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Large Forest Bat (Vespadelus darlingtoni)

The Large Forest Bat is a small insectivorous microbat found across forested parts of eastern and southern Australia. It uses tree hollows and sometimes buildings for shelter, so clearing, hollow-bearing tree removal and building works can affect roosting colonies. It is listed as least concern nationally, but it is protected and is a colonial breeder in Queensland, where interference with 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

Large Forest Bats breed in the warmer months. In Tasmania, births are recorded in late spring to early summer, while the broader microbat pattern extends from spring to late summer and may vary between regions.

Breeding mode: Live-bearing mammal. Most microbats produce one pup each year, and the Large Forest Bat produces a single young at a time.

Litter size: One pup.

Breeding timing: Late spring to early summer is recorded for Tasmanian bats. For Australian microbats generally, births usually occur from spring to late summer.

Gestation or incubation: Not recorded.

Weaning, fledging and maturity: Species-specific weaning and age at maturity are not recorded. By midsummer, most Tasmanian bats are reported to be weaned and foraging independently, but this is not confirmed specifically for the Large Forest Bat.

Breeding places and colonies: Maternity colonies may occupy hollows in old eucalypts. Smaller colonies can use buildings. Recorded colonies include up to 60 bats, while another Victorian account reports up to 6 females in a colony. Site fidelity is not recorded.

Recognising and protecting an active breeding place: Confirm maternity use through pregnant or lactating females, pups, repeated emergence activity, and inspection of hollows or structures. Acoustic detectors, emergence watches, harp traps or mist nets, and an endoscope or pole camera can assist. Avoid disturbing occupied maternity roosts, and retain hollow-bearing trees where practicable. Use two-stage or soft felling for hollow-bearing trees, and only install exclusion devices outside the maternity season. Bat boxes are a supplementary measure, not a replacement for existing roosts.

Timing can shift between years and regions, so confirm local roost use and breeding activity before clearing, tree removal or exclusion works.

  • Breeding and births: Births are expected mainly in the warmer months, with late spring to early summer recorded for Tasmanian bats.
  • Dependent young: Dependent young may be present through the warmer months, but the duration of dependence is not species-specific.
  • Night foraging and general activity: The species is nocturnal and feeds on insects from dusk, with reduced activity during winter hibernation.
  • Winter hibernation: Tasmanian bats hibernate over winter when insects are scarce, and may be vulnerable to disturbance when torpid or hibernating.
  • Maternity colony and roost protection: Hollow trees and occupied buildings may support breeding colonies during the warmer months, so clearing and exclusion need seasonal planning.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk is from spring to summer, when maternity roosts may contain pups and dependent young.

Identification: Appearance and measurements

The Large Forest Bat is the largest species in the genus Vespadelus. It is a small, dark-coloured bat that can be difficult to identify reliably in flight, especially where several forest microbat species occur together.

Fur is dark grey to dark brown all over, sometimes with lighter tips. The species is about 40 to 60 mm long and weighs about 6 g.

It has a forearm length of about 35 mm. Despite its common name, it is approximately the weight of a 10 cent coin.

Body length: 40 to 60 mm

Forearm: About 35 mm

Weight: About 6 g

  • Largest species of Vespadelus in Tasmania.
  • Flight is less manoeuvrable than that of some other bats described from the same region.
  • Dark fur, with no strongly contrasting markings recorded in the field information used here.

Identification: Calls and similar species

The Large Forest Bat uses echolocation to navigate and catch insects in darkness. Species-level identification from echolocation calls alone can be difficult, so call analysis should be supported by suitable reference libraries, habitat assessment and, where necessary, trapping.

No reliable visual comparison with particular similar species is given here. Treat small dark Vespadelus bats as requiring expert confirmation when identification affects clearing or construction decisions.

  • Use Anabat or a similar full-spectrum detector for activity surveys.
  • Record the detector type, location, weather, survey period and call identification confidence.
  • Use a harp trap or mist net only under appropriate permits, with trained personnel and animal welfare procedures.

Identification: Field signs

Direct sightings at dusk, repeated emergence from a hollow and consistent detector activity near a structure can indicate use, but none of these signs confirms a maternity roost by itself.

Bats may leave little visible evidence. Droppings, staining or odour below a roost entrance can support an assessment, but absence of signs does not demonstrate that a hollow or building is unused.

  • Small dark droppings below a hollow, crevice, bridge or building entry point.
  • Polished or stained edges around a frequently used opening.
  • Bat calls or repeated flight activity at dusk.
  • Guano or a musky odour in roof spaces and enclosed roost structures.

Distribution: Australian range

The Large Forest Bat occurs in eastern and southern Australia. It has been mapped in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, with records spanning montane forests, southern forests and Tasmanian habitats from sea level upwards.

In the northern part of its range, the species is associated with montane areas above 300 m. It occurs at lower altitudes in southern parts of its range and can occur at sea level in Tasmania.

The species is recorded in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. Regional distribution can be patchy, so a site assessment should consider local records and the habitat present.

  • Southern New South Wales and Tasmania are noted for colonies in old eucalypt hollows.
  • Western Sydney and leafy bushland areas support records, while highly urbanised areas are less suitable.
  • Queensland records should be considered in the context of the species' colonial breeder status.

Distribution: Site-scale application

A lack of recent records does not show that a site is unused. Microbats can be difficult to detect, and roost use may change between seasons or between day roosts.

Before clearing, check local biodiversity databases, previous ecological reports and nearby hollow-bearing trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and other structures.

  • Map all potential roost features, not just confirmed roosts.
  • Consider connected forest, creek lines, old trees and nearby feeding habitat.
  • Plan surveys before vegetation removal or demolition, with additional checks if site conditions change.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Large Forest Bat is an Australian species. No overseas range is recognised for this profile.

Habitat: Vegetation and landform

Look for the Large Forest Bat in forested and wooded landscapes, particularly where mature trees, hollows and insect-rich edges are retained. It has been recorded in rainforest, eucalypt forest, subalpine woodland, alpine moors and other forest types.

Suitable habitat can include mature eucalypt forest, rainforest, subalpine woodland and alpine moorland. In Tasmania, the species occurs across all forest types.

On development sites, retain attention on older forest patches, sheltered gullies, creek lines, forest edges and connected canopy. The species can forage from the mid canopy to the understorey and through gaps in the canopy.

  • Old eucalypts with hollows or split limbs.
  • Rainforest and wet forest margins.
  • Subalpine and alpine vegetation with nearby sheltering trees.
  • Bushland adjoining farms, roads, housing and construction areas.

Habitat: Habitat assessment

Walk the site during the day and map mature trees, hollow-bearing limbs, dead trees, loose bark, rock fissures and built structures. Record canopy condition and links to surrounding forest.

Do not rely only on ground-level visibility. Small entrances may be hidden high in a trunk or limb, and a hollow may be occupied even when no bat is visible.

  • Use a pole camera or endoscope where a hollow can be inspected safely and without harm.
  • Record tree species, approximate size, hollow entrance position and condition.
  • Include nearby culverts, bridges, buildings, mines and caves in the broader roost assessment where present.

Foraging habitat: Foraging features

The Large Forest Bat is nocturnal and insectivorous. It becomes active around dusk and catches insects in flight, generally from the mid canopy to the understorey and through gaps in the canopy.

Retained forest, canopy gaps, edges and sheltered understorey can provide flight space and insect prey. The species avoids flying and hunting in very dense areas of forest, so a varied canopy structure may be useful.

Recorded prey includes moths, beetles, flies, bugs, lacewings, termites, ants and spiders.

  • Forest edges and canopy openings.
  • Mature trees with connected flight paths.
  • Riparian vegetation and understorey with abundant insects.
  • Areas near retained hollows and other day roosts.

Foraging habitat: Works site considerations

Clearing can remove both roost trees and feeding habitat. Retain connected vegetation where practicable, particularly between potential roosts and nearby forest or waterway corridors.

Avoid unnecessary night lighting near retained trees, roost entrances and movement paths. Lighting can alter bat activity and may reduce the value of otherwise suitable habitat.

  • Keep hollow-bearing trees and limbs where safe to do so.
  • Stage clearing so fauna can move away from active work areas.
  • Limit bright lighting directed at forest edges, tree hollows and bridges.
  • Schedule noisy or disruptive work with regard to confirmed roost use and the advice of the project ecologist.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

The Large Forest Bat is a colonial breeder. Maternity roosts are places where females gather and raise young, and they can be located in tree hollows or, in some cases, buildings and other structures.

The species produces a single young at a time. In Tasmania, bats give birth in late spring or early summer. More generally, microbats usually give birth to one pup during the warmer months, from spring to late summer.

The breeding period can vary with region and weather. A maternity roost should be treated as active when pregnant or lactating females, dependent pups or other clear evidence of young being raised is found.

  • Pregnant females entering a roost.
  • Lactating females returning to a roost.
  • Pups heard or seen inside a hollow, roof space or structure.
  • Repeated adult activity at one roost during the breeding season.

Breeding habitat: Confirming a maternity roost

Use a combination of methods. Acoustic monitoring can locate repeated activity, while emergence watches can show bats leaving a structure at dusk. These methods indicate use but do not, on their own, confirm that young are being raised.

A harp trap or mist net survey may help with identification and reproductive assessment when conducted by trained personnel under the required approvals. Inspecting a hollow with an endoscope or pole camera can provide direct evidence, but access must be planned to avoid disturbance.

  • Use Anabat or a similar detector over suitable survey periods.
  • Conduct emergence watches at potential roosts.
  • Check captured bats for sex and reproductive condition where authorised.
  • Stop inspection if bats, pups or the structure may be harmed.

Breeding habitat: Protection during works

Avoid disturbing a confirmed or likely maternity roost while young are dependent. If a hollow-bearing tree must be removed, use a staged or soft-felling approach prepared by the fauna ecologist, with a safe retained habitat option nearby.

Exclusion devices should be installed outside the maternity season and only after the roost assessment confirms that exclusion is appropriate. Never seal an occupied roost or trap bats inside a building, tree or structure.

  • Use two-stage or soft felling for hollow-bearing trees where removal is unavoidable.
  • Complete pre-clearing checks immediately before works.
  • Use exclusion devices outside the maternity season, with monitoring to confirm that bats have left.
  • Provide replacement roost features, such as bat boxes, as a supplementary measure.

Sheltering habitat: Natural roost features

During the day, the Large Forest Bat shelters in enclosed places. Old hollow trees are the main sheltering feature identified for this species, although buildings and other structures may also be used by small colonies.

Inspect old eucalypts, dead trees, hollow limbs, fissures and loose bark. Tree hollows can be concealed high above ground and may not show obvious staining or droppings.

Tasmanian bats generally roost upside down in tree hollows. Rock crevices and buildings can also provide shelter for some Tasmanian bats, although use by the Large Forest Bat should be confirmed at the site.

  • Hollow trunks and limbs.
  • Fissures in mature or dead trees.
  • Loose bark and sheltered tree cavities.
  • Rock crevices where present.

Sheltering habitat: Built structures

The species can use buildings, and microbats may also roost in bridges, culverts, mines and similar enclosed structures. Check roof spaces, joints, expansion gaps, cavities and sheltered ledges before demolition, repair or sealing.

A structure that appears empty during the day may be occupied at night. Plan inspections and emergence observations before exclusion or removal.

  • Buildings and roof cavities.
  • Bridges and bridge joints.
  • Culverts and drainage structures.
  • Mines, caves and other enclosed cavities where present.

Sheltering habitat: Managing roosts on site

Retain suitable old trees and limbs around farms, roads and construction sites where safety allows. Where removal is unavoidable, have the fauna spotter catcher and ecologist agree on inspection, felling, rescue and replacement measures before work begins.

Do not handle bats without appropriate training, approvals and protective equipment. Bats can carry Australian bat lyssavirus, so use suitable leather gloves and follow workplace health and safety procedures.

  • Inspect before pruning, tree removal, demolition or roof sealing.
  • Use a pole camera or endoscope where safe and appropriate.
  • Keep replacement roost features away from direct disturbance and excessive lighting.
  • Seek specialist advice if bats are found in a building or active work area.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony site looks like

A colony or maternity roost is a shared shelter where multiple bats gather, especially during breeding. Colonies can be small, but a single tree hollow or building may support a substantial part of the local breeding population, so the site should be managed as a high-value fauna feature.

A colony may be hidden inside a hollow trunk, hollow limb, roof cavity, wall cavity or other enclosed structure. Adults may leave in a stream at dusk, or activity may be subtle when the entrance is high, narrow or partly concealed.

The Australian Museum records colonies of up to 60 in hollows in old eucalypts. Smaller colonies sometimes roost in buildings, and one local account records up to six females in a colony.

Recorded colony size: Up to 60 in hollows in old eucalypts

Other colony record: Up to 6 females in one colony in a regional Victorian account

  • Repeated dusk emergence from one entrance.
  • Several bats returning to the same feature before dawn.
  • Guano, staining or odour below an entrance.
  • High detector activity concentrated around one tree or structure.

Colonies and breeding places: Site fidelity and seasonal use

Roost use can change between day roosts and seasons. Treat a repeatedly used hollow or structure as significant even when bats are absent during one inspection.

Microbats form colonies during the breeding season, and any roost where young are raised is a breeding place. Confirmed maternity roosts require greater care than an occasional solitary day roost.

  • Map the roost and nearby alternative hollows.
  • Repeat checks when the timing of the first survey is unsuitable.
  • Do not assume that a vacant entrance is permanently abandoned.
  • Track use before, during and after works where disturbance cannot be avoided.

Colonies and breeding places: Recognising an active breeding place

The clearest evidence is a pregnant or lactating female, or pups inside the roost. Repeated emergence of adults during the breeding season supports a breeding-place assessment but should be followed by targeted investigation where practicable.

Use acoustic monitoring, emergence watches and careful inspection together. Trapping should be undertaken only by experienced personnel under the required approvals.

  • Pregnant females captured during an authorised survey.
  • Lactating females or evidence of recent lactation.
  • Pups seen or heard inside the roost.
  • Dependent young observed during emergence or inspection.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

Removing one occupied hollow can displace many bats at once. Disturbance during pregnancy, birth or pup-rearing can cause abandonment, injury or loss of dependent young.

In Queensland, the Large Forest Bat is a least concern colonial breeder. Tampering with its breeding place requires a high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, rather than the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

  • Stop and reassess if a colony or breeding place is found during clearing.
  • Use staged or soft felling for unavoidable hollow-bearing tree removal.
  • Avoid exclusion during the maternity season.
  • Use bat boxes only as a supplementary measure, not as an automatic replacement for an occupied natural roost.

Threats: Tree clearing and loss of hollows

The main works-related risks are loss of hollow-bearing trees, disturbance or exclusion from maternity roosts, and loss of connected feeding habitat. The species is nationally least concern, but local colonies can still be vulnerable to a single tree removal or building demolition.

Forestry, agricultural clearing, housing and infrastructure works can remove old trees, hollow limbs and feeding grounds. Hollow formation takes time, so replacement trees will not provide an immediate substitute.

Retain old eucalypts, dead trees and suitable limbs where they are safe. Protect retained trees from root damage, soil compaction, vibration and accidental limb removal.

  • Map hollow-bearing trees before construction design is finalised.
  • Use exclusion zones around retained trees as specified by the project arborist and ecologist.
  • Avoid removing trees with active roost evidence unless authorised and unavoidable.
  • Retain fallen hollow limbs where they do not create a safety risk.

Threats: Demolition and roost exclusion

Roof repairs, bridge works, culvert replacement and demolition can trap or displace bats. Sealing an entrance without confirming that bats have left can kill animals inside and can separate females from young.

Use a staged exclusion plan outside the maternity season. Monitor the structure and provide suitable alternative roost features where appropriate.

  • Complete an inspection and emergence assessment before sealing gaps.
  • Do not use one-way devices during the period when dependent young may be inside.
  • Remove exclusion devices if bats are trapped or if breeding activity is detected.
  • Have a rescue and response plan in place before work starts.

Threats: Disturbance and lighting

Noise, vibration, dust and bright lighting can disturb roosts and alter access to feeding habitat. Hibernating bats are especially vulnerable to disturbance because waking uses stored energy reserves.

Keep lighting directed away from hollow entrances, retained forest and movement corridors. Avoid unnecessary entry into roosts and schedule inspections to minimise handling and disturbance.

  • Use low-spill, shielded lighting where night work is unavoidable.
  • Keep generators and high-vibration activities away from confirmed roosts where practicable.
  • Do not wake hibernating bats for non-essential inspection.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher for clearing near potential roosts.

Threats: Disease, handling and compliance

All Tasmanian bats are protected, and the Large Forest Bat is protected in New South Wales. It is illegal to collect or harm bats in Tasmania. The species is not listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened anywhere in Australia, but protection and project approvals still apply.

Australian bat lyssavirus is associated with infected bat saliva or blood entering an open wound. Do not handle sick, injured or grounded bats without appropriate training, gloves and an agreed wildlife response procedure.

  • Stop work if bats or dependent young are found in a tree, building or structure.
  • Contact the project ecologist or wildlife authority for advice on rescue and release.
  • Record all roost findings, exclusions, injuries and corrective actions.
  • Check state and territory approval requirements before clearing or tampering with a breeding place.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Survey the Large Forest Bat as a small, nocturnal microbat that roosts mainly in tree hollows and may use buildings. Local knowledge of its roost use is limited, so combine habitat assessment, acoustic detection and targeted inspection rather than relying on one method.

Map old trees, hollow-bearing trees, dead limbs, forest edges, canopy gaps, buildings, bridges, culverts, rock fissures and nearby waterways.

Check whether the site contains connected forest, rainforest, subalpine woodland, alpine moor or other suitable insect-rich habitat.

Review previous fauna records, aerial imagery, land management history, proposed clearing, lighting and nearby roosting habitat.

Treat a suitable hollow or building roost as potentially recurring. Do not assume that an unused-looking site has been abandoned, as species-specific site fidelity is poorly documented.

Survey methodology: 2. Acoustic and activity surveys

Use an Anabat or similar full-spectrum or zero-crossing detector along forest edges, canopy gaps, tracks, water edges and around likely roost trees.

Survey after dusk when bats are active. Avoid heavy rain, strong wind, dense fog and other conditions that reduce bat activity or recording quality.

Repeat surveys across suitable nights and habitat types. Match the effort to the size and complexity of the site, the amount of hollow-bearing vegetation and the risk of the proposed works.

Record detector location, date, start and finish time, weather, habitat, call files, call identification confidence and any visible bat activity. Treat acoustic identification as supporting evidence where calls cannot be separated confidently from other species.

Survey methodology: 3. Roost and breeding-place surveys

Watch likely roost trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and other structures from before sunset until bat activity has ceased. Record emergence direction, numbers, timing, return activity and any use of adjacent trees.

Inspect accessible hollows, fissures and loose bark with an endoscope or pole camera. Do not insert equipment where it could injure a bat or disturb a pup.

Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved survey design and by trained, authorised personnel. Check traps frequently and release bats promptly at the capture site unless an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian directs otherwise.

A maternity roost or active breeding place is confirmed by pregnant or lactating females, pups, dependent young, repeated use by a breeding group, or direct evidence that young are being raised there. Record the evidence, location, structure, access point and estimated number of bats.

Survey methodology: 4. Colony assessment and records

Look for groups sharing a hollow, building cavity, bridge joint, culvert or other shelter. Reported colonies range from small groups, including up to 6 females in some high-tree roosts, to colonies of up to 60 in old eucalypt hollows.

Record the maximum observed number, sex and age where safely identifiable, emergence and return behaviour, roost dimensions, tree condition, hollow entrance and nearby alternative roosts.

Use the term colony for bats co-existing in close association for breeding. In Queensland, treat a roost where young are raised as a breeding place, whether or not a large group is present.

Keep photographs, call files, trap sheets, inspection records, coordinates, observer names, permits, weather and decisions made from the survey.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and legal checks

Plan the work around the risk to hollow-bearing trees, roosts and breeding places. The Large Forest Bat is not listed as threatened nationally, but colonies and breeding places need additional care because one site can support a substantial part of the local breeding population.

Have the project ecologist check whether the action may significantly affect a protected matter and whether an EPBC Act referral is required.

Obtain any state or territory permits required for clearing, fauna survey, capture, handling, relocation, roost disturbance or destruction.

In Queensland, obtain advice on the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 before tampering with a breeding place. A least concern colonial breeder requires the high risk species management program pathway, rather than the low risk pathway used for other least concern animals.

Confirm local requirements before work starts. Tasmanian bats are fully protected, and the Large Forest Bat is protected in New South Wales.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work timing

Retain old hollow trees, hollow limbs, standing dead trees where safe, and connected forest around retained trees. Redesign access, services and laydown areas where this avoids roost loss.

Schedule tree removal outside the local maternity period where practicable. Microbats generally raise young in the warmer months, usually spring to late summer. Also avoid disturbing hibernating bats in winter, particularly in Tasmania, because waking them can use stored energy reserves.

Do not infer a migration period for this species. Use local survey results and advice from the relevant authority to set the work window.

Do not remove a tree solely because no bat emerged during one watch. Consider repeat surveys, seasonal use and the availability of nearby roosts.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Exclusion and pre-clearance controls

Complete a pre-clearance inspection of every hollow-bearing tree, building, bridge, culvert and other structure that may be disturbed.

Use exclusion devices only where the structure is not an active maternity roost and where exclusion will not trap bats or separate dependent young from females. Install them outside the maternity period and leave enough time for bats to relocate.

Use a two-stage or soft-felling method for hollow-bearing trees where removal is approved. Cut and lower limbs or sections carefully, retain the hollow section where safe, and allow fauna to leave before final handling.

Fence or mark retained trees, roost structures and no-go areas. Set project-specific buffers with the fauna ecologist, based on the roost, machinery, vibration, lighting and risk of collapse.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and equipment

Induct all workers on roost recognition, colony and breeding-place protection, stop-work authority, exclusion zones and the approved clearing sequence.

Tell the crew that bats may be inside hollows, under loose bark, in roof spaces, behind bridge joints or in culverts, even when they are not visible.

Provide suitable boxes, containers, gloves, headlamps, inspection cameras, shade cloth and a quiet holding area before clearing begins.

Keep artificial lighting away from retained roosts, emergence points and movement corridors. Use the lowest practical intensity and direct lights away from vegetation and structures.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in small, controlled stages under the direction of the fauna spotter catcher. Stop immediately when a roost, colony, breeding place or injured bat is found.

Start with non-hollow vegetation and low-risk areas, then work towards inspected hollow-bearing trees and structures.

Use the approved two-stage or soft-felling method. Lower hollow limbs and tree sections slowly, keep openings unobstructed and leave them undisturbed for the period set by the ecologist or approval.

Inspect each felled section before cutting, chipping, burning or removing it. Check hollows, bark plates, cracks, cavities and ground beneath the tree.

Maintain the exclusion zone while the spotter catcher checks the area and records fauna observations.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work and active breeding places

Give the fauna spotter catcher authority to stop work without seeking further approval from machinery operators.

Stop work if a bat, pup, colony, maternity roost, active breeding place, occupied hollow or previously unidentified roost is found.

Keep people, vehicles, lighting and machinery away. Do not block the entrance, smoke the roost, spray it, flood it or force bats out.

Contact the project ecologist and relevant regulator or permit holder. Do not disturb, destroy, exclude or relocate an active breeding place unless the approved management program or permit specifically allows it.

Resume only after the site has been assessed, the response is documented and the fauna spotter catcher confirms that controls are in place.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and injured animals

Allow healthy bats to leave undisturbed where possible. Handle bats only when authorised, trained and covered by the project approval or permit.

Use leather gloves and appropriate infection-control procedures. Never handle a bat with bare hands.

Place an injured or grounded bat in a secure, ventilated, dark container. Keep it quiet and shaded, do not offer food or water unless directed by a wildlife carer or veterinarian, and contact an authorised wildlife rescue service promptly.

Do not handle sick or injured bats unnecessarily. Report any bite or scratch immediately and follow the project health and safety procedure.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Field records and incident control

Record the date, time, location, tree or structure, species identification, number and condition of bats, evidence of breeding, action taken and names of people involved.

Photograph the roost and surrounding controls where this can be done without causing disturbance.

Record all stop-work events, captures, injuries, mortalities, escapes, permit conditions, regulator notifications and recommencement approvals.

Update the clearing map as each tree or structure is inspected, retained, felled, reinstated or placed into a no-go category.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Treat post-clearance checks as part of the fauna control, not as an administrative step. Confirm that no bats remain trapped and that all approval conditions and incident responses have been completed.

Inspect felled hollow sections, bark, debris piles, buildings and work areas after clearing and before chipping, burial or removal.

Check for live or dead bats, pups, carcasses, roost material and signs of repeated use.

Complete evening checks around retained trees and nearby structures where a roost may have been disturbed or displaced.

Keep any temporarily retained hollow sections stable, shaded and protected from machinery until the ecologist confirms the next action.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated or displaced animals

Confirm that any relocated bat has been transferred only under the approved method and by an authorised person.

Record the release location, release time, condition, sex or age where known, roost availability and any follow-up requirement.

Do not relocate bats into an unsuitable structure or release them into exposed conditions. Use nearby connected habitat where the approved method specifies a release site.

Monitor the original and receiving areas if the approval, management program or ecologist requires it.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a completion report with survey results, clearing maps, roost findings, animals handled, incidents, photographs, call records and permit or management-program compliance.

Report injuries, deaths, active breeding places, colony disturbance and unexpected roost destruction to the relevant authority where required.

Provide the landholder and maintenance team with the location and protection requirements for retained roost trees, boxes and other structures.

Store records so they can be used in future surveys and in the planning of later stages.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every stop-work event, injury, mortality, failed exclusion or unexpected roost discovery with the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist.

Change the clearing sequence, lighting, buffers, induction or survey effort where the review identifies a risk that was not controlled.

Use the review to improve the next stage of works and to update the site fauna management plan.

Keep a clear record of decisions, responsible people and completion dates.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore roosting, foraging and movement habitat, not only replace cleared vegetation. Retain mature trees and natural hollows wherever possible, because artificial structures may not provide the same conditions.

Replant locally appropriate native trees and understorey that connect retained forest, roost trees, canopy gaps and insect-rich foraging areas.

Retain safe hollow-bearing trees and limbs around farms, roads, construction areas and restoration sites.

Restore vegetation around waterways and damp areas where this supports insect abundance and movement, while keeping planting clear of structures that require inspection.

Control weeds and prevent dense regrowth from blocking known emergence points or access to retained hollows.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Provide supplementary roosts

Use bat boxes or other roost structures only where the target habitat, temperature range, placement and maintenance can suit local microbats.

Install boxes before clearing where practicable, but treat them as supplementary measures rather than a substitute for mature hollow trees.

Place replacement structures near retained vegetation and safe flight paths. Avoid locations exposed to excessive heat, artificial light, vibration or frequent disturbance.

Use artificial nest sites or roost structures only where the project ecologist confirms that the design is suitable for this species and the local bat community. The Large Forest Bat does not build a conventional nest.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Water, lighting and site use

Maintain access to clean water and insect-producing habitat where these features occur naturally or are part of the approved rehabilitation design.

Keep lights away from roost entrances, retained trees and vegetated movement routes. Use timers, shielding and warm, low-intensity lighting where lighting cannot be avoided.

Prevent sediment, chemicals and waste from entering water or roosting structures.

Keep maintenance crews away from boxes, roost trees and known breeding places unless inspection is authorised and scheduled.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Inspect retained trees, replacement boxes and artificial roost structures for stability, damage, pests and signs of bat use.

Use emergence watches, acoustic detectors and internal inspection only when needed and under an approved method. Avoid opening or disturbing a suspected maternity roost.

Monitor rehabilitation areas for vegetation establishment, weed control, canopy connectivity, lighting changes and evidence of bat activity.

Set monitoring triggers for box failure, roost loss, repeated disturbance, injured bats or declining activity, and document corrective action.

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