READERS DISCUSS: Is bat dispersal worth the trouble?
SUNSHINE Coast Council staff were out at Coolum once more this week in an attempt to move on a colony of flying foxes that has been making life hard for residents.
The bat dispersal program started this week, for the second time.
The early morning affair included the crack of stockwhips, air horns and smoke to rid the area near Elizabeth St of a flying fox colony.
Council conservation officer Kate Winter said there were three main roosts in Coolum that were considered high-conflict habitat.
"There is the Cassia Wildlife Corridor that was established in 2011, one at Palmer Coolum Resort established in 2009 and this one here at Elizabeth St established last year as a result of the dispersal on Cassia, when the flying foxes splintered and they headed up to this site," she said.
The Daily's online poll was split even- half the respondents saying yes, sometimes there was no other choice, and the other saying it was unfair to mess with nature.
Here's a snapshot of your conversation online on our Facebook page.
Coolum residents had a rude awakening this morning when bat dispersal efforts including horns and smoke, started again...
Posted by Sunshine Coast Daily on Wednesday, 1 July 2015
> IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: NOISE CREWS MOVE IN TO DISPERSE COOLUM"S BAT COLONY
Chris Nikolic: It doesn't work. Leave the bats alone...geez , live with them.
Fiona Margaret: Waste of taxpayers money.
Michelle Neil: It depends what is meant by 'affecting the public'. Most uneducated peoples version of being 'affected' is unwarranted, unproven and usually a result of scare mongering. The purpose these creatures serve to improve our environment grossly outweighs any negative 'affect' they have in the community. Leave them alone and there is far less chance of anyone getting bitten if this is what's 'scaring' people.
Philip Millroy: Humans are so 'precious' ... Let's try accepting nature for a change.
Matt Gillis: if you cannot live with your neighbour then move and better then that accept then for what they are, as said Love thy Neighbour as thy love the self, them must not love them self as the bats are not loved.
John Marston: No.. It's proven to not work.. Move your home.. If the bats were the first then it's your own fault. Stop developing and removing wildlife
