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Forest Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus adamsi)

The Forest Pipistrelle is a small evening bat recorded in central Cape York, Queensland, and near Darwin in the Northern Territory. Its roosts can be affected by tree clearing, demolition, bridge works and other construction activities, and shared maternity roosts need careful management. It is a least concern species in Australia, but in Queensland it is treated as a colonial breeder, so disturbing a breeding place requires a high risk species management program.

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 Forest Pipistrelle is a poorly known Australian microbat recorded in Queensland and the Northern Territory. As a general guide for colonial microbats, breeding and pup rearing are most likely during the warmer months, from spring to late summer, with some regional and annual variation.

Breeding mode: Colonial breeder. Females may gather in shared maternity roosts where young are raised.

Litter size and breeding frequency: Usually one pup per female each year. Species specific litter information is not recorded.

Gestation and weaning: Not recorded for the Forest Pipistrelle. Dependent pups are expected to remain associated with the maternity roost during the warmer months.

Breeding timing: For microbats generally, births are usually from spring to late summer. For planning, treat September to March as the broader maternity period.

Roost sites: Potential roosts include tree hollows, fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and buildings. A maternity roost may be a concealed cavity or crevice used repeatedly by several females.

Colony size and site fidelity: Species specific colony sizes and site fidelity are not recorded. Colony size can vary, and a single breeding place may hold a large share of the local population. Do not assume that a small entrance indicates a small colony.

Recognising and protecting an active breeding place: Indicators include repeated bat activity at an entrance, regular emergence and return flights, bat calls, droppings, pregnant or lactating females, and pups. Confirm maternity use with suitable acoustic survey, harp trap or mist net work where authorised, emergence watches, and inspection with an endoscope or pole camera. Avoid disturbance during the maternity period. Where hollow bearing trees must be removed, use two stage or soft felling. Fit exclusion devices outside the maternity season, and use bat boxes only as a supplementary measure. In Queensland, tampering with a breeding place of this least concern colonial breeder requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.

Timing can shift between years and regions, so use local acoustic surveys, emergence watches and roost inspections to confirm activity before clearing or disturbance.

  • Breeding, mating and births: Plan for mating and births mainly from September to February, although the precise timing of the Forest Pipistrelle is poorly known.
  • Dependent pups at maternity roosts: Pups may be present at maternity roosts from spring into late summer, and may not be able to fly when roosts are disturbed.
  • Roosting and foraging activity: Forest Pipistrelles may use roosts and forage throughout the year, so a roost should not be treated as vacant without survey evidence.
  • Maternity roost sensitivity: Shared maternity roosts need the greatest care from September to February because disturbance can affect several females and dependent pups at one site.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk period for clearing or construction near colonies and maternity roosts is September to February, extending into March where young are still present.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Forest Pipistrelle is a small, delicate vespertilionid bat. It is usually identified by a combination of its size, rounded ear, tragus shape, skull features and genetic or specialist examination, rather than by a quick view at a work site.

The back is brown, with Mummy Brown hair tips over a darker base. The chest and belly are paler at the hair tips, while the skin of the snout, ears, wings and feet is dark.

The ear is broadly rounded. The tragus is about half the ear length, with a moderate triangular lobe at its base. The calcar is about two thirds of the rear edge of the tail membrane.

Measured adults have a snout to anus length of 33.9 to 42.0 mm, a tail length of 26.7 to 34.6 mm and a tibia length of 10.7 to 13.1 mm. Adults are small enough to be overlooked during a roost inspection.

Ear length: 9.4 to 12.0 mm

Pes length: 5.1 to 5.9 mm

Typical appearance: Small bat with brown fur and dark skin

  • Small, fragile skull.
  • Broadly rounded ear.
  • Dark skin on the face, ears, wing membranes and feet.
  • Uropatagium lightly furred along the veins.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Species specific echolocation descriptions are limited. Do not rely on call frequency alone for identification, especially where other small pipistrelles occur.

The Forest Pipistrelle is similar to the Western Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus westralis. The Forest Pipistrelle is generally larger, with a longer skull, dentary and upper canines. Confirm difficult records through an experienced bat ecologist or a reference collection.

Closest comparison noted here: Western Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus westralis

Reliable confirmation: Combination of external characters, measurements and specialist assessment

  • Use Anabat or a similar detector to document bat activity and likely commuting or foraging routes.
  • Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved survey design and by suitably experienced personnel.
  • Treat acoustic identifications as provisional where call characteristics overlap.

Identification: Field signs

A roost may be indicated by bat droppings below a hollow, fissure, bridge joint, culvert or building cavity. Droppings are usually small, dark and crumbly, and may contain visible insect fragments.

Look for dark staining or polished surfaces around an entry, a bat smell, discarded insect remains, squeaking, movement in a cavity and bats emerging at dusk. Whitewash is not expected to be a defining sign for this species.

A nest is not built. A maternity roost is more likely to show repeated bat activity, pregnant or lactating females, pups, or juvenile bats calling and clustering inside the cavity.

Most useful confirmation: Emergence activity, droppings, direct observation and targeted trapping or acoustic survey

Nesting: Bats do not build nests

  • Inspect the ground and nearby surfaces beneath likely roost entrances.
  • Watch the roost at dusk rather than opening a cavity unnecessarily.
  • Use an endoscope or pole camera where safe and lawful, without forcing equipment into a occupied cavity.
  • Record the tree, structure, entrance height, surrounding vegetation and observed bat activity.

Identification: Handling and worksite identification

Do not handle bats unless authorised and trained. A fauna spotter catcher should stop work and seek advice when a bat, occupied roost or maternity activity is found.

Photographs, detector recordings, emergence counts and a clear description of the roost feature are more useful than a brief visual impression.

  • Stop clearing or demolition around a suspected occupied roost.
  • Keep machinery, people and bright lights away from the entrance where practicable.
  • Obtain species and roost advice before removing a hollow-bearing tree or closing a building cavity.

Distribution: Australian range

In Australia, the Forest Pipistrelle has a restricted known distribution in the north. Records are from central Cape York in Queensland and from the Darwin region in the Northern Territory.

In Queensland, records include central Cape York, including localities east of Archer River Crossing, at Coen and south of Coen.

In the Northern Territory, records include Darwin and the Reynolds River area. The species is mapped in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Known states and territories: Queensland and Northern Territory

Holotype locality: 40 km east of Archer River Crossing, Cape York, Queensland

Known regional setting: Tropical northern Australia

  • Queensland, central Cape York.
  • Northern Territory, near Darwin and the Reynolds River area.

Distribution: What the range means for projects

The known range does not mean the species is restricted to mapped records. Small bats can be missed where surveys are brief, roosts are concealed or acoustic conditions are poor.

For projects in northern Queensland and the Darwin region, check hollow-bearing trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and other enclosed structures before clearing or demolition.

  • Review local records and previous survey reports.
  • Plan surveys around likely roosts and movement routes, not only around open flying habitat.
  • Assume a concealed roost is possible where suitable cavities are present.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Forest Pipistrelle is treated here as an Australian species. No overseas range is included in this profile.

Habitat: Vegetation and landscape

The Forest Pipistrelle is a terrestrial microbat of tropical northern Australia, but detailed habitat preferences are not well documented. On a work site, focus on the combination of mature vegetation, water, insect prey and secure roost features.

Search carefully in tropical and subtropical woodland, forest and riparian vegetation within the known northern range. Retain attention on mature trees, edges between vegetation types and areas connected to waterways.

The species may use modified areas when suitable roosts and foraging habitat remain. A cleared site can still be relevant if it contains isolated hollow-bearing trees, bridges, culverts or nearby forest.

  • Riparian corridors and drainage lines.
  • Mature woodland and forest remnants.
  • Vegetation edges and connected patches.
  • Open areas adjoining mature trees or water.

Habitat: Features to check before works

Map hollow-bearing trees and structures before access tracks, pads, haul roads, utilities or laydown areas are finalised. Include trees that appear dead or partly dead, because these can contain useful cavities.

Check bridges, culverts, sheds, roof spaces, wall cavities, mine workings and other enclosed structures where bats can shelter.

  • Trees with hollows, fissures, loose bark or broken limbs.
  • Rocky outcrops, caves and old mine workings.
  • Culverts, bridges and buildings with gaps or cavities.
  • Water points and drainage lines near retained vegetation.

Habitat: Site planning

Keep connected vegetation and roost trees where practicable. Design the work area to avoid removing several potential roosts at the same time.

Schedule detailed checks before vegetation removal and again immediately before works if a roost could have become occupied.

  • Mark no go areas around confirmed or suspected roosts.
  • Keep lighting directed away from roost entrances and movement corridors.
  • Include bat actions in the clearing and unexpected fauna procedures.

Foraging habitat: Foraging settings

Like other microbats, the Forest Pipistrelle is expected to take flying insects, although species specific diet information is limited. Foraging activity is most likely to be concentrated where insect prey, shelter and commuting cover occur together.

Check riparian vegetation, forest edges, clearings beside mature trees and areas near standing or flowing water. Bats may forage along open edges and beneath or beside the vegetation canopy.

Insects can be concentrated around water, drainage lines, lights and flowering or fruiting vegetation. Artificial lighting can also change bat movements and prey availability.

  • Creek lines, lagoons and drainage channels.
  • Edges of forest remnants and clearings.
  • Open tracks and easements beside mature vegetation.
  • Areas with high insect activity after rain or during warm evenings.

Foraging habitat: Surveying for activity

Use Anabat or a similar detector to identify periods and locations of bat activity. Record weather, time, habitat, nearby water and lighting, because these factors affect detections.

A detector record shows activity, but does not by itself confirm a roost or a maternity colony. Combine acoustic work with emergence watches and inspections of likely structures.

Main survey tool: Anabat or similar ultrasonic detector

Useful complementary methods: Emergence watches, harp traps, mist nets and roost inspections

  • Deploy detectors near hollows, water and vegetation edges.
  • Conduct dusk emergence watches at suspected roosts.
  • Use harp traps or mist nets only where appropriate, authorised and supervised by experienced personnel.
  • Avoid drawing bats towards active work areas with unnecessary lighting.

Foraging habitat: Construction controls

Retain vegetation links between roosts and foraging areas where practicable. Avoid placing bright lights at roost entrances, under bridges or across narrow movement corridors.

Keep spoil, dust, noise and machinery away from water edges and retained vegetation where these could reduce insect activity or block access.

  • Use directional, low spill lighting.
  • Maintain access to retained roosts and nearby vegetation.
  • Stage clearing so bats can continue to use unaffected habitat.
  • Inspect temporary structures and materials before moving them.

Breeding habitat: Breeding timing

The Forest Pipistrelle is a colonial breeder. Most microbats give birth to one pup a year in the warmer months, usually spring to late summer, so a roost that appears quiet at another time can become a maternity site.

For northern Australian projects, treat spring to late summer as the main period when maternity roosts may be occupied. Local conditions can alter timing, so use local bat advice and recent observations when setting work windows.

Pregnant or lactating females, dependent pups and juvenile bats are strong evidence of a maternity roost.

Typical microbat breeding period: Warmer months, usually spring to late summer

Typical litter: Usually one pup per year

  • Plan intrusive roost works outside the likely maternity period where practicable.
  • Do not assume a roost is empty because bats are not visible during a daytime inspection.
  • Use dusk emergence observations and internal inspection methods that do not harm bats.

Breeding habitat: Breeding place features

Any roost where young are raised is a breeding place. This can include a tree hollow, fissure, loose bark, cave, mine, culvert, bridge cavity or building void.

A maternity roost may contain many females and young, or bats may move between nearby roost features. Treat shared roosts as more sensitive than an isolated day shelter.

  • Hollow-bearing trees with a protected internal chamber.
  • Warm, enclosed bridge, culvert or building cavities.
  • Caves, mines and rock fissures with a stable entrance.
  • Roosts close to water and connected vegetation.

Breeding habitat: Confirming a maternity roost

Use more than one line of evidence. A roost-tree inspection with an endoscope or pole camera can identify bats and pups, but equipment must be used carefully and only where it will not injure or trap animals.

An emergence watch can confirm regular use and indicate the approximate number of bats. Acoustic monitoring can show activity before and after the watch, but cannot alone confirm pups.

  • Pregnant or lactating females observed or captured by an experienced team.
  • Pups or dependent young observed in the roost.
  • Repeated emergence from the same tree or structure.
  • Droppings, staining, odour and calling concentrated at one entrance.

Breeding habitat: Managing breeding habitat

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 disturbing a suspected breeding place.

Use a fauna spotter catcher and appropriately qualified bat ecologist for clearing, exclusion or relocation decisions. Do not seal an occupied maternity roost.

  • Set aside the roost while its status is assessed.
  • Use exclusion devices only outside the maternity season and under an approved method.
  • Plan replacement habitat before removing a confirmed roost.
  • Keep records of inspections, approvals, exclusions and follow up monitoring.

Sheltering habitat: Natural shelters

The Forest Pipistrelle may shelter in both natural and built structures. Species specific sheltering preferences are poorly known, so retain a range of suitable cavities and inspect all enclosed features before disturbance.

Potential natural roosts include tree hollows, fissures, loose bark, dead limbs, caves and mine workings. Hollows with narrow entrances and protected internal chambers can be difficult to inspect from the ground.

Retain mature and partly dead trees where safe to do so. A tree without obvious external activity can still contain a bat roost.

  • Hollow-bearing live trees.
  • Standing dead trees where safety allows.
  • Loose bark and split limbs.
  • Rock fissures, caves and old mines.

Sheltering habitat: Built structures

Microbats can use culverts, bridges, buildings, roof spaces, wall cavities and gaps around joints or cladding. Inspect both the external entrance and the internal space before demolition, relining or sealing.

Bridges and culverts can provide stable shelter but may also be exposed to vibration, lighting, flooding and repeated maintenance.

  • Culvert joints and headwalls.
  • Bridge beams, expansion joints and deck cavities.
  • Roof spaces, eaves and wall cavities.
  • Abandoned buildings and other enclosed structures.

Sheltering habitat: Roost inspection and exclusion

Use an endoscope or pole camera where a cavity can be inspected safely. Combine this with droppings checks, acoustic monitoring and an emergence watch.

If exclusion is required, use a one way device outside the maternity season and confirm that bats can leave safely. Do not exclude bats into a building, tree or structure where they could be trapped.

  • Inspect before felling, demolition, pruning, bridge works or cavity sealing.
  • Use soft felling or two stage felling for suitable hollow-bearing trees.
  • Recheck excluded structures before closing or removing them.
  • Stop work if bats, pups or an occupied roost are found.

Sheltering habitat: Replacement roosts

Bat boxes can supplement, but do not automatically replace, a natural roost. They should be installed before roost removal where practicable, in suitable locations and with follow up checks.

A box does not make it acceptable to remove an occupied maternity roost without the required approvals and controls.

  • Retain multiple natural roost features wherever possible.
  • Place boxes away from excessive heat, flooding, bright lighting and disturbance.
  • Record box location, orientation and inspection results.
  • Monitor use over time rather than assuming immediate occupation.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony looks like

A colony or maternity roost is a shared shelter used by several bats, often during breeding. The exact colony size and roost fidelity of the Forest Pipistrelle are poorly documented, but any shared roost can hold a large proportion of the local population and should be treated with care.

A colony may be hidden inside a hollow tree, behind loose bark, in a cave, mine, culvert, bridge cavity or building void. From the outside, the only signs may be repeated emergence at dusk, droppings below an entrance, staining, odour or faint social calls.

Some colonies may use more than one nearby roost. A site with modest activity on one night should not be dismissed if the feature is suitable and repeated use is suspected.

Species specific colony size: Not well established

Practical assumption: Treat any shared roost as a sensitive colony site until assessed

  • Several bats emerging over a period at dusk.
  • Repeated activity at one entrance or a small group of nearby entrances.
  • Pups, juvenile bats, pregnant females or lactating females.
  • Accumulated droppings or polished surfaces around a cavity.

Colonies and breeding places: Maternity roosts

A maternity roost is a breeding place where females gather and raise young. It may be warmer, more sheltered or more stable than a temporary day roost.

Queensland transport guidance treats microbats as colonial breeders during the breeding season. Any roost where young are raised is a breeding place.

  • Look for pregnant or lactating females.
  • Look for pups or dependent young.
  • Use emergence watches to identify repeated use.
  • Avoid opening or sealing a cavity during the maternity period.

Colonies and breeding places: Site fidelity and movement

The degree of site fidelity for the Forest Pipistrelle is not well documented. Some microbats return to established roosts, while others use a network of nearby shelters.

Do not assume that bats will relocate successfully if a roost is removed. Preserve alternative cavities and maintain access to surrounding vegetation and water.

  • Survey nearby trees and structures, not just the feature proposed for removal.
  • Check the same roost on more than one occasion where the project allows.
  • Record emergence direction and nearby commuting habitat.
  • Keep replacement roosts available before disturbance.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

Removing one shared roost can displace many bats at once. During breeding, disturbance can separate mothers and young, trap dependent pups or cause bats to abandon a suitable site.

In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires a high risk species management program. Engage the relevant regulator and qualified practitioners before works begin.

  • Use a staged or soft approach for hollow-bearing tree removal.
  • Schedule exclusion outside the maternity season.
  • Maintain a no work area around confirmed breeding places until the management approach is approved.
  • Provide bat boxes only as supplementary habitat, not as an automatic replacement for a natural colony site.

Threats: Clearing hollow-bearing trees

The main worksite risks are loss of roosts, disturbance of maternity colonies and disruption of movement between roosts and feeding areas. The species is least concern, but local impacts can still be significant where suitable roosts are scarce.

Removing mature, dead or partly dead trees can destroy day roosts and maternity roosts. Felling can also injure bats that remain inside a hollow.

Use pre-clearing inspections, two stage or soft felling and a fauna spotter catcher where hollow-bearing trees cannot be retained.

  • Map and retain hollow-bearing trees where practicable.
  • Inspect cavities with an endoscope or pole camera.
  • Section fell or lower suitable limbs carefully rather than dropping them.
  • Leave felled hollow limbs undisturbed for inspection before disposal.

Threats: Demolition and structure works

Demolition, bridge repairs, culvert replacement, roof work and cavity sealing can remove roosts or trap bats. Vibration, noise and lighting can also cause abandonment.

Inspect structures before work and use a staged method that allows bats to leave safely.

  • Check bridge joints, culverts, roof spaces and wall cavities.
  • Use exclusion devices only outside the maternity season.
  • Do not seal a cavity until it has been confirmed empty.
  • Keep an access point open until the approved exclusion period is complete.

Threats: Lighting, noise and movement barriers

Bright lighting at roost entrances can prevent bats from emerging and can alter commuting routes. Continuous noise, vibration and machinery near a roost can cause disturbance.

Maintain dark movement corridors between roosts, water and vegetation where practicable.

  • Use shielded, targeted lighting with minimal spill.
  • Avoid lighting directly into hollows, bridge cavities and culverts.
  • Keep stockpiles and temporary fencing from blocking flight paths.
  • Schedule high disturbance works away from confirmed maternity activity.

Threats: Fire, habitat loss and poor relocation

Fire, removal of riparian vegetation, loss of connected forest and disturbance of caves or mines can reduce available roost and foraging habitat.

Relocation without a suitable alternative can fail, particularly if nearby roosts are already occupied. Bat boxes can help supplement habitat but require suitable placement and monitoring.

  • Retain a network of natural roosts, water points and vegetation links.
  • Protect caves, mines and rock fissures from unauthorised entry or filling.
  • Prepare replacement roosts before approved removal works.
  • Monitor retained and replacement roosts after construction.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The Forest Pipistrelle is poorly known in the field. Use several complementary methods, because a quiet detector result does not show that a tree, culvert or building is unused.

Map records, remnant vegetation, hollow-bearing trees, riparian corridors, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and buildings before planning works.

Treat connected vegetation and areas with many potential roosts as higher priority habitat. Check whether the site is in Queensland or the Northern Territory and confirm current permit requirements.

Plan surveys around the warmer months. Most microbats give birth to one pup a year, usually from spring to late summer. The seasonal movements of the Forest Pipistrelle are not well established.

Likely breeding period for microbats: Usually spring to late summer

Typical litter size for microbats: Usually one pup

  • Review previous fauna records and aerial imagery.
  • Identify all structures and trees that could provide roosting or maternity habitat.
  • Confirm whether the proposed action may affect any other protected matter requiring an EPBC Act referral.
  • Obtain advice from the relevant state agency before disturbing a suspected breeding place.

Survey methodology: 2. Acoustic and capture surveys

Use Anabat or a similar full spectrum detector along likely flyways, near hollow-bearing trees, at water and around structures. Record the detector settings, location, date, time, weather and files retained.

Where lawful and suitable, use harp traps or mist nets to confirm species identification. Trapping must be designed and supervised by appropriately trained and authorised personnel.

The Forest Pipistrelle can be difficult to distinguish from similar small bats using calls alone. Have recordings reviewed by a suitably experienced bat ecologist, and use a combination of call, morphology and, where necessary, genetic confirmation.

  • Survey during suitable weather, with low wind and no heavy rain.
  • Sample different habitat types and likely roost entrances.
  • Repeat surveys where results are negative but habitat is suitable or construction risk is high.
  • Release captured bats promptly at the capture site unless an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian directs otherwise.
  • Record species, sex, reproductive condition, capture location and release location.

Survey methodology: 3. Roost and emergence checks

Watch likely roosts from before sunset until activity has ceased. Record the number of bats emerging, direction of flight, time of first and last emergence, and any return to the roost.

Inspect accessible hollows, fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and buildings without entering or disturbing animals unless authorised. An endoscope or pole camera can help assess hollow interiors.

A maternity roost is confirmed by pregnant or lactating females, pups, dependent young, or repeated use by females and young. A colony may be a group of bats using one cavity, structure or closely associated roosts. Colony size for the Forest Pipistrelle is not well documented, so do not assume that a small emergence represents the whole colony.

  • Complete emergence watches on more than one suitable night where the site may be cleared or disturbed.
  • Search for droppings, staining, smell, worn entry points, squeaking, bats visible in the cavity and repeated emergence activity.
  • Do not seal, fell or dismantle a potential roost until the assessment is complete.
  • Map the roost, nearby flight paths and any linked roost structures.
  • Treat any roost where young are raised as a breeding place.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and interpretation

Record negative results as carefully as positive results. Note the survey area, effort, equipment, weather, observers, access limitations and any factors that could reduce detection.

A colony may move between nearby roosts, and bats may remain inside during poor weather. Site fidelity is not well documented for this species, so repeated use should be assumed where suitable roost features remain.

Use the findings to classify each feature as a potential roost, occupied roost, maternity roost or breeding place. Set controls before work starts.

  • Photograph roost features from a safe distance.
  • Keep original acoustic files and field sheets with the project records.
  • State the confidence and limitations of the identification.
  • Escalate any suspected colony or maternity roost to the project ecologist before disturbance.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance, approvals and permits

Plan the work around roost protection rather than relying on rescue after clearing. Colonies need special care because a single breeding place can contain a large share of the local population, and pups cannot readily escape or relocate.

Retain occupied and potential roost trees, structures and connected vegetation wherever practicable. Redesign access, laydown areas and lighting where this avoids a breeding place.

In Queensland, treat the Forest Pipistrelle as a least concern colonial breeder. Tampering with its breeding place requires the high risk species management program pathway under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020. Confirm the current requirements with the Queensland Government before work.

Check state permits for fauna survey, trapping, handling, relocation, rehabilitation and disturbance. The species is not listed as threatened under Australian conservation categories, but other protected matters may still require an EPBC Act referral.

  • Obtain written approval for the management method before disturbing a suspected breeding place.
  • Nominate the person responsible for fauna compliance on site.
  • Keep permits, approvals, maps and the fauna management plan at the work front.
  • Stop planning assumptions if a new colony or maternity roost is identified.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Pre-clearance survey and timing

Complete the pre-clearance survey close enough to the works to detect current use, while allowing time to change the method. Recheck features if works are delayed or conditions change.

Schedule removal of potential roosts outside the maternity season where practicable. For microbats, avoid disturbance while pups are dependent, usually during the warmer months from spring to late summer.

There is no reliable species-specific migration calendar for the Forest Pipistrelle. Use local survey results and advice from a bat ecologist when setting the work window.

  • Inspect every hollow-bearing tree and all man-made structures within the disturbance footprint.
  • Use emergence watches and acoustic monitoring at features that cannot be confidently cleared by inspection alone.
  • Mark no-go areas and approved access routes before machinery arrives.
  • Reassess the timing if pregnant or lactating females, pups or dependent young are found.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Exclusion and retained habitat

Use exclusion devices only where the roost is not a maternity roost and the method has been approved. Install them outside the maternity season and confirm that bats can leave but cannot return.

Do not exclude bats from a cavity containing pups, dependent young or flightless bats. Do not block alternative exits unless a qualified ecologist has confirmed that the arrangement is safe.

Set a site-specific buffer around each roost or breeding place. The distance should reflect the species, roost type, activity, noise, vibration, lighting and the approved management plan.

  • Inspect exclusion devices after installation and before demolition or clearing.
  • Maintain retained vegetation and dark flight paths around the roost.
  • Remove exclusion devices only after the ecologist confirms that the roost is no longer occupied or that the approved method allows removal.
  • Use bat boxes as supplementary habitat, not as an automatic replacement for a natural maternity roost.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Crew induction and equipment

Give all workers a short fauna induction before clearing. Show photographs of the Forest Pipistrelle and likely roost features, and explain the stop-work process.

Use a two-stage or soft-felling method for hollow-bearing trees where removal is approved. The method should allow inspection and safe escape before the tree is sectioned or moved.

Make sure the spotter catcher has authority to stop work and direct machinery away from fauna or habitat.

  • Mark exclusion zones with visible bunting and signs.
  • Brief operators on staged felling, access restrictions and lighting controls.
  • Keep a torch, gloves, cloth bags, a secure container and contact details for the fauna ecologist available where approved handling may be required.
  • Do not allow untrained workers to handle bats.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in small, controlled stages and keep a trained fauna spotter catcher at the work front. Stop immediately when a bat, colony, roost or breeding place is found.

Clear non habitat areas first, then work towards retained habitat. Fell approved hollow-bearing trees in stages, using soft felling or two-stage felling where specified.

Pause after each staged action to inspect the tree, cavity, cut sections and ground. Allow bats time to leave before further handling or movement.

Keep machinery, workers and lighting outside marked buffers until the spotter catcher confirms that the next step is safe.

  • Check hollows, loose bark, fissures and cut limbs before they are chipped, buried or removed.
  • Use a pole camera or endoscope where safe and authorised.
  • Avoid dropping hollow limbs onto other retained trees or blocking known exits.
  • Record each tree or structure cleared, retained or treated with an exclusion device.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop work response

The spotter catcher must stop work if a bat is found, if a colony emerges, or if a suspected roost or breeding place is exposed.

Keep people and machinery away from the feature. Do not seal the entrance, wash out the roost, move the structure or continue demolition until the fauna ecologist confirms the next action.

A breeding place requires the approved high risk Queensland management pathway where the work is in Queensland. Follow any permit conditions and notify the project manager and regulator when required.

  • Establish a temporary exclusion zone.
  • Photograph and map the feature without disturbing the bats.
  • Contact the fauna ecologist and relevant wildlife authority.
  • Wait for an approved decision on retention, exclusion, staged removal, relocation or work timing.
  • Record the species, numbers, life stage, reproductive condition and response taken.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and release

Only authorised and trained people may handle bats. Use clean, soft materials and minimise handling time.

Do not handle a bat by the wings, tail membrane or ears. Do not attempt to feed or treat an injured bat on site.

Release a healthy bat only under the approved method, normally close to the capture location and at a suitable time. A maternity colony or dependent young must not be split.

  • Place a contained bat in a quiet, shaded location while advice is obtained.
  • Keep bats separate from chemicals, dust, direct sun, noise and vibration.
  • Contact an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian for an injured or grounded bat.
  • Treat any bite or scratch as a medical exposure and follow workplace health procedures.
  • Record who handled the bat, where it was found, its condition and where it was transferred or released.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Daily records and communication

Maintain a daily fauna log at the work front. Good records allow the method to be adjusted before a small incident becomes a colony loss.

Report changes in roost use, repeated emergence, dead or injured bats, failed exclusion devices and any clearing outside the approved footprint.

  • Record date, time, location, weather and activity undertaken.
  • Record observer names, equipment used and photographs or acoustic files collected.
  • Track all stop-work events and clearance approvals.
  • Give the next shift a handover before work resumes.
  • Escalate non-compliance immediately to the project manager and fauna ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Finish each work area with a fauna check and a clear record of what happened. Follow-up is especially useful where a roost was retained, excluded or replaced.

Inspect the cleared area, felled sections, retained trees and nearby structures after work. Look for trapped, injured or displaced bats and signs that a retained roost has been damaged.

Repeat emergence observations or acoustic checks where the approved plan requires them, particularly after noisy works, demolition or changes to lighting.

Confirm that exclusion devices remain secure and that no bat is trapped inside a structure.

  • Search cut timber and hollow sections before disposal.
  • Check ground, machinery and stockpiles for grounded bats.
  • Remove temporary hazards such as open pipes, uncovered tanks and unsecured netting.
  • Document the condition of retained roosts and buffers.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and notifications

Prepare a completion report that links each fauna observation to the relevant map, permit condition and management action. Report any breach, injury, death or unexpected breeding place through the approved notification pathway.

Provide the landholder and asset manager with the location and management requirements for retained roosts and replacement structures.

  • Include survey effort, weather, results, clearing dates and methods used.
  • List all bats captured, relocated, transferred or released.
  • Attach photographs, acoustic records, trap records and fauna logs.
  • Record outstanding actions, responsible people and due dates.
  • Notify the relevant Queensland or Northern Territory agency where required by approval or permit.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and monitoring

Monitor relocated or released bats according to the approved method. A relocation is not complete until the animal is released safely and the receiving habitat is checked.

Use repeated observations, acoustic monitoring or emergence watches where a colony, maternity roost or important retained roost was affected. Set the duration and frequency with the project ecologist and approval conditions.

  • Check for return to the original roost where exclusion was used.
  • Inspect replacement boxes or roost structures for occupancy and defects.
  • Record evidence of use, including bats, droppings, staining and emergence activity.
  • Do not open or alter a roost structure during monitoring unless authorised.
  • Review monitoring results before removing buffers or ending controls.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every unexpected bat finding, injury, mortality, failed exclusion and breach. Look for changes to the survey method, timing, induction or supervision that would prevent a repeat.

Update the fauna management plan before the next clearing stage or project phase.

  • Hold a short review with the spotter catcher, supervisor, ecologist and operator.
  • Identify the direct cause and any contributing site conditions.
  • Update maps, risk controls and toolbox material.
  • Share the corrective actions with all crews and contractors.
  • Close the action only when the responsible person has recorded the outcome.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore roost and foraging habitat

Retain natural roosts and connected vegetation wherever possible. Restoration should provide linked shelter, foraging habitat and safe movement routes, rather than relying on a single artificial box.

Retain hollow-bearing trees, mature trees, loose bark, fissures and fallen timber where they do not create a safety risk. Protect retained trees from soil compaction, root damage, fire and machinery.

Replant locally appropriate native vegetation to reconnect retained roosts with feeding areas, riparian vegetation and water. The habitat requirements of the Forest Pipistrelle are not well documented, so use local reference vegetation and advice from the ecologist.

  • Protect natural hollows and cavities during earthworks and landscaping.
  • Replace removed vegetation with a diverse structure of groundcover, shrubs and trees where appropriate.
  • Leave suitable fallen timber where it is safe and consistent with the approved rehabilitation plan.
  • Control weeds without contaminating roosts, water or bat boxes.
  • Prevent erosion and maintain natural drainage.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Bat boxes and artificial roosts

Use bat boxes, artificial nest sites or other roost structures only where they suit the local bat community and the approved design. They are supplementary measures and should not be treated as an equivalent replacement for an occupied maternity roost without specific approval.

Place structures where bats can approach freely, with suitable shelter and a dark flight path. Use more than one design or location only where the ecologist considers this appropriate for the site.

  • Install structures before the natural roost is removed where practicable.
  • Use durable materials and secure fixings suitable for local weather and fire conditions.
  • Keep an inspection and maintenance register for every structure.
  • Check for occupancy without opening or disturbing a maternity roost.
  • Replace damaged, unsafe or weathered structures under ecological supervision.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Water, lighting and site design

Provide clean water sources where they are part of the approved habitat design and can be maintained safely. Keep water edges accessible and free from entangling netting.

Limit artificial light around roosts, vegetation corridors and water. Bats may avoid bright, exposed flight paths even when a roost remains available.

  • Use the lowest practical light level.
  • Direct lights away from roost entrances, tree canopies and water.
  • Use shielding, timers and motion controls where compatible with site safety.
  • Avoid creating isolated bright gaps between retained vegetation.
  • Keep drains, tanks and open pipes covered or fitted with fauna escape measures.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term management

Set a monitoring program that checks retained roosts, artificial structures, vegetation establishment, weeds, water and lighting. The frequency should reflect the risk and the approval conditions.

Use the results to adjust weed control, planting, lighting and structure maintenance. Keep the site manager informed when responsibility changes.

  • Map all retained and replacement roost structures in the asset register.
  • Inspect after major storms, fires, vandalism and construction changes.
  • Record bat use, maintenance actions and any mortality or disturbance.
  • Maintain connected vegetation as it grows and replace failed plantings.
  • Review the management approach with a bat ecologist when monitoring shows reduced use or new breeding activity.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Handover to the landholder

Provide a clear handover package so protection continues after construction. Include the location of roosts, buffers, boxes, lighting controls and maintenance responsibilities.

Explain that a colony or maternity roost may not be obvious outside the breeding season. Future repairs, pruning, demolition and clearing must be checked before they begin.

  • Give the landholder maps, photographs and approval conditions.
  • List contact details for the fauna ecologist and wildlife authority.
  • Mark no-go areas in maintenance plans and site systems.
  • Require a fauna check before future work near retained habitat.
  • Keep monitoring and incident records with the property or asset records.

Sources