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South-western Free-tailed Bat (Ozimops kitcheneri)

The South-western Free-tailed Bat, Ozimops kitcheneri, is a poorly known Australian microbat associated with tall forests, open woodland, mallee and coastal heathland. It roosts in tree hollows and can form breeding colonies, so hollow-bearing trees and other occupied roosts need careful treatment during clearing and construction. It is mapped in New South Wales and Western Australia and is listed as least concern in Australia, but colony breeding places receive additional protection in Queensland.

Conservation status

Breeding behaviour, All states and territories: Colonial breeder. Breeds in colonies or shared roosts, so one breeding place can hold a large share of the local population.

Breeding season

Breeding timing for the South-western Free-tailed Bat is poorly documented. For site planning, use the general Australian microbat pattern of breeding in the warmer months, usually spring to late summer, with local variation between regions and years.

Breeding mode: A colonial breeder. Females gather in maternity roosts where young are raised. Colonies may contain a substantial share of the local population.

Litter size and frequency: Usually one pup per female each year for Australian microbats. Species specific litter size and breeding frequency are not recorded.

Gestation and development: Gestation, fledging and weaning dates are not recorded for this species. Dependent young should be assumed to be present during the warmer breeding period.

Breeding and maternity roosts: Tree hollows are confirmed roosting sites, and tree hollows are used generally by the surveyed free tailed microbats for roosting and breeding. Other microbat roosts can include fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and buildings.

Colonies and breeding places: Typical colony size and site fidelity are not recorded. An active maternity roost may be indicated by pregnant or lactating females, pups, repeated bat emergence at dusk, bat noise or fresh droppings. Colonies need special care because disturbance or loss of one roost can affect many breeding females and young.

Practical confirmation: Use Anabat or similar acoustic detectors, emergence watches and, where authorised, harp traps or mist nets. Inspect tree hollows with an endoscope or pole camera where this can be done safely and without disturbing bats.

Site protection: Avoid disturbance during the maternity period where practicable. If a hollow bearing tree must be removed, use staged or soft felling under an approved method. Install exclusion devices outside the maternity season, and use bat boxes only as a supplementary measure.

Breeding timing, roost occupancy and colony activity can vary between years and between New South Wales and Western Australia, so confirm conditions locally before clearing or construction.

  • Breeding activity: Mating and births are expected mainly from spring to late summer, with the strongest planning assumption from October to January.
  • Dependent pups in maternity roosts: Dependent young may be present from late spring into early autumn, and roosts should be treated as sensitive throughout this period.
  • Night activity and roost use: Adults are expected to use roosts and forage throughout the year, with activity concentrated around dusk and dawn.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing is most likely to harm maternity colonies, pups and occupied tree hollows from spring to early autumn, especially October to January.

Identification: Appearance

The South-western Free-tailed Bat is not well known in the field, and reliable identification can be difficult without acoustic analysis. Treat any suspected free-tailed bat record as requiring confirmation where clearing could affect hollow-bearing trees or other roost features.

Species-specific measurements and diagnostic field characters are not well established. The animal should be treated as a small free-tailed microbat, with a tail that extends beyond the tail membrane, until identified by an experienced bat ecologist.

Identification: Calls and similar species

Echolocation calls can be assessed with an Anabat or similar detector. Identification may use call frequency, call shape and spectrogram characteristics, but free-tailed bats can overlap with other insectivorous microbats. Confirmation should be undertaken by a suitably experienced analyst, especially where a roost may be affected.

  • Use acoustic records to target follow-up inspections rather than relying on a single call sequence.
  • In the south-western Western Australia survey context, calls were analysed with Kaleidoscope Pro and Anabat Insight.
  • The species was recorded less commonly than Nyctophilus species and the Southern Forest Bat in that survey.

Identification: Field signs

Bats may leave droppings below an occupied hollow, fissure, bridge joint or building roost. Droppings are usually small, dark and crumbly, and may contain insect fragments. Dropping piles, smooth stained entrances, urine odour, bat noise and repeated emergence are useful clues, but none alone confirms a maternity roost.

  • Look below hollows, fissures, loose bark, culverts, bridge joints and building gaps.
  • Check for fresh droppings, staining, odour, scratching or audible social calls.
  • Do not seal, fell or dismantle a suspected roost before inspection and approval.

Distribution: States and regions

The species is an Australian bat recorded in New South Wales and Western Australia. Its regional limits and local abundance are not well defined, so a lack of previous records should not be treated as proof of absence from a works site.

The species is mapped in New South Wales and Western Australia. In Western Australia it has been considered in the south-western region, including the Holyoake East area.

Mapped states: New South Wales and Western Australia.

Regional certainty: Local distribution and abundance are poorly known.

Distribution: Site records

Desktop searches should be followed by field assessment where suitable habitat is present. Records may be generated by ultrasonic detectors even when bats are not seen, especially around flyways, clearings, water and forest edges.

  • Review recent records and habitat mapping before clearing.
  • Use acoustic monitoring where hollow-bearing trees or other potential roosts are proposed for removal.
  • Consider nearby habitat as well as the development footprint, because bats can forage away from their day roost.

Habitat: Vegetation communities

The South-western Free-tailed Bat has been associated with a range of wooded and heathland environments. On a works site, retain attention on mature trees, connected flight paths and nearby areas that provide insect prey and shelter.

Recorded habitat types include tall forests, open woodland, mallee and coastal heathland. Habitat quality can vary within each vegetation type, so mature trees and the availability of hollows should be mapped separately.

  • Tall forest with mature and hollow-bearing trees.
  • Open woodland with connected tree lines and clearings.
  • Mallee with older stems and suitable fissures or hollows.
  • Coastal heathland near trees, drainage lines or other roosting features.

Habitat: Features to map before clearing

Map hollow-bearing trees, large dead trees, tree fissures, loose bark and potential flight corridors. Also record water bodies, damplands, forest tracks, hill tops, granite outcrops and open areas that may be used by flying bats.

  • Hollow-bearing trees and dead standing trees.
  • Tree lines, forest edges and gaps between retained vegetation.
  • Water bodies and damp areas.
  • Granite outcrops, culverts, bridges and buildings with possible roost gaps.

Habitat: Site planning

Keep retained roost trees connected to surrounding vegetation where practicable. Avoid isolating a hollow-bearing tree in a cleared area, and include potential roosts just outside the clearing boundary in pre-clearance inspections.

  • Mark no-go trees and exclusion zones before machinery arrives.
  • Retain nearby vegetation that provides cover between roosts and feeding areas.
  • Schedule specialist inspections before removing trees with hollows, fissures or loose bark.

Foraging habitat: Likely feeding areas

The species diet is not well documented. As a free-tailed microbat, it is expected to catch flying insects in open air, so insect-rich edges, clearings and water-associated areas may be used even when the day roost is elsewhere.

Survey contexts for this species have included water bodies, flyways, clearings, forest tracks, hill tops, damplands and granite outcrops. These features can provide open flight space or concentrations of flying insects.

  • Edges between forest and cleared land.
  • Open woodland and tracks through forest.
  • Water bodies and damp areas.
  • Hill tops, granite outcrops and other open flight paths.

Foraging habitat: What to protect

Retain a connected mosaic of mature vegetation, edges and open flight space where possible. Avoid unnecessary night lighting near retained trees, water and known flight paths, as lighting can alter bat activity and increase disturbance around roosts.

  • Limit vegetation removal around water and damp areas.
  • Keep major flight paths open and connected.
  • Use low-spill, directed lighting where lighting cannot be avoided.
  • Avoid directing lights at hollow-bearing trees, bridges or building roosts.

Foraging habitat: Acoustic survey

Anabat or similar detectors can identify activity that is not visible during the day. Detectors should be placed near potential roosts, flyways, water, clearings and habitat edges, with analysis by a person experienced in Australian microbat calls.

  • Record from at least 30 minutes before dusk to 30 minutes after dawn where a night survey is undertaken.
  • Use repeated nights and more than one detector location when the result will affect clearing decisions.
  • Pair acoustic results with emergence watches and roost inspections.

Breeding habitat: Breeding season

The South-western Free-tailed Bat is profiled as a colonial breeder. Breeding information for the species is limited, so general microbat precautions should be used wherever females, pups or a shared maternity roost may be present.

Most Australian microbats give birth to one pup a year in the warmer months, usually from spring to late summer. The exact timing for this species can vary with region and conditions, so avoid disturbing a suspected maternity roost during this period.

  • Treat spring to late summer as the higher-risk period for dependent young.
  • Seek species-specific ecological advice before disturbing a suspected maternity roost.
  • Do not rely on a quiet daytime inspection to rule out breeding use.

Breeding habitat: Maternity roosts

A maternity roost is a shared place where females give birth and raise young. For this species, suitable places may include tree hollows and, depending on local conditions, other enclosed or sheltered microbat roost features.

  • Pregnant or lactating females.
  • Pups or recently volant young.
  • Repeated emergence from the same tree, structure or cavity.
  • Adult bats returning to the same roost after night feeding.

Breeding habitat: Confirming breeding use

Maternity use should be confirmed by a suitably experienced ecologist. Useful methods include daytime inspection with an endoscope or pole camera where safe, emergence watches, acoustic monitoring and, where approved and appropriate, harp trapping or mist netting.

  • Use endoscopes or pole cameras only where the cavity can be inspected without harming bats or the tree.
  • Conduct emergence watches at likely exit points.
  • Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved method and by trained personnel.
  • Record sex, reproductive condition and the presence of pups where animals are captured.

Sheltering habitat: Roost features

Tree hollows are a documented sheltering feature for the South-western Free-tailed Bat. Hollows can be concealed high in the crown or in dead limbs, and a tree that appears empty during one inspection may be used at another time.

Inspect mature live trees, dead standing trees and trees with broken limbs, fissures, loose bark or cavities. General microbat roosts may also occur in caves, disused mines, culverts, bridges and buildings.

  • Tree hollows and fissures.
  • Loose bark and dead limbs.
  • Caves and disused mines.
  • Culverts, bridges and gaps in buildings.

Sheltering habitat: Inspection and exclusion

Inspect potential roosts before clearing, using a pole camera or endoscope where safe. If a building, bridge or culvert is occupied, exclusion devices should only be installed outside the maternity season and after confirming that young are not trapped inside.

  • Use one-way exclusion devices only with specialist advice.
  • Do not exclude bats from a maternity roost while dependent young may be inside.
  • Seal entry points only after the roost is confirmed empty and the exclusion has worked.
  • Monitor the structure after exclusion.

Sheltering habitat: Tree removal method

Where a hollow-bearing tree must be removed, use a staged or soft-felling approach developed by the fauna spotter catcher and ecologist. Lower hollow limbs and sections slowly, place them so any bats can leave safely, and retain suitable hollow material where practicable.

  • Check the tree and surrounding ground before work starts.
  • Use two-stage or soft felling for hollow-bearing trees.
  • Stop work if bats, pups or an occupied cavity are found.
  • Reinspect felled sections and provide a safe release pathway.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony site can look like

A colony or maternity roost is a shared breeding place used by several bats, often within a hollow or enclosed cavity. The species-specific number of bats in a colony is not established, but colonial roosts can hold a substantial part of the local breeding population and need more careful management than an isolated shelter.

A colony may be in a tree hollow, fissure, loose bark pocket, cave, mine, culvert, bridge cavity or building gap. At a tree, there may be several possible entrances, droppings below the cavity and repeated flight activity at dusk.

  • A mature or dead tree with one or more hollows.
  • A sheltered structure with narrow gaps and warm internal spaces.
  • Repeated bat activity at the same entrance.
  • Droppings, staining or odour below a cavity.

Colonies and breeding places: Typical size and site fidelity

Reliable colony sizes and site-fidelity information are not established for this species. Bats may return to suitable roosts, and a maternity colony can use more than one nearby roost, so retain alternative hollows and do not treat an apparently empty cavity as disposable.

  • Record all potential roosts within and near the clearing area.
  • Check nearby trees if bats emerge from a tree proposed for removal.
  • Assume the roost may be used again until monitoring shows otherwise.

Colonies and breeding places: Recognising an active breeding place

The strongest evidence is pregnant or lactating females, pups or dependent young. Repeated emergence and return, regular social calls, fresh droppings and bats seen entering a cavity support an occupancy finding but do not by themselves prove that young are present.

  • Watch the entrance from before dusk until activity has ceased.
  • Use acoustic detectors to identify repeated activity patterns.
  • Use a pole camera or endoscope where the cavity can be checked safely.
  • Stop clearing if pups or an occupied maternity roost are found.

Colonies and breeding places: Why colonies need special care

Queensland guidance treats microbats as colonial breeders during the breeding season. A roost where young are raised is a breeding place, and in Queensland tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires the higher-risk species management program rather than the low-risk program used for other least concern animals.

  • Obtain project-specific approvals and management advice before disturbance.
  • Keep machinery, vibration and lighting away from an active maternity roost.
  • Use exclusion or relocation methods only outside the maternity season and under specialist supervision.
  • Install bat boxes only as a supplementary measure. They do not replace natural hollows or an occupied maternity roost.

Threats: Loss of tree hollows

The main development risks are loss of roost trees, removal of feeding habitat and disturbance of occupied colonies. Planning early allows hollow-bearing trees and nearby habitat to be retained wherever possible.

Forestry, agriculture, housing and construction clearing can remove the tree hollows used for roosting. Large old trees and dead standing trees may be valuable even when they appear structurally poor.

  • Retain hollow-bearing trees in the design.
  • Fence and mark retained trees before clearing.
  • Avoid damaging roots, trunks and limbs of retained roost trees.
  • Replace lost habitat only as a last resort and with specialist advice.

Threats: Loss of feeding habitat

Clearing woodland, forest, mallee and coastal heathland can reduce feeding areas and break connections between roosts and open flight paths. Water bodies, damplands, edges and clearings may be used even when no bats are seen during the day.

  • Minimise the clearing footprint.
  • Retain vegetation around water and damp areas.
  • Maintain connected flight paths between retained habitat patches.
  • Rehabilitate disturbed areas with suitable local vegetation.

Threats: Disturbance during works

Noise, vibration, dust, lighting and machinery can disturb roosting bats. The risk is higher when work occurs close to a maternity roost or when an occupied tree is felled without a staged procedure.

  • Use exclusion zones around confirmed or suspected roosts.
  • Avoid night lighting directed at roost entrances.
  • Schedule high-disturbance work outside the maternity season where practicable.
  • Have a stop-work procedure for bats, pups or unexpected cavities.

Threats: Inappropriate exclusion or removal

Sealing a roost too early can trap bats or separate mothers from pups. Removing a hollow-bearing tree without checking the cavity can kill or injure bats and remove a breeding place used by a large share of the local population.

  • Confirm the roost status before sealing or removing access.
  • Use one-way devices only after specialist assessment.
  • Do not exclude bats when dependent young may be present.
  • Document inspections, exclusions, felling stages and any injured or displaced animals.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

The South-western Free-tailed Bat is a poorly known microbat. Use a combination of acoustic detection, roost inspection and direct observation, with extra care around hollow-bearing trees and other potential breeding places.

Map hollow-bearing trees, mature woodland, forest edges, open woodland, mallee, coastal heathland, water bodies, flyways, bridges, culverts, buildings, caves and other structures that could provide roosts.

Review previous records, local planning controls, vegetation mapping, threatened species databases and proposed clearing footprints.

Treat tree hollows as potential roosts and potential breeding places until field assessment shows otherwise.

  • Map all trees and structures that could be retained or affected.
  • Identify likely flight paths between roosting habitat and feeding areas.
  • Check whether the work could affect a colony, maternity roost or shared breeding place.

Survey methodology: 2. Acoustic survey

Use Anabat or comparable ultrasonic detectors to survey dusk and dawn activity. The species has been detected with SM2 and SM4 SongMeter equipment, with calls analysed using Anabat Insight and Kaleidoscope Pro.

Set detectors to record from 30 minutes before dusk to 30 minutes after dawn. Place them near flyways, water bodies, clearings, forest tracks, hill tops and open areas associated with damplands.

As a practical benchmark, use two to four nights at each location where access and conditions allow. A larger project may require multiple detector locations and repeated survey periods.

  • Avoid rain, strong wind and other conditions that reduce bat activity or recording quality.
  • Use more than one detector where the clearing footprint is large or habitat is fragmented.
  • Have a suitably experienced analyst review calls, especially where calls could be confused with other free-tailed bats.
  • Do not treat a lack of calls as proof that a tree, bridge or building is unoccupied.

Survey methodology: 3. Roost and breeding-place inspection

Inspect hollow-bearing trees, fissures, loose bark, caves, mines, culverts, bridges and buildings where safe access is available.

Use an endoscope or pole camera to inspect suitable hollows without entering or damaging the roost. Conduct emergence watches at dusk where occupancy is uncertain.

Use harp traps or mist nets only under an approved survey design and by appropriately trained and authorised personnel. Handle captured bats for the shortest time possible.

  • Look for pregnant or lactating females, pups, fresh guano, staining, noise, odour, scratches and repeated bat activity.
  • Record the location, structure type, entrance size where measurable, height, aspect, surrounding vegetation and evidence of use.
  • Treat a roost where young are raised as a breeding place.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey records and interpretation

Record the date, start and finish times, weather, wind, rain, temperature where available, detector location, detector settings, habitat and survey effort.

Keep the original recordings and document the call-analysis method, software, analyst and confidence level for each identification.

Record all direct observations, emergence counts, trapped animals, roost signs, pups, females showing signs of breeding and any nearby construction activity.

  • Map records in the project geographic information system.
  • Separate confirmed maternity evidence from likely roosting activity and unconfirmed potential habitat.
  • Report survey limitations and explain how they affect the clearing decision.
  • Escalate records of a colony or breeding place before works proceed.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance and approvals

Plan to retain roosting habitat wherever possible. The species breeds in colonies, so the loss of one occupied tree or structure can affect many bats at once.

Redesign the work area to retain hollow-bearing trees, mature vegetation, flyways and known roost structures.

Check whether the action requires an EPBC Act referral, a state approval, a fauna permit or other authorisation before clearing or construction begins.

In Queensland, treat a colony or shared maternity roost of this least concern species as a high risk matter under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020. Obtain and follow the required high risk species management program before tampering with the breeding place.

  • Confirm approval conditions with the project environment manager and relevant state agency.
  • Do not rely on the species being listed as least concern to remove breeding-place controls.
  • Include fauna protection measures in the construction environmental management plan.
  • Give the spotter catcher authority to stop work where an animal, roost or breeding place is found.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Pre-clearance inspection

Complete a pre-clearance inspection shortly before works. Recheck trees and structures identified during desktop and acoustic surveys.

Inspect likely hollows with an endoscope or pole camera where this can be done safely. Conduct an emergence watch if occupancy remains uncertain.

Use a qualified fauna ecologist or authorised spotter catcher to confirm whether a structure is occupied and whether breeding evidence is present.

  • Mark trees and structures to be retained with durable, visible markers.
  • Mark exclusion zones on the ground and on construction plans.
  • Check for pups and lactating females before approving removal or disturbance.
  • Brief the clearing crew on the species, roost signs, stop-work process and handling restrictions.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Timing, exclusion and buffers

Most microbats give birth to one pup a year in the warmer months, usually from spring to late summer. Avoid disturbing a confirmed maternity roost during this period unless the relevant authority has approved a specific action.

Do not exclude bats from a maternity roost while dependent young may be inside. Use exclusion devices only outside the maternity season and only after a competent assessment confirms that exclusion is appropriate.

Set a site-specific buffer around each occupied roost or breeding place. Base the buffer on the structure, species behaviour, work type, vibration, lighting and advice in the approval or management program.

  • Keep machinery, lighting, access tracks and storage areas outside the agreed buffer.
  • Maintain flight paths between the roost and nearby feeding habitat where practicable.
  • Use temporary fencing and signs to prevent accidental entry into the buffer.
  • Reinspect the site if works are delayed or conditions change.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Hollow-bearing tree removal plan

Where removal cannot be avoided, use a two-stage or soft-felling method for hollow-bearing trees. First disturb or lower the tree in a controlled way, then leave it in place or secure it so animals can leave before final removal, where the approved method allows.

Use a spotter catcher and arborist who are experienced with hollow-bearing trees and microbats. Stop the operation if bats, pups or a breeding place are found.

Do not seal, cut up or transport a hollow-bearing section until it has been checked and the approved procedure is complete.

  • Retain felled hollow sections on site where they can provide temporary refuge.
  • Use machinery with a clear exclusion zone around the tree.
  • Plan the work for suitable weather and daylight conditions.
  • Document the method, personnel, inspection results and decision to proceed.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clearing must proceed slowly enough for bats to leave and for the fauna team to respond. Colonies and maternity roosts require immediate protection and a clear escalation pathway.

Clear vegetation in stages, working from the disturbed area towards retained habitat so animals have a route away from machinery.

Use the approved two-stage or soft-felling procedure for hollow-bearing trees and any other structure with potential roost value.

Keep spotter catchers present while hollow-bearing trees, dense vegetation, bridges, culverts or buildings are disturbed.

  • Inspect each tree or structure before disturbance.
  • Pause between stages to allow animals to move away.
  • Keep machinery outside marked exclusion zones until the fauna representative releases the area.
  • Do not use smoke, fire, chemicals, high-pressure water or loud impact methods to force bats from a roost.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work response

The spotter catcher must stop work if a bat, pup, colony, occupied roost, maternity roost or other active breeding place is found.

Protect the location from people, machinery, vibration, dust and artificial light. Keep the area quiet and do not enter the roost unless authorised and necessary for animal welfare.

Contact the project ecologist and environment manager, then notify the relevant regulator where required by the approval or management program.

  • Record the location and condition of the roost or animal.
  • Establish or extend a temporary exclusion zone.
  • Do not remove an active maternity roost or separate pups from females.
  • Resume work only after the ecologist and approval holder confirm that the control measures are in place.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and release

Only trained and authorised people may handle bats. Use clean gloves or other approved equipment, and minimise handling time, noise and exposure.

Place a captured bat in a suitable, secure, breathable holding container away from direct sun, heat, rain, pets and machinery. Do not give food or water unless directed by a bat carer or veterinarian.

Release a healthy adult at the capture location or another approved location, following the project fauna protocol and authority conditions.

  • Never handle a bat with bare hands.
  • Avoid handling females with pups unless required for welfare or approved survey work.
  • Keep species, sex, age class, condition, capture time and release details.
  • Contact a registered wildlife carer or veterinarian for an injured or grounded bat.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injury and incident pathway

Treat bleeding, fractures, inability to fly, overheating, entanglement, contact with machinery or suspected poisoning as an animal welfare incident.

Secure the area, stop the relevant activity and contact the project ecologist, authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian. Follow any regulator notification requirements.

Record the incident even if the animal is released successfully.

  • Photograph the animal and location only where this can be done without extra handling or stress.
  • Record the time, activity, equipment, personnel, injuries, treatment, destination and outcome.
  • Preserve relevant evidence where a breach, collision or unauthorised disturbance may have occurred.
  • Do not relocate a bat or alter a roost without approval and ecological direction.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that the work did not leave animals trapped or expose an occupied roost. They also provide evidence for approvals, corrective action and future planning.

Inspect the cleared area, retained trees, felled hollow sections, bridges, culverts and buildings at the end of each work stage.

Check for grounded bats, trapped animals, damaged hollows, blocked entrances, displaced pups and signs of continuing roost use.

Complete an evening emergence watch or repeat acoustic monitoring where the work affected a known or likely roost.

  • Check beneath and around felled trees before sections are moved or cut up.
  • Inspect temporary exclusion devices and remove them when the approved period ends.
  • Keep retained roost structures free from stored materials, lighting and machinery.
  • Record the time and person completing each check.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated animals and roost structures

Recheck any bat released or relocated after the event. Seek veterinary or wildlife-carer advice if it is found grounded, injured, dehydrated or unable to fly.

Monitor retained or replacement roost structures for occupancy where they form part of the approved mitigation. Acoustic monitoring and emergence watches can show whether bats continue to use the area.

Do not assume that a bat box or replacement hollow has replaced a maternity roost until use has been demonstrated.

  • Record release location, time, condition and follow-up observations.
  • Keep replacement structures stable, dry, shaded as appropriate and clear of obstructions.
  • Inspect structures after storms, tree works and construction vibration.
  • Escalate evidence of pups or a new colony to the project ecologist.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Prepare a fauna clearance report that links each action to the approval, management program and site plan.

Include maps, photographs, survey effort, detector locations, call records, roost inspections, animals handled, incidents, releases, exclusions and unresolved risks.

Submit notifications and reports to the relevant authority within the required timeframe.

  • Record all stop-work events and the time taken to restart work.
  • Compare actual clearing with the approved footprint.
  • Document any departure from the planned method and the corrective action.
  • Retain acoustic files, field sheets, permits and photographs in the project records.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Monitoring and review

Review the results with the ecologist, spotter catcher, construction supervisor and approval holder before the next clearing stage.

Use repeat acoustic monitoring, emergence watches or targeted inspections where the project may have affected a roost, colony or flight path.

Update the construction controls if bats continue to use retained habitat or if new breeding evidence is found.

  • Check whether lighting, noise, vibration or barriers are affecting access to retained habitat.
  • Review all injuries, near misses and stop-work events.
  • Update induction material and the fauna management plan for later stages.
  • Keep monitoring results with the project environmental records.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore roosting and movement habitat

Rehabilitation should restore roosting habitat and safe movement routes, not just replace cleared vegetation. Retain natural hollows wherever possible, because artificial structures may not provide an equivalent maternity roost.

Protect retained hollow-bearing trees and allow replacement trees to mature. Link retained woodland, forest edges and other suitable habitat where practicable.

Replant locally appropriate native species that will develop roosting and foraging habitat. Avoid removing dead trees that are safe and have known habitat value.

Keep drainage lines, flyways and access to water bodies free from unnecessary barriers.

  • Use local provenance plants where required by the rehabilitation plan.
  • Protect plantings from browsing, fire, machinery and compaction.
  • Retain fallen hollow sections where they provide suitable refuge and do not create a safety risk.
  • Control weeds so they do not overtake planted habitat or block movement routes.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Replacement roost structures

Use bat boxes, nest boxes or artificial roost structures only where their design and placement suit local microbats and the approved mitigation plan. For this species, replacement structures are supplementary measures, not an automatic substitute for a natural maternity roost.

Install structures before or during habitat restoration where practicable, and place them away from excessive artificial light, disturbance and obstruction.

Seek advice from a bat ecologist on box design, orientation, height, thermal conditions, access and maintenance.

  • Use more than one suitable structure where a colony or multiple roost trees have been affected, subject to ecological advice.
  • Do not install boxes where they will be exposed to avoidable construction disturbance.
  • Inspect and monitor boxes for occupancy, damage, pests and overheating.
  • Record installation details and treat occupied boxes as protected roosts or breeding places where applicable.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Water, lighting and site conditions

Maintain clean water bodies and damp areas that support insect prey and bat activity. Prevent sediment, hydrocarbons, rubbish and construction chemicals from entering water.

Use the lowest practical level of artificial lighting near retained habitat, roosts and flyways.

Direct lights away from roost entrances, tree hollows, bridges, culverts and replacement structures.

  • Use shields, timers, motion controls and warm-spectrum lighting where consistent with safety requirements.
  • Avoid lighting continuous corridors between roosts and feeding areas.
  • Repair erosion and restore natural drainage after construction.
  • Remove temporary lighting and equipment when the work area is released.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor restored habitat and replacement roost structures for use, condition and threats. Use acoustic detectors, emergence watches and inspection cameras where suitable.

Set monitoring duration and triggers through the approval, species management program or rehabilitation plan. Continue monitoring where a colony, maternity roost or replacement structure is involved.

Use the results to repair structures, adjust lighting, control weeds and improve future mitigation.

  • Record bat activity, roost occupancy, breeding evidence, vegetation survival and weed cover.
  • Inspect after major storms, fires, flooding and nearby maintenance works.
  • Report confirmed breeding use to the project ecologist and relevant authority.
  • Retain monitoring data to guide later clearing and rehabilitation projects.

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