habitats and shelter features. Retain connected vegetation and inspect dark, enclosed structures before disturbance.

Foraging and roosting records include open forest, rainforest and monsoon vine thickets. Dense vegetation can provide daytime shelter, particularly where it is close to food trees or permanent water.

On a clearing site, inspect mature native vegetation, vine thickets, riparian vegetation and dense regrowth rather than focusing only on hollow-bearing trees.

  • Open forest with native fruiting trees.
  • Rainforest edges and rainforest patches.
  • Monsoon vine thickets.
  • Dense vegetation around gullies, rock piles and watercourses.

Habitat: Landforms and site features

Caves and boulder piles are particularly relevant. The species may also use old mines, abandoned structures, houses and thick vegetation.

Inspect overhangs, crevices, cave mouths, mine entrances, rock piles and unused buildings before earthworks, demolition or blasting.

  • Caves and shallow cave entrances.
  • Boulder piles and large rock overhangs.
  • Old mines and abandoned structures.
  • Large buildings or sheds with dark, undisturbed spaces.

Habitat: Habitat retention

Keep roost features connected to nearby feeding habitat where practicable. Avoid isolating a cave, rock pile or vegetation roost within a cleared site.

Where clearing cannot be avoided, retain native fruiting trees and dense shelter around the roost, and use a qualified ecologist to develop site-specific controls.

  • Mark roosts and associated vegetation as no-go areas.
  • Limit night lighting directed at roost entrances and likely flight paths.
  • Stage vegetation removal so fauna spotter catchers can respond to displaced bats.

Foraging habitat: Food plants

The Bare-backed Fruit Bat feeds at night on fruit, nectar and pollen. Loss of mature feeding trees can affect bats even when their daytime roost is outside the project area.

Native figs are an important food recorded for this species. It also eats a wide variety of native and introduced fruits, and takes nectar and pollen from native trees and introduced plants such as banana flowers.

Look for mature fruiting trees, fig trees, flowering trees and productive garden plantings near proposed works.

  • Native figs and other fruiting trees.
  • Flowering native trees that provide nectar and pollen.
  • Banana flowers and other cultivated food plants.
  • Fruit gardens used when natural food is scarce.

Foraging habitat: Foraging areas around works

The species may forage below the canopy and can use open forest as well as rainforest and vine thickets. Clearing a small number of mature food trees may reduce feeding options where the surrounding habitat is already fragmented.

Avoid removing fruiting or flowering trees during peak use where practicable. If removal is unavoidable, retain nearby native vegetation and plan replacement plantings with local advice.

  • Survey trees when fruiting or flowering activity is visible.
  • Record feeding damage, fallen fruit and bat observations at dusk.
  • Maintain dark movement routes between roosts and feeding areas.

Foraging habitat: Seasonal food use

Cultivated fruit gardens are used from the late wet season to early dry season when natural food is low. This period may increase bat activity around orchards, gardens and fruiting plantings.

Schedule tree removal and high-noise works with local ecological advice where bats are regularly feeding or roosting nearby.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

The Bare-backed Fruit Bat is treated as a colonial breeder in Queensland. Detailed breeding information for this species is limited, so a suspected maternity roost should be managed conservatively.

A breeding place is a roost or other site where young are raised. For this species, inspect caves, boulder piles, dense vegetation, old mines and abandoned structures for signs of repeated group use.

Do not assume that a small roost is unimportant. A vegetation roost may contain only a few bats while a nearby cave or boulder pile may support a larger group.

  • Cave entrances and dark chambers.
  • Boulder piles with protected internal spaces.
  • Dense vegetation and secluded structures.
  • Any roost where females and dependent young are present.

Breeding habitat: Confirming active breeding

An active maternity roost is confirmed by pregnant or lactating females, dependent young, or young repeatedly returning to the roost. Observe from a distance and avoid entering a roost while bats are present.

Emergence watches at dusk can show the number of bats, timing of emergence and whether adults are carrying young. A follow-up inspection may use an endoscope or pole camera where safe and authorised.

  • Pregnant or lactating females.
  • Dependent young or recently volant juveniles.
  • Repeated adult and juvenile use of the same roost.
  • Fresh droppings, noise and regular emergence activity.

Breeding habitat: Survey and work controls

Use a suitably experienced bat ecologist to design surveys. Anabat or similar acoustic surveys can help document bat activity, while emergence watches and direct inspection are more useful for confirming a fruit bat roost.

Mist nets may be used by trained and authorised personnel where appropriate. Harp traps are mainly designed for microbats and should not be assumed to be suitable for this large fruit bat.

  • Complete surveys before clearing, demolition, blasting or major vibration.
  • Use a two-stage or soft-felling approach for hollow-bearing trees where bats may be present.
  • Use exclusion devices only outside the local maternity period and only under an approved method.
  • Do not seal, block or destroy a suspected maternity roost without approval.

Breeding habitat: Queensland approval context

In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020. Confirm the approval pathway before works start.

A fauna spotter catcher should stop work and escalate if dependent young, a maternity group or an occupied breeding place is found.

  • Keep a clear exclusion area around the breeding place.
  • Record the location, signs, photographs and actions taken.
  • Obtain advice from the relevant Queensland environmental regulator where the breeding place may be affected.

Sheltering habitat: Known roost types

Bare-backed Fruit Bats shelter in dark, protected places during the day. Roosts may be natural or associated with old buildings and other structures.

The species is unusual among Australian megabats because it roosts in caves. It also uses unused mines, houses, abandoned structures, boulder piles and thick vegetation.

Roosts may be close to the ground or concealed within a larger structure. Inspect both obvious cave entrances and less conspicuous dark spaces.

  • Caves and mine workings.
  • Boulder piles and rock overhangs.
  • Dense vegetation.
  • Houses, sheds and abandoned structures.

Sheltering habitat: Roost inspection

Inspect likely roosts before clearing, demolition, rock breaking or blasting. Use a torch from the entrance, thermal or visual equipment where available, and an endoscope or pole camera for safe inspection of cavities.

Do not enter unstable mines, confined spaces or occupied roosts without the required assessment, permits and safety controls.

  • Look for bats, droppings, fruit remains, staining and odour.
  • Check shaded sides of rock piles and buildings.
  • Inspect tree cavities only where the project includes hollow-bearing trees.
  • Keep personnel and machinery away from the roost during assessment.

Sheltering habitat: Managing roost disturbance

Noise, vibration, lighting, smoke and changes to the roost entrance can cause bats to leave. Avoid blocking entrances or changing airflow in caves, mines and enclosed structures.

Where exclusion is necessary, obtain a site-specific method from a bat ecologist. Exclusion should be timed outside the maternity period and should include a way for bats to leave without returning.

  • Keep bright lights away from entrances and emergence routes.
  • Avoid night works beside occupied roosts.
  • Retain suitable replacement shelter where approved and practical.
  • Treat bat boxes as supplementary habitat, not as a replacement for a natural cave, boulder pile or established roost.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony site looks like

A colony or maternity roost is a shared breeding site where many bats may depend on the same shelter. The species may roost alone or in groups, but cave and boulder-pile roosts can hold substantially more bats than vegetation roosts.

A colony site may be a cave, mine, boulder pile, dense vegetation patch or abandoned structure with a protected, dark interior. Bats may hang together or occupy separate parts of the same site.

Roosts can be quiet during the day and become obvious at dusk. Continuous calling, repeated flight from one entrance and accumulated droppings are useful clues.

  • A dark shelter with one or more access points.
  • Several bats visible together or repeated bat movement at dusk.
  • Fresh droppings and fruit debris below the roost.
  • Regular use of the same site on more than one survey visit.

Colonies and breeding places: Group size and site fidelity

Vegetation roosts are described as containing small numbers. Cave and boulder-pile roosts may hold up to 30 individuals, and groups of around 100 have also been recorded.

The species may roost alone as well as gregariously. Because a roost can be used repeatedly and may support a substantial part of the local group, assume site value until survey results show otherwise.

  • Vegetation roosts: small numbers.
  • Cave or boulder-pile roosts: up to 30 individuals recorded.
  • Other records: groups of around 100 individuals.
  • Individual bats may also be found roosting alone.

Colonies and breeding places: Recognising an active breeding place

Look for pregnant or lactating females, dependent young, recently volant juveniles and repeated adult use of the same shelter. An emergence watch can help establish whether the site is occupied and whether young are present.

Use a two-stage or soft-felling method for hollow-bearing trees where tree cavities are involved. For caves, rocks and buildings, use a staged exclusion or other approved method rather than direct removal.

  • Observe the roost at dusk without entering or shining lights into it.
  • Use direct inspection, an endoscope or pole camera where safe.
  • Use acoustic equipment to supplement, not replace, visual assessment.
  • Stop work if dependent young or a suspected maternity group is found.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

Disturbing one shared roost can affect many bats at once. If the site is a maternity roost, disturbance can separate mothers from young or cause young to be abandoned.

In Queensland, this species is a least concern colonial breeder. A high risk species management program is required for tampering with its breeding place, rather than the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

  • Establish the approval pathway before disturbing a suspected colony site.
  • Use exclusion devices only outside the maternity season and under an approved method.
  • Keep a trained fauna spotter catcher present during relevant clearing and exclusion works.
  • Do not rely on bat boxes as a stand-alone replacement for a colony roost.

Threats: Roost loss and structural disturbance

The main work-site risks are loss of roosts and feeding habitat, direct disturbance and injury. The species is least concern nationally in Australia, but local roosts can still be important and vulnerable.

Cave blasting, rock breaking, mine works, demolition and clearing of dense vegetation can remove or expose roosts. Blocking an entrance or changing the darkness, airflow or temperature of a roost can also make it unsuitable.

Inspect and map caves, boulder piles, old mines, buildings and dense vegetation before works begin.

  • Do not blast or excavate near a suspected roost without assessment.
  • Retain roost entrances and internal shelter features.
  • Use staged works where a roost cannot be avoided.

Threats: Loss of feeding habitat

Clearing native vegetation, forestry, agriculture and land degradation can remove feeding areas. Loss of mature figs and other fruiting or flowering trees may be significant where alternative food is limited.

Retain connected native vegetation and avoid unnecessary removal of productive food trees.

  • Map mature fruiting and flowering trees.
  • Protect rainforest patches, vine thickets and open forest feeding areas.
  • Use local native species in revegetation plans.

Threats: Disturbance, lighting and construction activity

Night lighting, noise, vibration, smoke and repeated entry can disturb roosting bats and alter movement between roosts and feeding areas.

Keep lights directed away from roost entrances and avoid night works beside occupied roosts where practicable.

  • Use low-spill, shielded lighting.
  • Maintain quiet periods near occupied maternity roosts.
  • Control dust, smoke and vibration near caves, mines and rock piles.

Threats: Injury and wider land management pressures

Bats have been killed on barbed wire at King Ranch and Silver Plains. Shooting, clearing and changes to fire regimes are also recorded pressures.

Remove unnecessary barbed wire near known flight paths where practicable, and manage vegetation and fire so that roosts and feeding habitat are retained.

  • Inspect fences near roosts and feeding areas.
  • Avoid unmanaged fire through roost vegetation and vine thickets.
  • Report injured bats to the fauna spotter catcher or an authorised wildlife carer.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Bare-backed Fruit Bat is poorly known in Queensland, so surveys should combine habitat assessment, roost inspection and night observations. Treat caves, boulder piles, vegetation roosts and suitable buildings or structures as potentially important until checked by a qualified ecologist.

Map known records, caves, unused mines, boulder piles, mature trees, rainforest, open forest, monsoon vine thickets, fruit gardens and other dark shelter sites.

Identify proposed clearing near Cape York Peninsula, Torres Strait, the McIlwraith Range, Iron Range, Lockerbie Scrub, Silver Plains and Chillagoe as areas requiring careful assessment.

Check Queensland and Australian threatened species databases, planning overlays, previous survey reports and records of colonies, maternity roosts or repeated roost use.

  • Map all structures that could provide shelter, including caves, rock piles, hollow-bearing trees, loose bark, fissures, culverts, bridges and buildings.
  • Ask landholders and local rangers about bats seen entering roosts, bats flying at dusk, noise, guano, odour and seasonal use.
  • Do not treat a site as unused because no bats are seen during one daytime inspection.

Survey methodology: 2. Daytime habitat and roost inspection

Inspect caves, mine entrances, boulder piles, buildings, bridges, culverts and dense vegetation before works begin. Keep inspections quiet and avoid entering narrow or unstable areas without the required safety controls.

Use an endoscope or pole camera to inspect tree hollows, fissures and cavities where this can be done safely. Record roost entrances, access routes, guano, staining, scratch marks, odour, vocalisations and any bats present.

A maternity roost is confirmed by pregnant or lactating females, dependent pups, or adults carrying or closely attending young. A roost where young are raised is a breeding place.

  • Record the roost type, entrance location, height, aspect, surrounding vegetation and evidence of current or previous use.
  • Photograph entrances and surrounding habitat from a safe distance.
  • Do not handle bats during a routine inspection.

Survey methodology: 3. Evening emergence and acoustic surveys

Watch likely roost entrances from before sunset until activity has clearly finished. Record emergence time, the number of bats, flight direction, return flights, calling, weather and nearby lighting.

Use Anabat or a similar detector to survey flight paths and roost entrances. Acoustic results can confirm bat activity, but they should not be used alone to confirm species, maternity use or an empty roost.

Where species identification or occupancy remains uncertain, use an experienced bat ecologist to select harp traps or mist nets. Trapping must be undertaken by authorised, trained personnel under the relevant approvals.

  • Survey in calm, dry conditions with low wind and good visibility where practicable.
  • Repeat surveys when a roost is likely to be important, difficult to observe or affected by construction.
  • Avoid excessive lighting, noise and physical disturbance during emergence watches.
  • Record detector settings, survey duration, weather, observer position and all bat identifications.

Survey methodology: 4. Effort, timing and records

Most microbats give birth to one pup a year in the warmer months, usually spring to late summer. Queensland transport guidance treats microbats as colonial breeders during the breeding season, and the same precaution is appropriate for any bat roost where young may be raised.

Bare-backed Fruit Bat breeding timing and maternity site selection are poorly known. Plan surveys across more than one visit and seek specialist advice before clearing a suspected roost.

Record all survey limitations and state clearly whether a roost was confirmed, probably occupied, apparently vacant or not accessible.

  • Survey before finalising clearing boundaries and again if works are delayed or site conditions change.
  • Record colony size where possible. Groups of around 100 have been reported, and larger roosts of up to 30 have also been recorded in caves or boulder piles. Treat these figures as observations, not population limits.
  • Keep georeferenced photographs, field sheets, call files, trap records, handling records and maps of exclusion areas.
  • Report any evidence of a maternity roost, repeated roost use, injury or mortality to the project ecologist and relevant regulator.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and regulatory checks

Avoid known or likely roosts wherever practicable. A colonial breeding place can contain a large share of the local population, so decisions must be based on the whole roost and its surrounding flight and foraging habitat, not only on individual bats seen during a site visit.

Confirm whether the action could affect a matter of national environmental significance. Seek an EPBC Act referral or other Australian Government approval where the legal tests indicate that one is required.

In Queensland, obtain advice from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation before interfering with a breeding place. Tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires the high risk species management program pathway under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.

Confirm all Queensland permits, authorisations and conditions for fauna survey, trapping, handling, relocation, tree removal, cave access and disturbance. Use only people authorised for the relevant task.

  • Keep copies of approvals, permits, fauna spotter catcher authorities, maps and method statements on site.
  • Do not rely on least concern status as permission to disturb a colony or breeding place.
  • Escalate uncertainty to the project ecologist and regulator before work starts.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site design

Retain occupied caves, boulder piles, mature trees, hollow-bearing trees, dense roost vegetation and suitable buildings wherever practicable. Retain connected vegetation between roosts, feeding areas and water sources.

Set a project-specific no-go area around each roost or breeding place. The buffer must be based on the roost entrance, flight paths, noise, vibration, lighting, machinery and the sensitivity of the colony.

Do not set a generic buffer without ecological justification. Increase the exclusion area where bats fly through the work zone, young are present, the roost is concealed, or construction will create night lighting or vibration.

  • Fence and sign exclusion areas before machinery arrives.
  • Keep access tracks, laydown areas, spoil, lighting and drainage works outside the exclusion area.
  • Design lighting away from entrances and flight paths. Use the lowest practical intensity, shield fittings and avoid upward or direct light on roosts.
  • Retain native flowering and fruiting vegetation where it supports local feeding habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance inspection

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works. Recheck all mapped roosts, likely hollows, fissures, loose bark, caves, culverts, bridges, buildings and dense vegetation.

Use emergence observations, acoustic monitoring or a pole camera where a cavity could not be adequately assessed during the initial survey.

Confirm that no pups, pregnant or lactating females, or other evidence of active breeding is present before approving disturbance. If breeding use cannot be ruled out, treat the site as an active breeding place.

  • Mark retained roost trees and no-go areas clearly on the ground and in the clearing plan.
  • Check trees and structures again after storms, fire, vandalism or changes in use.
  • Use a two-stage or soft-felling method for hollow-bearing trees where removal is approved. First remove non-hollow limbs or branches under supervision, then leave the hollow section until it has been checked and safely lowered.
  • Never fell a tree containing bats without a documented method and a fauna spotter catcher present.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing, exclusion and induction

Schedule disturbance outside the local maternity period where practicable. For bats generally, avoid the warmer months, usually spring to late summer, when young may be dependent. Do not assume that a different season removes risk for Bare-backed Fruit Bat because local breeding timing is poorly known.

Use exclusion devices only where the roost is not an active maternity roost, the method is approved, and a qualified bat ecologist has confirmed that animals can leave and will not be trapped inside.

Provide a site induction before clearing. Explain the roost map, no-go areas, stop-work authority, handling limits, injury pathway and reporting requirements.

  • Do not seal, block or illuminate a roost entrance while bats may be inside.
  • Use one-way devices only after confirming that dependent young are absent and that all exits are covered by the method.
  • Remove exclusion devices only after the ecologist confirms the roost is no longer required or disturbance is authorised.
  • Make every worker responsible for reporting bats, pups, guano, unusual noise or a damaged exclusion device.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence and keep a fauna spotter catcher with authority to stop work. Any active colony, maternity roost, breeding place or injured bat changes the work method and must be managed before disturbance continues.

Start with low-risk areas and work towards retained habitat so mobile fauna can move away from machinery. Clear in small, manageable stages rather than opening the whole site at once.

Use a fauna spotter catcher to inspect each tree, structure, rock pile and vegetation patch immediately before disturbance. Keep machinery outside the active inspection area until the inspection is complete.

Use soft felling or staged removal for approved hollow-bearing tree removal. Lower hollow sections slowly and place them upright or in a stable position where the approved method requires temporary retention.

  • Stop if a bat is seen entering or leaving a tree, structure, cave or rock pile during disturbance.
  • Do not use chainsaws, excavators, fire, smoke, chemicals or high-pressure water to remove bats.
  • Keep a clear escape route from each disturbed roost to retained vegetation or another approved shelter.
  • Check felled hollows, peeled bark and cut sections for bats before they are moved.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Active colony or breeding place

If a colony, maternity roost, pup, pregnant or lactating female, or other active breeding place is found, stop work in the affected area immediately.

Keep people, vehicles, lighting and machinery away from the entrance and surrounding flight paths. Do not enter the roost unless the ecologist and approval conditions allow it.

Contact the project ecologist and the relevant Queensland regulator. Reconfirm the high risk species management program requirements before any interference with the breeding place.

  • Extend the stop-work area to include the roost entrance, access route, flight path and nearby work that causes noise, vibration or light.
  • Do not relocate a colony or separate young from adults unless this is specifically authorised and directed by a bat specialist.
  • Do not install an exclusion device on an active maternity roost.
  • Resume work only after a documented ecological clearance and approval check.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and injured animals

Only authorised and trained fauna personnel may handle bats. Workers must not touch, chase or attempt to rescue a bat.

Treat every bat bite or scratch as a potential health exposure. Stop handling, wash the affected area thoroughly and follow the workplace health and safety and medical advice pathway immediately.

Place an injured bat in a secure, ventilated container only when directed by an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian. Keep it dark, quiet and away from heat, children, pets and machinery.

  • Use appropriate gloves and handling equipment specified by the bat specialist.
  • Do not offer food or water unless directed by a veterinarian or wildlife carer.
  • Record the location, time, apparent injury, photographs, finder, handler and destination.
  • Report dead bats, repeated injuries and contact with machinery to the project ecologist.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Records and stop-work reporting

Maintain a daily fauna register during clearing. Record inspections, bats seen, roost evidence, colony estimates, trees checked, animals handled, releases, injuries, deaths and any stop-work event.

Map each finding and link it to the relevant permit condition, photograph and work area. Record weather, time, machinery, work stage and people involved.

The fauna spotter catcher must have direct authority to stop work without waiting for approval from the machine operator.

  • Use a simple radio call or agreed hand signal for an immediate stop.
  • Notify the site supervisor, project ecologist and regulator where required by approval conditions.
  • Keep the original records with the project environmental file and provide copies to the ecologist.
  • Review the clearing sequence if findings show that bats are using more roosts or structures than expected.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that no animals, pups or occupied cavities were left in the work area. They also show whether controls protected retained roosts and whether the project needs to change its method before the next work stage.

Inspect the cleared area, retained trees, felled hollow sections, rock piles, buildings and exclusion devices at the end of each clearing stage.

Check for grounded bats, trapped animals, exposed pups, damaged roost entrances, fresh guano, new cracks and signs of disturbance. Use a thermal camera, endoscope or acoustic check where this is safe and useful.

Do not remove a retained hollow, roost structure or exclusion device until the approval conditions and ecologist allow it.

  • Check machinery, stockpiles, trenches, pipes and buildings for trapped fauna before the site is left unattended.
  • Secure open pipes, pits and culverts or inspect them at the frequency required by the fauna management plan.
  • Keep retained roosts free from spoil, dust, direct lighting and unauthorised access.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals and roost structures

Confirm the location and condition of every relocated bat, retained hollow and replacement structure. Record the release site, release time, weather, animal condition and method used.

Release animals only under the direction of the authorised wildlife carer, veterinarian or bat ecologist. The release site should provide suitable shelter, vegetation and access to food and water.

Do not assume that a bat box or artificial roost has replaced a cave, boulder pile or established colony. Replacement structures are supplementary and require follow-up checks.

  • Inspect replacement structures for occupancy, overheating, water ingress, predators and access problems.
  • Do not move a bat again merely because it is roosting in an unexpected location.
  • Record whether the animal was released, transferred for care, found dead or not located.
  • Report failed relocations, repeat injuries or animals returning to the work area.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring and reporting

Monitor retained roosts and replacement structures at the frequency set by the approval or management plan. Use consistent emergence observations, acoustic checks and daytime inspections so results can be compared.

Monitor after major construction stages and after changes to lighting, vibration, access, vegetation or drainage. Include nearby flight paths and feeding habitat, not only the roost entrance.

Provide a completion report that links survey results, clearing records, incidents, approvals, photographs, maps and corrective actions.

  • Record occupancy, approximate colony size, emergence activity, breeding evidence, species records and roost condition.
  • Report any confirmed maternity use, colony loss, mortality or damage to a breeding place through the required regulatory pathway.
  • Keep monitoring data in a format that can be used for future works at the site.
  • Use monitoring results to adjust lighting, exclusion areas, vegetation retention and construction timing.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every unexpected bat finding, injury, death, roost disturbance and permit non-compliance before the next clearing stage.

Ask what was missed, whether the survey timing was suitable, whether the exclusion area was adequate and whether workers understood the induction.

Update the fauna management plan and brief the crew again before work resumes.

  • Preserve photographs, call files, location data and statements for the investigation.
  • Record the corrective action, responsible person and completion date.
  • Use independent ecological advice where a colony, maternity roost or repeated mortality is involved.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore native habitat

Rehabilitation should restore shelter, feeding habitat and safe movement routes around retained roosts. Bare-backed Fruit Bat uses forests, rainforest, monsoon vine thickets, native figs and other fruiting vegetation, while larger roost groups have been recorded in caves and boulder piles.

Retain and restore native forest, rainforest and monsoon vine thicket around roosts and along flight paths. Use local provenance plants suited to the site and regional soil conditions.

Replant native figs and other flowering or fruiting species that provide food. Protect established feeding trees during construction and maintenance.

Recreate connected vegetation between roosts, feeding areas and water. Avoid leaving isolated shelter patches surrounded by bright lighting or heavily trafficked edges.

  • Remove compacted spoil and reinstate natural drainage before planting.
  • Stage planting so exposed ground is stabilised quickly without introducing invasive species.
  • Protect new plantings from browsing, fire, machinery and unnecessary clearing.
  • Retain fallen timber and natural rock features where they do not create a safety hazard.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replace lost shelter where suitable

Use bat boxes, artificial roost structures or retained hollow sections only where a bat ecologist confirms that the design and location suit the local species and site.

For Bare-backed Fruit Bat, prioritise protection of natural caves, boulder piles, dense vegetation and suitable buildings. A box is not an automatic substitute for these roost types.

Place replacement structures in stable, shaded locations with safe access and a clear flight path. Avoid direct lighting, excessive heat, flooding and frequent human disturbance.

  • Do not install a structure during an active maternity event unless the approved method specifically requires it.
  • Inspect boxes and artificial roosts for occupancy, temperature, predators, damage and maintenance needs.
  • Use several suitable structures where a large roost has been lost, but do not claim success until occupancy and use have been demonstrated.
  • Keep natural roost entrances open and prevent unauthorised sealing or modification.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Manage weeds, water and fire

Control weeds around retained vegetation and roosts using methods that do not poison, smoke out or physically disturb bats. Prevent weed treatment from damaging native fruiting plants or roost access.

Protect watercourses and small water sources from sediment, fuel, concrete washout and rubbish. Maintain safe drinking and foraging areas where they occur naturally.

Manage fire in consultation with local land managers. Avoid hot burns, smoke and sudden vegetation loss near roosts, maternity sites and dense shelter.

  • Use weed control buffers around caves, boulder piles, hollow trees and artificial roosts.
  • Inspect restored areas after floods, fire and storms.
  • Replace failed plants and repair erosion promptly.
  • Keep chemicals, waste and lighting away from roost entrances and flight paths.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting and long-term monitoring

Design permanent lighting to keep roosts, flight paths and restored vegetation dark. Shield lights, use timers or controls, and avoid direct light at entrances or across connecting habitat.

Monitor restored vegetation, natural roosts and replacement structures over the period required by the approval. Bare-backed Fruit Bat site use is not well documented, so longer-term observations may be needed to show whether the habitat is functioning.

Use repeat emergence watches, acoustic surveys and daytime inspections at the same locations and in comparable conditions.

  • Record occupancy, colony activity, breeding evidence, vegetation condition, lighting changes and signs of disturbance.
  • Review rehabilitation after the first wet season and after major construction changes.
  • Remove failed structures only after ecological review and approval checks.
  • Keep rehabilitation findings available for future projects in the local area.

Sources