Breeding & Racing Magazine

Qld Plan To Cull Bat Trees To Stop Hendra Spread

Queensland property owners "would be able to clear flying fox-friendly trees from horse yards under recommendations to be made to the state government to cut the risk of Hendra virus," reported The Courier-Mail. The idea "is seen as a more realistic alternative to mass culling of bats" & Queensland Horse Council president Debbie Dekker said the organisation was also working with researchers "to help horse owners selecting trees unlikely to entice bats". Dekker said native she-oaks had been suggested, as "they did not produce nectar or fruit". Dekker noted the recommendation "will cover only selective removal of trees that bats feed from around horse yards & night holding paddocks".