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Gould's Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii)

Gould’s Wattled Bat is a small, widespread insectivorous microbat found across much of Australia, including urban and modified landscapes. It may roost or breed in hollow-bearing trees and buildings, so clearing and demolition can affect colonies and breeding places. It is generally least concern, but it is protected wildlife, and in Queensland it is a least concern colonial breeder requiring the higher risk species management program for interference with a breeding place.

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

Gould’s Wattled Bat breeds in Australia from autumn mating through spring and summer births. Timing varies with region, with southern bats hibernating over winter and northern bats remaining active year round.

Breeding mode and timing: A colonial breeder. Mating is recorded from March to July, with births mainly from November to January.

Litter size: Twins are common.

Gestation: Around three months, with delayed implantation reported. Exact timing can vary between regions.

Young and independence: Young remain dependent for about two to three months. They may remain attached to the mother during flight for about six weeks and are generally independent by about three months.

Breeding and roost sites: Breeding places may include tree hollows, buildings, ceilings, basements and, in some records, bird’s nests. Caves and burrows are not typical documented sites for this species.

Colonies and active breeding places: Female colonies have been recorded at 8 to 40 bats, and roosts are commonly around 30 bats. Groups of up to 200 have also been recorded. Regular roosts may be reused within a home range, although detailed site fidelity is poorly documented. A breeding place is confirmed by pregnant or lactating females, pups or other evidence of young being raised. Colonies need special care because one hollow or building roost can contain a substantial part of the local breeding group. Queensland classifies this species as a least concern colonial breeder, so tampering with a breeding place requires the applicable high risk species management program.

Field survey and mitigation: Use Anabat or similar acoustic detectors, emergence watches, and, where suitably authorised, harp traps or mist nets. Inspect hollow-bearing trees with an endoscope or pole camera. Avoid exclusion during the maternity period. For unavoidable tree removal, use staged or soft felling under a fauna spotter-catcher, with cuts at least 50 cm from the hollow and the roost section placed in nearby habitat at a similar height. Bat boxes can provide supplementary roosting habitat but do not replace retained natural hollows.

Timing can shift between years and regions, particularly between northern populations that remain active in winter and southern populations that hibernate, so confirm local roost use before clearing or exclusion.

  • Mating: Mating is recorded from March to July, with the strongest concentration in autumn and early winter.
  • Pregnancy and gestation: Pregnancy is recorded from July to November, with delayed implantation affecting the timing of development.
  • Births: Births are concentrated from November to January, with some regional variation.
  • Dependent young: Young are dependent from late spring into summer and generally become independent after about two to three months.
  • Seasonal activity and winter hibernation: The species is active year round in northern Australia, while southern populations may hibernate from May to late August or early September.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is during late pregnancy, births and the period when pups remain dependent in maternity roosts, especially from November to January and extending into February and March.

Identification: Appearance and measurements

Gould’s Wattled Bat is a distinctly two-coloured bat with fleshy lobes at the corners of the mouth. It is usually identified by a combination of appearance, measurements, roost location and call analysis.

The head and shoulders are blackish or dark brown, contrasting sharply with the brown body and underside. The ears are short and broad, and a fleshy lobe occurs near the corner of the mouth and on the lower lip.

Females are larger than males. Handle bats only when necessary and use appropriate protection because Australian Bat Lyssavirus is a serious zoonotic risk.

  • Adult forearm length: about 35 to 47 mm.
  • Tail length: about 40 to 50 mm.
  • Adult weight: about 10 to 20 g.
  • Head and body length: about 65 to 75 mm.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Gould’s Wattled Bat uses echolocation for navigation and foraging. It may produce high-pitched chirps while flying and catching insects. A bat that is handled may emit a continuous buzz.

Call identification using Anabat or a similar detector can help confirm occurrence and activity, but experienced analysis is needed where several microbat species occur together. The little pied bat, Chalinolobus picatus, is another wattled bat in north-west Victoria, so measurements and call analysis may be needed for reliable identification.

Identification: Field signs

Look for bats emerging from hollows, buildings, bridges or other enclosed roost spaces after sunset. Droppings below an entrance, dark staining around a crevice, worn entry edges, odour and audible bat activity can indicate use, but these signs are not diagnostic on their own.

A high-pitched flight call heard at dusk can indicate microbat activity. Record the feature, location, time and number of bats seen, and have a fauna spotter catcher or ecologist inspect potential roosts safely.

  • Do not enter a hollow, roof space or confined structure without a suitable inspection method and risk assessment.
  • Do not treat an apparently quiet hollow as vacant. Bats may remain deep inside a roost during the day or during torpor.

Distribution: Australian range

Gould’s Wattled Bat has one of the broadest distributions of Australian bats. It occurs across a wide range of climates and land uses, including towns and cities.

The species is mapped in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. It is widespread across mainland Australia, although it is less common or absent near the far north of Queensland, including Cape York Peninsula.

  • Records occur in forests, woodlands, mallee, shrubland, open areas and urban landscapes.
  • Northern populations can be active throughout the year.
  • Southern populations may hibernate during winter, generally from May to late August or early September.

Distribution: What the range means on a site

A lack of recent records does not show that a site is unused. The species can occur in fragmented landscapes and may use isolated old trees, buildings and artificial roost features.

Treat hollow-bearing trees, mature woodland remnants, wooded road reserves and suitable buildings as potential bat habitat during pre-clearing surveys.

  • Check local records and habitat mapping before works begin.
  • Inspect potential roosts within the clearing footprint and around connected habitat.
  • Consider nearby trees and structures that may be used as alternative roosts if a site is disturbed.

Habitat: Vegetation and landscape features

Gould’s Wattled Bat uses a broad range of habitats, from dense and open woodland to mallee, tall shrubland, farmland edges and urban areas. On works sites, mature trees and enclosed structures are often the most useful habitat clues.

Look for old trees with hollows, loose bark, cracks or broken limbs, especially where woodland or forest remains connected to other vegetation. The species has also been recorded in mallee, tall shrubland, open areas and many urban settings.

Wooded drainage lines, riparian vegetation, road reserves and retained vegetation corridors may provide commuting routes between roosts and feeding areas.

  • Dense woodland and open woodland.
  • Mallee and tall shrubland.
  • Forest remnants and mature isolated trees.
  • Urban trees, parks and building precincts.

Habitat: Features to check before clearing

Inspect hollow-bearing trees, dead standing trees, large limbs, bird nests and buildings. A tree can provide roosting habitat even when no bat is visible from the ground.

Also check culverts, bridges and other structures with cracks, lift holes or enclosed spaces. General microbat guidance recommends retaining roost features where practicable and limiting artificial light near roosts and movement routes.

  • Mark potential habitat trees before machinery enters the site.
  • Keep machinery, spoil and temporary lighting away from inspected roost features.
  • Maintain vegetated links where clearing would otherwise create a wide gap.

Foraging habitat: Food and hunting behaviour

Gould’s Wattled Bat is an aerial hunter that generally forages below the tree canopy. It catches night-flying insects and can travel across a home range of up to 15 km.

The diet is mostly insects, including moths and beetles. Other recorded prey include crickets, cockroaches, caterpillars, katydids, ants and flies. In some areas, seasonal prey such as Bogong moths can be important.

The bat emerges soon after sunset and uses echolocation while flying and feeding. It is a moderately fast aerial flyer.

Foraging habitat: Foraging features on development sites

Retained woodland edges, tree lines, riparian corridors, dams and other insect-rich areas may be used for feeding. Openings between roosts and feeding areas can also be used for movement.

Avoid unnecessary clearing of vegetation around roosts. Keep lighting low and directed away from tree lines, waterways, roost entrances and commuting routes.

  • Minimise the width of linear clearings.
  • Avoid placing bright lights beneath bridges or in microbat underpasses.
  • Use the lowest practical light intensity, shielding, timers or sensors and warmer-coloured lighting where lighting cannot be avoided.

Breeding habitat: Breeding period

Gould’s Wattled Bat is a colonial breeder. Females commonly give birth to twins, and a breeding place may contain many females and dependent young even when few bats are visible during the day.

Mating occurs from about March to July. In Victoria, pregnancy is generally recorded from September to November, lactation from November to January, and dependent young from January to March. Across Australia, births are generally reported from November to January, with timing varying by location.

Young become independent at about two to three months. A maternity roost should be treated as occupied until young are independent and the roost has been confirmed inactive.

  • Potentially sensitive period: spring to late summer, when young are raised.
  • In cooler southern areas, avoid disturbance during winter torpor as well as during the maternity period.
  • Confirm local timing with a suitably qualified ecologist before setting a clearing window.

Breeding habitat: What counts as a breeding place

Any roost where young are raised is a breeding place. Likely features include tree hollows, buildings, ceilings, basements, bird nests and other enclosed spaces that protect females and young.

A maternity roost can be confirmed by finding pregnant or lactating females, pups or dependent young. Emergence observations, internal inspection with an endoscope or pole camera, and targeted trapping can support confirmation.

  • Use acoustic detectors to identify activity and likely roost areas.
  • Conduct emergence watches at dusk where safe and appropriate.
  • Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved survey design and by suitably trained personnel.
  • Do not seal or exclude a roost while young may still be inside.

Sheltering habitat: Natural and built roosts

During the day, Gould’s Wattled Bat shelters in enclosed spaces that provide darkness and protection. Roosts can occur in natural tree features, buildings and some built structures used by microbats generally.

Tree hollows in old trees are important roost features. The species can also use bird nests, ceilings and basements of buildings. General microbat roosts may occur in fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts and bridges, so these features should be checked where present.

A roost may be occupied by a group, by females during the maternity period, by males alone or by bats of more than one species.

  • Hollow-bearing live trees and dead standing trees.
  • Broken limbs, fissures and loose bark.
  • Roof and wall spaces, ceilings and basements.
  • Culverts, bridges and other enclosed infrastructure.

Sheltering habitat: Survey and exclusion practice

Inspect likely cavities from the ground first. Where safe, use an endoscope, pole camera, cherry picker or tree-climbing equipment. Acoustic surveys and dusk emergence watches can identify use that is not visible from the ground.

If a building roost must be closed, use a one-way bat sleeve or similar exclusion device outside the maternity season and outside periods of torpor. Permanently close the entry only after all bats have left.

  • Do not exclude between October and February where dependent young may be inside.
  • Do not exclude from May to September where bats may be torpid in cooler areas.
  • Stop work immediately if bats are found during felling or demolition.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher for pre-clearance, roost checks and any required relocation.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony or maternity roost looks like

Colonies are groups of bats sharing a roost, particularly during breeding. Gould’s Wattled Bat commonly roosts in groups of around 30, but groups can be smaller or larger, and records include groups of up to 200.

A colony may occupy one tree hollow, several connected hollows, a building cavity or another enclosed roost. Females can gather in a maternity roost while males roost alone or with other species.

The outside of a roost may show little evidence. Bats can remain deep in a hollow during the day, and a small entrance does not indicate a small colony.

  • Bats emerging soon after sunset from one feature or several nearby features.
  • Repeated acoustic activity around a hollow, building or bridge.
  • Droppings or staining below an entrance, combined with bat observations.
  • Pregnant or lactating females, pups or dependent young during inspection or trapping.

Colonies and breeding places: Colony size and site use

Typical groups are around 30 bats. Female colonies of 8 to 40 have been recorded, and groups of up to 200 are known. These figures should be used as an indication only, not as a limit for assessing risk.

Microbats may return to regular roosts within their home ranges. A roost that is empty during one inspection may be used at another time, so repeat checks and seasonal context matter.

  • Record the feature type, entrance, surrounding habitat and observed bat numbers.
  • Use more than one survey method where a potential maternity roost is present.
  • Assume nearby suitable hollows may also be part of the local roost network.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

A single breeding place can hold a substantial part of the local breeding population. Disturbance, exclusion, felling or demolition during the maternity period can trap young, separate mothers from pups or remove a roost used repeatedly.

In Queensland, Gould’s Wattled Bat is listed as least concern, colonial breeder. Tampering with its breeding place requires the higher risk species management program under the Nature Conservation, Animals, Regulation 2020, rather than the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

  • Plan clearing and demolition outside the local maternity period wherever possible.
  • Establish a marked buffer around an active breeding place and keep it in place until the roost is confirmed vacant.
  • Use two-stage or soft felling for a hollow-bearing tree where removal cannot be avoided.
  • Make cuts at least 50 cm from the roost feature, lower sections carefully and place the roost feature in nearby habitat at a similar height where directed by the fauna spotter catcher.

Threats: Loss of hollow-bearing trees

The main risks on works sites are loss of roosts, disturbance of colonies and loss of feeding habitat. Planning around the breeding cycle and retaining habitat features can substantially reduce these risks.

Clearing, forestry and removal of old trees can destroy day roosts and maternity hollows. A tree may remain occupied even when no bats are seen during a ground inspection.

Retain hollow-bearing trees wherever practicable. If removal is unavoidable, inspect the feature before works and use staged or soft felling under fauna spotter catcher supervision.

  • Mark hollow-bearing trees before clearing.
  • Inspect hollows with a camera or other suitable method.
  • Stop machinery if bats are found.
  • Relocate suitable roost sections into adjacent habitat when directed and feasible.

Threats: Building, bridge and infrastructure disturbance

Roof spaces, ceilings, basements, culverts and bridges can provide roosts. Demolition, repairs, sealing gaps or installing lights can displace bats or kill animals trapped inside.

Retain cracks, lift holes and other roost features where possible. Use one-way exclusion devices only when no dependent young or torpid bats are present.

  • Complete a roost assessment before demolition or structural repairs.
  • Do not permanently close an entry until emergence checks show that bats have left.
  • Avoid lighting roost entrances and microbat underpasses.
  • Keep a fauna spotter catcher present during high-risk works.

Threats: Habitat clearing and fragmentation

Clearing for agriculture, forestry, housing and construction removes roost trees and insect-producing vegetation. Wide linear clearings can interrupt movement between roosts and feeding areas, particularly along wooded corridors and waterways.

Keep clearing widths as narrow as practicable and retain connected vegetation around roosts, drainage lines and other likely movement routes.

  • Protect mature trees outside the direct clearing footprint.
  • Retain woodland edges and vegetated links.
  • Avoid unnecessary clearing near waterways and known foraging areas.
  • Use local records and acoustic activity to refine habitat protection.

Threats: Light, chemicals and handling

Artificial light can reduce the suitability of roost entrances, foraging areas and commuting routes. Insecticides can affect Gould’s Wattled Bat directly and can also reduce its insect prey.

Bats should not be handled unless necessary. Any handling, capture or relocation must follow permit conditions, hygiene procedures and fauna handling requirements.

  • Use the lowest practical lighting level and shield light spill.
  • Prefer warmer lighting, timers or sensors where lighting is required.
  • Avoid spraying insecticides near retained roost and foraging habitat.
  • Use appropriate personal protection and lyssavirus precautions when handling bats.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Gould’s Wattled Bat is widespread, but it can be difficult to detect when roosting in hollows, buildings or other enclosed spaces. Use several survey methods together, and arrange specialist advice where a potential maternity roost or colony may be affected.

Map hollow-bearing trees, old woodland, riparian corridors, buildings, bridges, culverts and other structures that could provide roosts. Include nearby habitat that may be used for foraging or commuting.

Review previous records, local environmental databases, planning approvals and aerial imagery. Give particular attention to large old trees, retained vegetation and buildings with roof or wall gaps.

Known roost types: Tree hollows, buildings, ceilings, basements, bird’s nests, and potentially other enclosed structures used by microbats.

Recorded group sizes: Usually around 30 bats, female colonies of 8 to 40, and groups of up to 200 have been recorded.

  • Record the location, condition and connectivity of potential roost habitat.
  • Check whether the proposal may affect a protected breeding place, a threatened ecological community or another matter of national environmental significance.
  • Identify landholder, local government, state and Commonwealth approval requirements before field works begin.

Survey methodology: 2. Acoustic and activity surveys

Deploy Anabat or similar full spectrum or zero crossing detectors at potential roosts, along habitat edges, near waterways and on likely commuting routes. Use more than one detector where the site contains several habitat features.

Survey during suitable weather, with low wind and no heavy rain. Record start and finish times, temperature, wind, rain, moon conditions, detector settings and any nearby artificial lighting.

Treat call analysis as evidence of bat activity, not proof that a particular tree or structure is a maternity roost. Confirm important roosts with direct inspection or emergence observations.

  • Run detectors through the first part of the night and, where needed, for consecutive nights during the activity season.
  • Target late spring to summer when females may be pregnant, lactating or caring for young.
  • In southern areas, consider reduced winter activity and hibernation from May to late August or early September when planning survey timing.

Survey methodology: 3. Roost and colony checks

Complete emergence watches at trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and other likely roosts. Start before sunset and continue until activity has clearly finished or the approved survey period is complete.

Inspect accessible hollows, roof spaces and cavities with an endoscope or pole camera. Do not insert equipment into a hollow if this may injure bats or disturb a maternity roost.

Use harp traps or mist nets only under the direction of an appropriately experienced and authorised bat ecologist. Follow animal ethics, welfare and permit conditions.

  • Look for bats, pups, lactating females, staining, droppings, scratch marks, insect remains, audible chittering and repeated use of an entrance.
  • Record emergence counts, entry and exit points, species identifications, photographs, call files and the condition of each potential roost.
  • Use more than one survey method where a decision may affect a hollow-bearing tree, colony or breeding place.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey interpretation and records

A maternity roost is confirmed by evidence such as pregnant or lactating females, pups, dependent young, or repeated use by a breeding colony. An emergence count alone may show use without proving breeding.

Map each roost and its associated habitat. Record whether the roost is active, inactive, seasonal, occupied by other fauna, or unable to be inspected safely.

  • Record observer names, qualifications, permits, equipment, dates, times, weather and survey limitations.
  • Keep acoustic files, photographs, trap records, handling records and site maps with the project fauna file.
  • Have a qualified ecologist assess uncertain results before clearing or demolition proceeds.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals, permits and responsibilities

Plan the work around the roost, not just around the clearing footprint. Gould’s Wattled Bat is a colonial breeder, so the loss of one maternity roost can affect many local animals.

Check Commonwealth, Queensland and other relevant state requirements before disturbance. Obtain all approvals, licences and wildlife permits that apply to the species, the site and the proposed activity.

In Queensland, treat Gould’s Wattled Bat as a least concern colonial breeder. Tampering with its breeding place requires the high risk species management program pathway, where that pathway applies.

Seek an EPBC Act referral or approval if the action may significantly affect a listed matter or another matter protected under the Act. Do not assume that a least concern listing removes approval obligations.

  • Nominate the project ecologist and fauna spotter catcher in the construction environmental management plan.
  • Keep permit conditions, approved methods, contact details and stop work procedures at the work front.
  • Confirm any state based permit requirements for capture, handling, exclusion, relocation, demolition or tree removal.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and timing

Retain occupied trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and other roost structures wherever practicable. Redesign the work area, access route or construction method where this avoids a colony or maternity roost.

Plan clearing outside the local maternity period. Microbat breeding generally occurs in the warmer months, and young are commonly present from late spring through summer. Gould’s Wattled Bat births are commonly reported from November to January, but timing varies across Australia.

In southern areas, also avoid disturbance during winter torpor where practicable. Use local survey results and advice from the project ecologist to set the work window.

  • Do not rely on a calendar alone. Confirm that young are absent before exclusion or removal.
  • Avoid night works near roost entrances and minimise noise, vibration and lighting around retained roosts.
  • Retain dark commuting routes and avoid light spill into roosts, feeding habitat and waterway corridors.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Buffers, exclusion and pre-clearance

Set a site specific exclusion buffer around each active roost or breeding place. The ecologist should define the buffer using the roost structure, access requirements, noise, vibration, lighting and the risk of collapse or falling limbs.

Do not seal a roost until the ecologist confirms that all bats, including dependent young, have left. Use a one way bat sleeve or another approved exclusion device only outside the maternity period and outside likely torpor conditions.

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before work. Recheck hollows, buildings, cavities and other features that could not be inspected during the first survey.

  • Mark buffers with flagging, fencing or barricades that are visible to operators and machinery.
  • Use an endoscope, pole camera, elevated work platform or tree climber where this can be done safely and lawfully.
  • Use two stage or soft felling for an occupied or potentially occupied hollow-bearing tree.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and equipment

Induct every worker, operator and subcontractor before entering the clearing area. Explain the species’ appearance, colony risk, no-go areas and the authority of the fauna spotter catcher to stop work.

Make suitable equipment available before clearing starts. This may include radios, barricades, calico bags, gloves, head torches, pole cameras, endoscopes, ladders, first aid equipment and approved temporary holding containers.

  • Tell workers never to handle a bat, open a roost or enter a roof space without authorisation.
  • Display the stop work contact and the wildlife carer or veterinarian pathway.
  • Require operators to check with the fauna spotter catcher before moving plant or cutting any marked tree.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Controlled clearing sequence

Clear in a controlled sequence and give bats a safe opportunity to leave. Stop work whenever an animal, colony or breeding place is found outside the approved method.

Start with low risk vegetation and work progressively toward retained habitat. Keep escape routes open and avoid isolating a roost from surrounding vegetation.

Use soft felling or two stage felling for hollow-bearing trees where approved. Fell limbs and trunks in sections, lower them carefully and keep the hollow opening intact where possible.

For soft felling, make cuts at least 50 cm from the roost feature when that method is required by the approved management plan. Relocate the roost section to adjacent habitat at a similar height, where safe and approved.

  • Use a fauna spotter catcher at the clearing front and keep the person visible to machinery operators.
  • Pause between stages to allow animals to leave and to permit inspection of exposed hollows.
  • Do not burn, chip or bury a hollow-bearing section until it has been inspected and cleared by the fauna spotter catcher.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop work and find procedure

The fauna spotter catcher has authority to stop work immediately if a bat, pup, colony, active breeding place or unapproved roost is found.

Protect the location from people, plant, weather and predators. Establish or extend a buffer and contact the project ecologist before work resumes.

  • If a maternity roost is found, leave the roost in place where possible and allow the breeding cycle to finish.
  • If a roost must be removed, obtain approval for the revised method before proceeding.
  • Record the species, number of animals, life stage, roost feature, photographs, location, action taken and people involved.
  • Do not chase bats from a roost or use smoke, chemicals, noise or destructive inspection methods.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and temporary care

Only authorised and trained people may capture or handle bats. Use appropriate personal protective equipment and follow permit, animal ethics and workplace health requirements.

Place a healthy bat in a breathable calico bag or approved container, keep it quiet and shaded, and arrange release at dusk at the approved location. Do not release an animal without ecological approval.

  • Do not handle bats with bare hands. Treat every bat as a potential source of Australian bat lyssavirus exposure.
  • Do not separate a pup from its mother unless directed by a veterinarian or experienced wildlife carer.
  • Record capture time, condition, sex where known, reproductive status, holding time, release location and release outcome.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured, dead or sick animals

Stop work around the animal and keep workers, machinery and pets away. Contact the project ecologist, veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer immediately.

Use a secure, ventilated container only if the authorised handler considers capture safe. Do not attempt treatment or give food or water unless directed by a veterinarian or wildlife carer.

  • Report bites or scratches immediately through the project health and safety procedure and seek urgent medical advice.
  • Record the incident, injury, suspected cause, photographs, handling details and destination.
  • Review the work method before restarting in the affected area.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that animals have not been trapped and that retained roosts remain suitable. Close out the work with clear records, photographs and corrective actions.

Inspect felled hollow sections, retained trees, buildings, stockpiles and the base of removed trees after each clearing stage. Check for live bats, pups, injured animals and accessible hollows.

Reinspect exclusion points and one way devices before they are removed or permanently sealed. Confirm that no bats remain inside the structure.

  • Complete a final walkover of the clearing footprint with the fauna spotter catcher.
  • Check adjacent habitat and relocated roost sections at dusk and during the following suitable survey period where required by the approval.
  • Record any signs of re-entry, displaced animals, mortality or damage to retained habitat.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a fauna clearance report for the site supervisor, project ecologist, regulator and approval holder. Include maps, photographs, survey results, roost decisions, incidents and release outcomes.

Report breaches, injured or dead bats, damage to a breeding place and unexpected colonies through the project approval and incident systems.

  • Record the dates and limits of each clearance stage.
  • Attach permits, spotter catcher notes, acoustic files, emergence counts, handling forms and wildlife carer or veterinarian records.
  • Update the site environmental register and close out corrective actions before demobilising the fauna team.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Monitoring relocated and retained roosts

Monitor relocated hollow sections and retained roost structures where the risk assessment or approval requires it. Use emergence watches, acoustic detectors, pole camera inspections and visual checks as appropriate.

Check that relocated sections remain stable, dry and accessible. Inspect for use by Gould’s Wattled Bat and other fauna without unnecessary disturbance.

  • Compare post-work activity with the pre-work baseline where a baseline was collected.
  • Monitor during the local active season and repeat after major storms, fire, flooding or construction vibration.
  • Leave monitoring devices and access arrangements in place only for the period approved by the land manager.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every unexpected bat record, failed exclusion, injury, mortality or roost disturbance with the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist.

Use the review to change the clearing sequence, buffer, lighting, exclusion timing, induction or supervision before the next work stage.

  • Share lessons with operators and subcontractors at the next pre-start meeting.
  • Update the fauna management plan and stop work procedure when field conditions differ from the approved method.
  • Retain the review in the project environmental records.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat and connectivity

Rehabilitation should restore roosting, foraging and commuting habitat, not just replace cleared trees. Gould’s Wattled Bat uses tree hollows and buildings, and may use bat boxes where suitable structures are installed and maintained.

Retain mature hollow-bearing trees wherever possible and protect them from machinery, soil compaction, fire and unnecessary lighting. Replace lost canopy with locally appropriate native trees and understorey plants.

Reconnect woodland patches, riparian vegetation and other dark movement routes. Prioritise plantings that will provide future hollows, insect habitat and shelter.

  • Control weeds without broad insecticide use near retained roosts and foraging habitat.
  • Use local native species suited to the soil, water regime and regional vegetation community.
  • Protect rehabilitated areas from grazing, vehicle access and repeated slashing until plants are established.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replace lost roost opportunities

Install bat boxes or other artificial roost structures only where a suitably qualified ecologist confirms that they suit the local site and the proposed species. Treat them as supplementary measures, not an automatic replacement for a mature hollow.

Place structures near retained vegetation and commuting routes, away from excessive heat, artificial light, flooding and disturbance. Use designs, materials and orientation recommended for local microbats.

  • Install boxes before roost removal where practicable, so animals have time to investigate them.
  • Use more than one suitable structure where a colony or several roost features have been lost, subject to the approved design and site constraints.
  • Inspect and maintain boxes safely, and keep records of occupancy, repairs and replacement dates.
  • Consider artificial nest or roost sites in buildings, bridges or culverts only where the structure can be managed for long term bat access and safety.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Manage food, water and lighting

Maintain native vegetation that supports moths, beetles and other flying insects. Retain waterway vegetation and avoid unnecessary clearing along riparian corridors.

Reduce artificial light at night around roosts, foraging areas and commuting routes. Where lighting is required for safety, use the lowest practical intensity, shielding, timers or sensors, low mounting and warmer light.

  • Do not light bat underpasses or direct light into roost entrances.
  • Prevent sediment, spills and pollutants from entering nearby water bodies.
  • Avoid routine insecticide use around restored habitat. Use targeted, non chemical weed control where practicable.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long term monitoring

Set monitoring objectives that match the impact, such as continued use of retained roosts, occupancy of bat boxes, activity along restored corridors and survival of planted vegetation.

Use emergence watches, acoustic detectors and periodic structure inspections. Record survey conditions and methods consistently so results can be compared over time.

  • Monitor at a frequency and duration set by the approval, risk assessment and project ecologist.
  • Remove or repair failed artificial structures and replace dead plantings during suitable seasons.
  • Review monitoring results with the land manager and adjust lighting, weeds, water management or habitat protection as needed.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Handover and maintenance

Provide the land manager with maps of retained and artificial roosts, access restrictions, maintenance requirements and emergency contacts.

Include roost protection in the site environmental management system and future maintenance plans.

  • Mark artificial roosts and retained hollow-bearing trees on the asset register.
  • Prevent pruning, demolition, painting, sealing or lighting changes that could block roost access without ecological review.
  • Keep records of inspections, repairs, occupancy and any future disturbance approvals.

Sources