THE council has its "fingers crossed" the city's flying fox population will move on by the end of the year.
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If you're anywhere near the Tamworth CBD lately, you couldn't possibly miss the city's flying fox colony.
It has become a recurring sight for Tamworth in recent years with populations swelling to well in excess of 100,000 at times.
But there has been no indication the flying foxes are ready to pack up their 2019 Tamworth camp just yet.
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Tamworth Regional Council's manager of regulatory services Ross Briggs said there hadn't been an official count of the mammals since last month.
"There were 89,450 at last count undertaken in August," Mr Briggs said.
The council does not appear to have a plan to move the flying foxes on before summer.
"They appear to be staying at the moment," he said.
"The feed supply is predicted to last until the pups, which are on the way if not here already, are big enough to fly on their own.
"They should, fingers crossed, leave December/January."
The council received a $33,000 grant from the state government in June to help manager the Peel River camps.
The funding helped create an "alternative habitat in the Gipps Street flying-fox camp" and create a buffer between the Gipps Street camp and the park area on Kable Avenue.
The flying fox funding tranche also helped deliver "a flying-fox awareness campaign, install a fixed-binocular unit and education signage at the Gipps Street flying-fox camp; and host a community engagement event".
Tamworth was one of 15 councils in NSW to receive flying fox funding in NSW.
Tamworth council's flying fox information website stated it had also applied for funding from Local Government NSW for further education campaigns.
There are no reports of any infections with Hendra or lyssavirus among wildlife handlers working with flying foxes or in people living near colonies, according to NSW Health.