... species is unique in that it is also recognised as a horticultural pest, predominantly in coastal orchards of south-eastern Australia. In times of native resource (pollen, nectar and rainforest fruits) shortage, flying-foxes are known to utilise commercial fruit crops. As such, the species is affected...

... Exclusion netting systems are the only humane method for preventing flying-fox damage to orchards, especially during seasons when natural food is in short supply. As the forests that provide natural food are eliminated, and flying-fox pressure on orchards therefore increases, the need...

... flowering of eucalypts. When there is broad-scale failure of native foods in spring, flying-foxes raid orchards for ripening exotic fruit. These events are compounded by spring births in flying-foxes and potentially greater mortality from shooting in orchards. Dual benefits to flying-foxes and orchardists...

... Many fruit growers see flying-foxes such as the Grey-headed Flying-fox as a threat to their livelihood. Understandably, when large numbers of the animals suddenly enter orchards and cause significant damage, growers start to talk of “population explosions” of the animals. In this paper we...

... We have been struck by the paucity of coverage of bats in the media, even though they constitute a quarter of the Australian mammal fauna. The Microchiroptera are almost invisible to the public, but the Megachiroptera come to public attention mostly when camping in or near towns or in orchards...

... of pasture and dams. There is little evidence to support claims of pollution or the need to control numbers but this message falls on deaf ears. Grey-headed Flying-foxes Pteropus poliocephalus are locally abundant yet Nationally threatened and cause significant damage in orchards, creating management...

... Flying-foxes come into conflict with fruit growers when they raid fruit crops in response to limited native food resources. A standard technique used by fruit growers to deter flying-foxes has been to shoot the animals as they enter the orchard. This activity has been regulated by National Parks...

... committee to address management problems; 2) incentives are required to encourage/assist growers to net their orchards; 3) governments must make a serious commitment to an integrated and properly-funded research effort; 4) shooting under licence should continue until effective non-lethal alternatives...

... on identifying potential solutions. This paper outlines the activities, outcomes and future strategies of the Committee in its search to find solutions for management of flying-foxes in orchard production systems. ...

... in perpetuity - and cost-effective and environmentally and socially acceptable ways of minimising conflicts with people in rural and urban contexts. Exclusion netting can achieve this in some, although not all, orchard situations but is usually inappropriate for managing camp occupation. There is a need...