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Little Bent-winged Bat (Miniopterus australis)

The little bent-winged bat is a small, cave-roosting insectivorous bat of eastern Australia. On development sites, caves, tunnels, mines, culverts, bridges, tree hollows, dense native vegetation and nearby foraging habitat may support roosting, maternity colonies or movement between roosts.

Conservation status

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Breeding season

Timing varies across the species' broad east coast range. The sequence below reflects the best-supported pattern for northern NSW and subtropical populations, with reduced winter activity reported in NSW.

The survey period specified in the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method for little bent-winged bat breeding habitat is December to February.

  • Mating and conception: A silent heat occurs in April in northern NSW. Copulation is first noted from late July, with conception in mid-August.
  • Maternity colony formation: Maternity colonies form in spring. Shared colonies may reach high temperatures, particularly where little bent-winged bats roost with eastern bent-wing bats.
  • Births and dependent young: Births occur in early summer, with December births reported for northern NSW. Young are born naked and blind and fledge at about seven weeks.
  • Dispersal and secondary roost use: Males and juveniles disperse in summer. After breeding, colonies use secondary roosts, and a movement of 60 km has been recorded between a nursery and secondary roost in NSW.
  • Reduced winter activity: At the southern limit of the range in NSW, activity decreases significantly in July and August. The species is torpid only on the coldest days.
  • Highest clearing risk: Disturbance is most likely to harm the species from spring through early summer, when maternity colonies form, females give birth and young remain dependent. Fire during the breeding season is also identified as a risk.

Identification

The little bent-winged bat is a small, dark bat with a distinctive bent wing tip when at rest. Positive identification in the field should use size, morphology, roost context and, where necessary, an appropriately qualified bat ecologist.

Adults are dark chocolate brown to dark brown above, with slightly paler fur underneath. The fur is long and thick over the crown and neck. The muzzle is short, and the ears are short, rounded and roughly triangular.

The wing tip is formed by the particularly long third finger joint, which folds back and bends under the wing when the bat is resting.

Head and body: 36 to 48 mm.

Forearm: 35 to 41 mm.

Ear: 8.5 to 12 mm.

Weight: 5 to 6.5 g.

Identification: Similar species

The most relevant comparison on eastern Australian sites is the eastern bent-wing bat, also called the common bent-wing bat in the NSW profile. The little bent-winged bat is smaller and may share roosts with it, including mixed winter clusters.

Size alone should be used cautiously where bats are captured, because age, sex and reproductive condition can affect apparent size. The NSW survey guide requires captured bats to be assessed for age, sex and reproductive status when surveying breeding habitat.

Identification: Field signs and handling

Day roosts may be indicated by bats emerging from caves, tunnels, abandoned mines, tree hollows, stormwater drains, culverts, bridges or buildings. Guano at a roost can indicate regular bat use, although the supplied documents do not provide a species-specific guano description.

The species is an aerial insectivore with downward frequency-modulated echolocation calls. The supplied call description gives an end frequency slightly above 50 kHz for New Caledonia, so acoustic recordings from Australian sites should be checked by a suitably experienced analyst rather than identified from frequency alone.

Sex and reproductive condition matter during maternity surveys. Male bent-wing bats have a small, slender penis that can be overlooked, so sexing requires care.

  • Do not block a roost entrance, overcrowd an exit with traps or handle bats without appropriate training, hygiene measures and approvals.
  • Record the roost structure, entrance condition, emergence activity and any evidence of maternity use.

Distribution: States and regions

In Australia, the documented range is on the east coast from Cape York in Queensland to northern New South Wales, with the NSW profile describing records south to Wollongong. The species is associated with coastal, hinterland and tableland forest areas within this range.

The species occurs in Queensland and New South Wales. The supplied NSW distribution information includes the NSW North Coast, New England Tablelands, South Eastern Highlands, Sydney Basin and adjacent coastal waters, with records or predictions across multiple subregions.

NSW records and predictions include the Hunter, Illawarra, Cumberland, Wollemi, Yengo, Hawkesbury Shelf, Upper Hunter, Upper Manning, Coffs Coast and Escarpment, Clarence-related areas, New England tablelands and other listed subregions.

Distribution: Strongholds and population information

Large maternity colonies are known in Queensland, including a colony of about 100,000 individuals at Mount Etna Cave. In New South Wales, the largest known maternity colony is associated with a large eastern bent-wing bat maternity colony, which appears to provide the high temperatures needed to rear young.

The supplied documents do not provide a national population estimate or a quantified population trend. They report that only five nursery or maternity sites are known in Australia, making known breeding roosts a high-priority consideration during project planning.

Known Australian nursery or maternity sites: Five.

Reported large colony: About 100,000 individuals at Mount Etna Cave, Queensland.

Longest recorded movement: 60 km between a nursery roost and another secondary roost in New South Wales.

Habitat: Vegetation and environmental setting

The little bent-winged bat uses well-timbered habitats from coastal areas to tablelands. It is most closely associated with dense native vegetation that provides flying and feeding space around roosts.

Recorded habitat types include moist eucalypt forest, rainforest, vine thicket, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, Melaleuca swamp, dense coastal forest and banksia scrub.

The species also occurs in subtropical rainforest, coastal forest, river and coastal scrub, and human settlements where suitable roosts and nearby vegetation are available.

Elevation: From sea level to about 1,500 m in the broader species account.

Preferred setting in Australia: Well-timbered areas near relatively dense vegetation.

Habitat: Structural features

Retain mature native vegetation around known or potential roosts, particularly within 10 km of roosts. Dense canopy and shrub layers provide the sheltered foraging conditions described for the species.

Tree hollows can provide roosts, including a recorded hollow in a large 30 m soapy box tree. Caves, tunnels, mines, culverts and bridges may also connect otherwise separated areas of suitable habitat.

  • Retain native vegetation around caves, mines, tunnels, culverts, bridges and other structures that could be used as roosts.
  • Avoid clearing that removes continuous or dense vegetation between roosts and likely feeding areas.
  • Treat artificial structures as potential bat habitat before demolition, sealing, relining or modification.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding method

The little bent-winged bat feeds on flying insects at night. It can forage in open spaces as well as between shrub and canopy layers in densely wooded habitats.

The species is an aerial hawker. Recorded prey includes nematoceran flies, ants, moths and wasps.

In NSW it forages beneath the canopy of densely vegetated habitats. The broader species account describes rapid, manoeuvrable flight through shrub and canopy layers, as well as use of open spaces.

Feeding time: Primarily at night, with activity beginning before sunset.

Recorded prey: Nematoceran flies, ants, moths and wasps.

Foraging habitat: Foraging habitat on project sites

Foraging habitat includes moist and dry forest, rainforest, vine thicket, Melaleuca swamp, dense coastal forest, banksia scrub and other well-timbered vegetation near roosts.

The documents do not give a species-specific foraging radius. The recorded 60 km movement was between a nursery roost and a secondary roost, so it should not be treated as a typical foraging distance.

  • Retain native vegetation within 10 km of known roosts where practicable.
  • Limit pesticide use in breeding and foraging habitat because contaminants on insects and in water can accumulate in bats.
  • Avoid removing dense canopy and shrub layers that provide sheltered flight paths below the canopy.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding occurs in maternity colonies, usually in caves, tunnels, mines or comparable enclosed roosts. In NSW, little bent-winged bats may share maternity sites with eastern bent-wing bats and may depend on the larger colony's heat.

Maternity colonies form in spring and births occur in early summer. In northern NSW, mating and conception occur in mid-August and births occur in December. Young are born naked and blind and begin flying at about seven weeks.

Females do not become pregnant in their first year of life in New South Wales. The supplied documents do not give a lifespan estimate.

Maternity colony formation: Spring.

Births in NSW: Early summer, with December births reported for northern NSW.

Litter size: One young per pregnancy.

Gestation: A precise NSW gestation period is not stated. Conception occurs in mid-August and births occur in December.

Age at first breeding: Females do not become pregnant in their first year in NSW.

Lifespan: Not stated in the supplied documents.

Age when young fly: About seven weeks.

Breeding habitat: Maternity roost features

Potential breeding habitat includes caves, tunnels, abandoned mines and other structures known or suspected to be used by the species. A maternity site is a roost where females give birth and form a nursery colony.

In NSW, the largest known maternity colony is associated with eastern bent-wing bats. The little bent-winged bat appears to depend on the larger colony to produce the high roost temperatures needed to rear young, with temperatures reported as high as 39°C in shared maternity colonies.

Under the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method, breeding habitat includes the maternity feature and the area immediately around it. The survey guide uses a 100 m radius around the cave or structure entrance when mapping the species polygon.

  • Inspect caves, tunnels, mines and suitable artificial structures before clearing, blasting, sealing, demolition or construction.
  • Avoid disturbance during the maternity period, particularly from spring to early summer when females and dependent young may be present.
  • Retain access to roost entrances and do not install gates, fencing or barriers unless they are designed to allow bat movement.

Breeding habitat: NSW breeding survey requirement

For NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method surveys, the little bent-winged bat requires targeted survey where breeding habitat is being assessed. The prescribed method is harp trapping close to cave, mine or tunnel exits during December to February.

The minimum effort is eight trap nights per cave, mine or tunnel, completed as at least two traps per night over two nights and repeated at least two weeks later. Captured bats must be assessed for age, sex and reproductive status.

Survey period in the NSW guide: December to February.

Minimum effort: Eight trap nights per cave, mine or tunnel.

Minimum arrangement: At least two harp traps per night over two nights, repeated at least two weeks later.

  • Use a suitably qualified bat surveyor and monitor traps to avoid overcrowding.
  • Do not infer absence of a maternity colony from a survey that does not meet the applicable NSW effort and timing requirements.

Sheltering habitat: Natural roosts

The species is primarily cave dwelling but uses a range of natural and artificial roosts. Roost choice can change between maternity, winter and secondary roosts.

Natural or semi-natural roosts include caves, tree hollows and other enclosed cavities. The species is less restricted to limestone than some other bent-wing bats.

A recorded Australian roost was a large hollow in a 30 m soapy box tree. The documents do not provide a minimum hollow entrance size or cavity volume.

  • Retain mature hollow-bearing trees, even where they are outside the immediate construction footprint but close to known roosts.
  • Check tree hollows for bats before felling or major limb removal.

Sheltering habitat: Artificial and secondary roosts

The species may roost in abandoned mines, tunnels, stormwater drains, culverts, bridges and occasionally buildings. It may use different secondary roosts after the breeding season.

The species often shares roosts with other cave-dwelling bats. In winter, little bent-winged bats and common or eastern bent-winged bats may form mixed clusters.

Recorded roost types: Caves, tunnels, abandoned mines, tree hollows, stormwater drains, culverts, bridges and some buildings.

Recorded movement between roosts: Up to 60 km between a nursery roost and a secondary roost.

  • Survey culverts, bridges, stormwater drains, tunnels, mines and buildings before modification or removal.
  • Keep roost entrances open and maintain safe bat passage when installing gates, fencing or other exclusion measures.
  • Manage access and recreational caving near known roosts to reduce disturbance.

Threats: Roost loss and disturbance

The greatest project risks are disturbance or loss of maternity and winter roosts, clearing of nearby native vegetation, fire and contamination. Impacts can be severe because few Australian maternity sites are known.

Disturbance of colonies, particularly in nursery or hibernating caves, may be catastrophic. Mining that destroys or disturbs caves, tunnels or mines can affect maternity, staging and overwintering roosts.

Guano extraction, recreational caving, construction noise, vibration, lighting, sealing and changes to culverts or bridges can interfere with roost use. The supplied documents do not quantify safe noise, vibration or lighting thresholds.

  • Protect known roosts and restrict or monitor access around maternity, winter and other significant roosts.
  • Complete a bat assessment before blasting, mining, demolition, sealing or structural work near caves, tunnels, mines, culverts, bridges and stormwater drains.
  • Use bat-friendly gates and fencing that preserve adequate entrance and exit space for every species using the roost.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

Clearing or fragmenting well-timbered vegetation can remove foraging habitat and reduce connectivity between roosts and feeding areas. The NSW profile recommends retaining native vegetation, particularly within 10 km of roosts.

Woody weeds such as lantana and blackberry can block cave entrances or create an entanglement risk. Weed control should avoid disturbing bats and should not use chemicals where non-chemical control is practicable.

  • Retain dense native vegetation around roosts and along likely movement routes.
  • Avoid clearing mature hollow-bearing trees and vegetation immediately surrounding roost entrances.
  • Use non-chemical weed control to keep roost entrances open where feasible.

Threats: Fire, predators and contamination

Hazard reduction burning and wildfire can affect bats directly during the breeding season and can reduce foraging resources after large fires. Fire, smoke and flames should be kept away from significant roost entrances.

Foxes and feral cats may prey on bats around maternity caves, winter roosts, culverts, tunnels and bridges. Pesticides applied to insects or entering water can bioaccumulate and poison individuals.

The NSW profile identifies introduction of exotic pathogens, including white-nose fungus, as a potential threat. Appropriate hygiene protocols are required for research and survey work.

Recommended fire exclusion distance: 100 m from maternity caves, winter roosts and other significant roost entrances.

  • Exclude fire from within 100 m of maternity caves, winter roosts and other significant roost entrances.
  • Ensure smoke and flames do not enter roosts.
  • Control foxes and feral cats around important roosts where permitted and appropriate.
  • Reduce pesticide use in breeding and foraging habitat.
  • Apply bat hygiene protocols to equipment, clothing and personnel moving between roosts.

Threats: Roads and hydrology

The supplied documents do not identify a quantified road mortality rate or a species-specific road crossing distance. Roads can still affect this species where they require clearing, fragment dense vegetation, alter access to culverts or bridges, or increase disturbance at roosts.

The documents do not describe a specific hydrological requirement. Water contamination is identified as a poisoning pathway, and changes to habitat around roosts may reduce the quality of nearby foraging areas.

  • Inspect existing and proposed culverts, bridges and stormwater structures for roosting bats before road or drainage works.
  • Prevent sediment, chemicals and contaminated water from entering habitat used for roosting or foraging.
  • Retain native vegetation around drainage lines and structures where it forms part of the bat's movement or feeding habitat.

Survey methodology: 1. Inspect potential roosts and surrounding habitat

Survey effort must distinguish ordinary foraging activity from breeding habitat. For the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method, little bent-winged bat breeding habitat is associated with caves, mines, tunnels and similar roost structures, while foraging habitat is assessed separately as an ecosystem credit. Use an appropriately skilled bat surveyor and confirm the requirements of the relevant state or territory approval system before fieldwork.

Before trapping, inspect caves, mines, tunnels, culverts, bridges, stormwater drains, tree hollows and buildings that could provide daytime roosts. Record entrances, signs of bat use, access constraints and nearby dense vegetation.

Map all known or suspected roost features with accurate GPS coordinates. For NSW BAM purposes, potential breeding habitat includes caves, tunnels, mines and other structures known or suspected to be used by Miniopterus australis, including relevant BioNet records and published records.

For a NSW species polygon, include the breeding feature and a 100 metre radius buffer centred on the entrance. Apply any larger buffer or protection zone required by the project approval or another jurisdiction.

Inspecting a roost must not block entrances, cause smoke or light intrusion, or disturb bats during the day.

Potential breeding features: Caves, tunnels, mines and other structures known or suspected to be used by the species

NSW breeding habitat buffer: 100 metres around an accurate GPS point centred on the cave or feature entrance

Survey methodology: 2. Harp trapping at roost entrances

For NSW BAM breeding-habitat surveys, use harp traps close to exits of identified caves, mines or tunnels. Monitor traps often enough to avoid overcrowding and heat stress.

Complete 8 trap nights per cave, mine or tunnel during December to February. The minimum design is two harp traps per night for two nights, repeated at least two weeks later.

Assess and record the age, sex and reproductive status of every captured bat. This is necessary to identify breeding individuals, which include pregnant, lactating or pup-carrying females and juveniles.

Use only suitably qualified personnel for capture, examination and release. Follow current animal ethics, wildlife handling, hygiene and disease-control requirements.

Survey period: December to February

Effort: 8 trap nights per cave, mine or tunnel

Minimum deployment: Two harp traps per night for two nights, repeated at least two weeks later

Survey methodology: 3. Acoustic and activity surveys

Use passive acoustic detectors to supplement roost inspection and trapping, particularly where access to a suspected roost is unsafe or restricted. Do not treat acoustic data alone as evidence of breeding habitat or breeding individuals under the NSW BAM method.

Place detectors on likely flight paths between roosts and dense vegetation, and document detector location, dates, weather, settings and analysed calls.

The species forages at night for small insects beneath the canopy of densely vegetated habitats. Its calls and activity records can therefore help identify use of retained forest, but they do not establish that a nearby cave or tunnel is a maternity site.

Survey methodology: 4. Record interpretation and reporting

Treat a species record and a breeding record separately. A record of an adult bat does not, by itself, demonstrate breeding habitat.

For NSW BAM assessment, breeding habitat is present where potential breeding habitat and breeding individuals are both present. A female that is pregnant, carrying pups or lactating, or a juvenile, must be recorded as such by a suitably qualified surveyor.

Document negative results with the searched features, access limitations, trap locations, trap nights, weather, detector effort and evidence inspected. Do not describe an inaccessible or unsafe feature as absent.

Breeding individuals: A pregnant, pup-carrying or lactating female, or a juvenile

NSW species polygon: The breeding feature with a 100 metre radius buffer around its accurately recorded entrance

  • Scale the NSW minimum effort proportionally where potential habitat exceeds the stated survey area or where multiple roost features require assessment.
  • Submit confirmed records, roost locations and breeding observations to the relevant state or territory wildlife database, such as the NSW BioNet Atlas where applicable.
  • Provide the project approval authority with maps, raw records, survey dates, methods, photographs where safe, and any limitations affecting confidence in the result.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Plan the work around roost protection and the species' dependence on dense native vegetation. The greatest risk is disturbance or destruction of maternity and winter roosts, followed by loss of surrounding foraging habitat.

Retain all known and suspected caves, mines, tunnels, culverts, bridges, stormwater drains, buildings and tree hollows used as roosts.

Retain well-timbered native vegetation around roosts, including dense forest used for night foraging. The NSW profile recommends retaining native vegetation, particularly within 10 kilometres of roosts.

Maintain connected vegetation between roosts and feeding areas wherever practicable. Avoid clearing that isolates a roost from dense forest, rainforest, vine thicket, wet or dry sclerophyll forest, Melaleuca swamp or banksia scrub.

Do not remove trees or modify structures solely because they show no obvious daytime bat activity. The species may use tree hollows and artificial structures as well as caves.

Vegetation retention reference: Particular attention within 10 kilometres of known roosts

Known habitat types: Moist eucalypt forest, rainforest, vine thicket, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, Melaleuca swamps, dense coastal forest and banksia scrub

  • Set out no-go areas around roost entrances and retain the 100 metre NSW BAM breeding-habitat buffer unless the approval specifies a different requirement.
  • Keep lighting, vibration, blasting, dust, smoke and machinery away from roost entrances.
  • Retain native vegetation and avoid pesticide use within breeding and foraging habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: Check approvals and plan the works

Miniopterus australis is listed as vulnerable in NSW and is not listed under the EPBC Act according to the supplied profile. Check the current status in every state or territory where the project occurs before works start.

Obtain the relevant state or territory wildlife, survey, capture, handling, clearing and development approvals. Use qualified personnel for trapping, handling and reproductive assessment.

Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies roosts, retained vegetation, exclusion zones, lighting controls, pre-clearance checks, stop-work triggers, rescue contacts, release sites and reporting requirements.

Refer any proposed action with possible impacts on nationally listed matters to the EPBC Act referral process if the species or another protected matter is listed at the time of assessment.

  • Schedule roost inspection and any trapping before finalising the clearing boundary.
  • Avoid disturbance of known maternity colonies during the breeding period, when maternity colonies form in spring and births occur in early summer.
  • Stage clearing so retained vegetation and roost access remain available while each work area is checked and released.

Before habitat disturbance: Prepare the site

Complete a pre-clearance inspection of all roost structures, buildings, culverts, tunnels, mines, caves and hollow-bearing trees within the work area and adjoining retained areas that could be affected.

Mark no-go roosts, retained trees, retained vegetation and access routes on plans and on the ground before machinery arrives.

Install exclusion fencing where it can protect retained vegetation and roost buffers without blocking bat flight paths or entrances.

Brief machinery operators and the fauna spotter catcher on the species' appearance, roost types, stop-work triggers, handling limits and emergency contacts.

  • Do not place fencing, sediment controls, spoil, stockpiles or site sheds across cave, tunnel, mine, culvert or building entrances.
  • Use bat-friendly gates or fencing at roosts, allowing adequate entry and exit space for all species using the feature.
  • Implement hygiene protocols for survey, caving, mine inspection and handling equipment.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and spotter catcher duties

Treat every suspected roost as occupied until a suitably qualified person has assessed it. The fauna spotter catcher must have authority to stop machinery when a bat, roost feature or unexpected habitat is found.

Inspect exclusion fencing, no-go markers and roost buffers at the start of each shift and after heavy rain, vehicle movement or other events that could damage controls.

Keep machinery, workers, lighting, smoke, vibration and dust outside marked roost protection areas. Do not direct lights into entrances or use smoke to test occupancy.

Position the fauna spotter catcher where the operator can see and hear the instruction to stop. The spotter catcher must remain able to inspect the next work area before disturbance proceeds.

Clear vegetation progressively in small work areas. Pause between stages so the spotter catcher can inspect newly exposed hollows, structures, logs and ground habitat.

  • Stop machinery immediately when a bat is seen, a roost entrance is exposed, bats emerge from a structure, or a protected habitat feature is damaged.
  • Keep the public and non-essential workers away from roost entrances and captured animals.
  • Record the location, time, activity, habitat feature, people involved and action taken for every incident.

During habitat disturbance: Handling and relocation

Do not handle a bat unless the person is authorised, trained and equipped under the relevant state or territory requirements. Bats can bite and may carry pathogens.

If a bat is found, stop work, keep people back and allow the fauna spotter catcher or another authorised wildlife handler to assess it without chasing or repeatedly disturbing it.

Release a healthy animal only where the authorised handler considers the nearby retained habitat suitable and safe, and where the release complies with the applicable permit and fauna management plan.

Use a nearby retained roost or vegetated area only when it is suitable for the species and does not place the bat in direct sun, exposed ground, traffic, predators or active machinery.

  • Place an injured, grounded, weak or abnormal bat in a secure, quiet, appropriately ventilated container only under authorised handling procedures.
  • Contact a veterinarian or licensed wildlife carer for an injured animal, and record the transfer and destination.
  • Do not relocate bats into an unassessed cave, mine, tunnel, building or tree hollow.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat feature management and stop-work triggers

Leave caves, mines, tunnels, culverts, bridges, stormwater drains, buildings and hollow trees in place unless the approval specifically authorises disturbance and the fauna management plan sets out a lawful procedure.

If a hollow-bearing tree must be removed, stop and reassess the tree before cutting. Inspect exposed hollows and cavities for bats, and retain the tree or section it safely only under an approved fauna procedure.

Retain logs, dense vegetation and other shelter that form part of the species' foraging habitat. Do not burn, chip or bury these features until they have been inspected.

Treat discovery of a maternity colony, a pregnant or lactating female, a juvenile, mass emergence, or an occupied roost as a stop-work event requiring advice from the project ecologist and approval holder.

  • Stop work if a roost entrance is blocked, damaged or contaminated by dust, smoke, sediment or chemicals.
  • Stop work if fire, hazard reduction burning or smoke could enter a maternity, winter or significant roost.
  • Stop work if an unexpected cave, tunnel, mine, culvert or tree cavity is exposed and its bat use has not been assessed.

After habitat disturbance: Complete post-clearance checks

Post-clearance work must confirm that retained roosts remain accessible and that no bats, roost features or protection controls were missed. Keep monitoring and reporting proportionate to the risk identified in the approval and fauna management plan.

Inspect the cleared area, retained vegetation edges, access tracks and all retained roost structures after each clearing stage.

Check that cave, mine, tunnel, culvert, bridge, building and tree-hollow entrances remain open and free of spoil, weeds, fencing, sediment, smoke damage and construction materials.

Search safely for grounded or injured bats at the end of clearing and after overnight works. Use an authorised handler for any animal found.

Compare the final cleared footprint with the approved plan and record any unapproved habitat disturbance immediately.

  • Photograph and GPS-record retained roost features and any changes caused by the works.
  • Maintain exclusion fencing, signs, lighting controls and access restrictions until the project ecologist or approval holder confirms they can be removed.
  • Do not remove temporary controls while bats are using a feature or while construction continues to affect the surrounding habitat.

After habitat disturbance: Monitor and report outcomes

Monitor known maternity, winter and other significant roosts where the approval or risk assessment requires it. Use non-invasive observation or acoustic methods unless capture is authorised and necessary.

Record roost use, emergence activity, dead or injured bats, disturbance events, habitat loss, control failures and corrective actions.

Report threatened species records, confirmed breeding records and roost locations to the relevant state or territory wildlife database. In NSW, use the BioNet Atlas process where applicable.

Report any breach, injury, death, unapproved clearing or roost disturbance to the approval holder and the relevant regulator within the required timeframe.

  • Retain survey data, permits, photographs, GPS files, handling records and incident reports with the project environmental records.
  • Update the fauna management plan if monitoring shows continuing disturbance, blocked access, predator activity or loss of foraging habitat.
  • Assess offsets or other compensatory measures where required by the approval, clearing legislation or consent conditions.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore native foraging habitat

Rehabilitation should restore dense native vegetation around retained roosts and maintain safe movement between roosts and feeding areas. It must not obstruct roost entrances or introduce conditions that increase fire, weed, pesticide or predator risk.

Replant locally appropriate native eucalypt forest, rainforest, vine thicket, wet or dry sclerophyll forest, Melaleuca swamp or banksia scrub, matching the vegetation community that was cleared.

Use a structurally varied planting design with canopy, mid-storey and understorey layers where appropriate. This supports the dense vegetation beneath and among which the species forages for small insects.

Retain and reinstate native trees, logs and other shelter features where they do not block roost entrances, access tracks or essential infrastructure.

Restore vegetation links between roosts and retained feeding areas, prioritising gaps created by construction or access tracks.

  • Use locally suitable native stock and control weeds without allowing herbicide or pesticide drift into roosts, water sources or foraging habitat.
  • Do not plant woody weeds such as lantana or blackberry near cave, mine, tunnel, culvert or building entrances.
  • Maintain a clear, safe entrance to each retained roost while restoring vegetation around, rather than across, the entrance.

Rehabilitation actions: Protect roosts and manage threats

Keep fire out of the 100 metres immediately surrounding maternity caves, winter roosts and other significant roost entrances, and ensure smoke and flames cannot enter the roost.

Plan hazard reduction so that adequate foraging habitat remains, particularly during the breeding and reproduction season.

Control foxes and feral cats around maternity caves, winter roosts and roosts in culverts, tunnels and under bridges.

Use bat-friendly fencing or gating where access control is needed, with adequate entrance and exit space for every bat species using the roost.

Fire exclusion reference: Exclude fire from 100 metres of maternity caves, winter roosts and other significant roost entrances

  • Inspect gates, fences and weed growth at least after major maintenance or fire events.
  • Avoid pesticide use within breeding and foraging habitat where practical, because pesticides can accumulate through insects and water consumed by bats.
  • Apply hygiene protocols during rehabilitation inspections, roost entry and any future survey work.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitor rehabilitation success

Monitor planted vegetation for survival, canopy development, weed invasion, connectivity and protection of roost entrances.

Use roost inspections and non-invasive activity monitoring to check that retained features remain accessible and continue to support bats.

Investigate any decline in roost use, emergence activity, bat condition or surrounding vegetation, and amend weed, predator, fire, lighting or access controls.

Close out rehabilitation only when the approval criteria are met and records show that roost protection, native vegetation establishment and threat controls are being maintained.

  • Set monitoring dates, indicators, responsible personnel and corrective actions in the rehabilitation plan.
  • Measure success against the approved rehabilitation benchmarks and the pre-clearing habitat record.
  • Submit monitoring results and any new threatened species records to the relevant regulator and state or territory wildlife database.

Sources