23-05-2025
Drivers urged to 'keep an eye' out for common scene above Aussie roads
Drivers have been urged to be aware of their surroundings and "keep an eye" out for anything out of the ordinary on our roads after an emergency crew was called out to save a baby bat.
Wildlife rescuers told Yahoo News drivers play a critical role in saving wildlife in strife along Aussie roads after one "vigilant" community member spotted the tiny flying fox hanging from powerlines near Townsville in north Queensland.
Animals being caught on power lines is a common sight, with a similar scene happening in the same area just last month, and earlier this year a pelican was seen hanging from a street light on a busy highway.
Energy company Ergon scrambled to save the tiny animal earlier this week from the high wires on a road in the Townsville suburb of Aitkenvale. They went "above and beyond" to get the little one down safely and into care.
"Keep an eye on any strange thing hanging off powerlines and report it [as soon as possible]," a spokesperson for NQ Wildlife Care told Yahoo News.
"Sometimes it's a baby like this one, sometimes it's a dead mum with a live baby that will need to be rescued. But also drive safely and keep their eyes on the road."
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Wildlife carers explained that mother flying foxes can sometimes leave their young when they fly off at night to feed, but if the babies are too heavy, they can be left behind. "But sometimes they don't [collect them]," carers said.
Carers speculated it could be that the mothers can't find their babies again after leaving them.
"It would be hard to find such a little speck in the dark," they said. '"At least this one was lucky and was found in time before a predator got to him."
Despite the mishap, the tiny animal now named Jamie is doing "really well".
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