IT WAS the sight - and the photograph - to show just how dry and increasingly desperate life has become in the Macleay.
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While concern is rightly with primary producers, native wildlife too is feeling the pinch.
Evidence of the dire state is a picture taken by a woman of a flying fox (sometimes referred to as a bat) eating a tangelo in the Clybucca area.
Wildlife rescue organisation FAWNA president Meredith Ryan explained to the Argus that flying foxes normally won't have a bar of citrus.
But their normal food sources have become so scarce that they are turning to almost whatever they can find.
Ms Ryan said there had also been reports of flying foxes eating lemons at Crescent Head - and that the situation of colonies facing starvation is widespread from the lower Mid North Coast right up to South East Queensland.
"It's everywhere - there's just a lack of feed," she said.
FAWNA volunteers had noticed a spike in animal rescues last month - well before the usual seasonal period.
Ms Ryan said the situation meant there were dead and dying flying foxes across the region - and this had changed the animals' behaviour ... "they're not going back to their camps at night and flying into people's gardens for things like mulberry trees which are coming into flower".
As Australia's apex pollinators, the preferred diet of flying foxes is pollen and nectar, with fruit being eaten when they cannot source blossoms. With no blossom available and not a lot of fruit, flying foxes are exhibiting what is called 'tree guarding', whereby because food is scarce, they are finding trees with fruit and instead of eating from the tree during night time and then returning to roost at their camp, they are staying in the tree and guarding their food supply.
They are being found low down in trees, meaning they are sick or injured, and dead on the ground because they simply are starving to death - they do not have enough energy to fly home to their camp in the morning. Being on or low to the ground means that curious animals, particularly cats and dogs, can come in direct contact with the bats.
The natural instinct for a lot of humans is to try and help them, but health authorities and wildlife rescue organisations are urging people to not approach, or let their pets approach, the animals because of the risk of contracting Lyssavirus.
"Although there have been no recorded cases of the infection in dogs or cats in Australia, it is possible that domestic pets are susceptible to the disease." Phil Kemsley, North Coast Local Land Services district veterinarian said.
Lyssavirus can be contracted by bats, horses and humans. Although the risk to humans is very small, contracting the disease will cause death if left untreated.
"If you find a sick, injured or abandoned flying-fox, contact a licensed wildlife carer organisation or local veterinarian. Members of the public should not handle live bats. Only trained, vaccinated bat handlers should attempt to handle bats." Dr Kemsley added.
Ms Ryan underscored that point, saying Macleay residents should call FAWNA on 6581-4141.
She said if a flying fox was caught on a barbed wire fence, a member of the public might carefully drape a towel over the creature to shield it from the sunlight, but should not attempt to free the animal and wait for a specially trained FAWNA volunteer to attend.
Dr Kemsley recommends that if you know or suspect your pet has been in contact with a bat, clean any apparent wounds by washing under running water for five minutes and apply an iodine-based antiseptic.
"After cleaning any wounds, seek veterinary assistance from your local veterinary practitioner without delay for the safety of pets and owners," Dr Kemsley said.
The same applies for humans, only seek medical attention with a doctor.
In addition, if you are bitten or scratched by a bat, the bat must be killed so a biopsy can be done on its brain to determine whether it carries the virus. This means, instead of helping the bat, you are causing its death.
How you can help starving flying foxes
If you come across a sick flying fox, call rescue organisation FAWNA on their 24-hour number 6581-4141, but remember, do not approach the bat. This will advise you of what to do until they arrive.
You can actively help the flying foxes by supplying them with what are called 'fruit kebabs' - fruit strung on wire to be wrapped or hung on a tree. Suitable fruit are apples, grapes and mangoes. The fruit must be strung at a minimum height of two metres from the ground, otherwise they will be vulnerable.
Fruit kebabs should not be supplied continously otherwise they will become dependent on humans for food. Do it randomly and sporadically.
Even if you do not have a bat residing in a tree, you can still install a fruit kebab so they can find them while searching for food.
There are other stipulations on providing fruit kebabs to flying foxes. For more information on how to create and supply fruit kebabs visit the Bats Qld Facebook page.
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