Few are as well qualified to comment on the flying fox population of the Batemans Bay Water Gardens than Mark Parsons and Sarah North, whose Short Street home backs right onto it.
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They have lived there since moving from Batehaven four months ago and it is fair to say they have had enough of their flying neighbours, especially since a recent episode of 60 Minutes made them fear for their three-year-old son and four-month old daughter.
“My son cannot play outside because of the smell and the filth left by these creatures,” Ms North said.
“The noise is so bad, and the smell is making us all sick. My mother came over to stay and she had to leave the next morning because she was sick from the smell. I’ve been woken up at 4.30am by them returning to the gardens.”
The 60 Minutes edition recounted the death of a young boy who contracted Australian bat lyssavirus after being scratched by a flying fox in Queensland.
“That scared us with two little kids,” Mr Parsons said.
“We jumped on the net straight afterwards and did some research.”
Mr Parsons said the family had to be careful when hanging out clothes on the line and chopping wood for the fire.
“The bats poo and wee everywhere; it’s disgusting,” he said.
“I’ve got a swing set and trampoline that I haven’t been able to set up for my son. Every time you come in from outside you have to wash your shoes. I was cooking the other day and I opened the window to let some steam out and the smell from the bats was overwhelming. We’ve got a puppy but we can’t let him out.”
Although experts have repeatedly advised that the flying foxes pose only a remote danger to people, Mr Parsons and Ms North will be taking up the issue with Eurobodalla Shire Council.
“I don’t want this problem swept under the carpet because so-called experts say there is nothing to worry about,” Ms North said.
