In some quarters, this intriguing mammal is much maligned.
Recently, a colony of thousands (?) has settled in the trees around the lakes Guthridge and Guyatt in Sale. Judging by the comments to a Facebook entry, they are not proving very popular (LINK). Colonies of flying foxes do relocate naturally from time to time and is thought the recent East Gippsland bushfires may have something to do with the arrival of the bats in Sale.
The Grey-headed Flying Fox is an Australian endemic species, protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and is listed as nationally threatened. Their numbers do appear to be in decline across the nation.
Flying Foxes are definitely not vermin. They feed on nectar and pollen, particularly of eucalypts and are responsible for the regeneration of forests through their pollination and seed dispersal practices.
Nice to see that Parks Vic and Wellington Shire have installed a positive interpretive sign.
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