Top End driven batty

Fruit bats caught in powerlines and high voltage power distribution equipment are causing disruptions in the Northern Territory.

Fruit bats have been nesting in Dundee and Bynoe, and causing disruptions by breaking tree limbs that then hit powerlines. The bats can also hit the lines with their wings when perched. The bats are common visitors to these areas annually when native plants are in flower.

Power and Water crews have upgraded insulators on overhead powerlines and replaced them with longer post-top insulators that provide greater clearance to birds and animals. In affected areas, specifically designed mesh mats have also been installed, which prove effective against smaller fruit bats.

 

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