Main Content
The Importance of Microbats in Pittwater
In Australia there are 6 families of microbats and many live around Sydney. Most microbats eat flying insects and will catch up to 500 in an hour, eating up to half of their body weight. For this reason, bats are very important in Pittwater as they are great at keeping down the mosquitoes and often do a much better job of protecting crops than insecticides.
Many species of microbat may be found in caves whilst other species will use tree hollows, cracks and culverts. Microbats have completely unique facial features, with wide extended ears and unusually shaped nostrils.
In recent times there has been a problem of bat deaths in the North-east USA. The problem is currently referred to as 'White Nose Syndrome' which causes a white fungal growth often appearing on the nose. If anyone comes across what they suspect may be White Nose Syndrome in Pittwater, they should immediately contact the Commonwealth Department of Fisheries Forestry and Agriculture National Pest and Disease Outbreak Hotline on 131 450. They should also contact Pittwater Council's Natural Environment and Education unit on 9970 1369.
The main symptoms to look out for are one or a combination of those below;
- White fungus on nose, also sometimes on the wings and tail – this fungus is not always obvious.
- Bats flying during the daylight and many dying inside, around and outside caves.
- Bats concentrated near cave entrances in the light penetration zone.
Updated: 05 Dec 2011