A health alert has been issued following a large number of flying fox deaths in the Hunter.
Colonies at Cessnock, Tocal, Carrington and Raymond Terrace have been affected not by illness, but by smoke and food shortages.
But the local health district has put out a warning for people looking to help the bats, saying we’re better off leaving it to wildlife rescuers.
Scratches and bites from the mammals can lead to humans contracting the deadly lyssavirus.
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