There are reports locals in the Gold Coast area have been having some unusual encounters with bats, seeing them flying low and even colliding with people.

But a wildlife vet nurse and rescuer from Bats Queensland, Rhiannon Traish-Walker, says they are certainly not “attacks” on people, but a symptom of the season.

“What we are seeing now is our starvation event with our bats,” she explained on 4BC Drive.

“Given the cold season also, a lot of rain that’s recently washed out their nectar which is the natural food sources, the bats are becoming more hazardous, they are coming down lower in trees to come and find food they wouldn’t usually go for, just out of desperation.

“They are pretty clumsy animals, when the get a spook, they’ll just fly off.

“And sometimes that might be a knock into a person by accident, but they have the bravery of your average chicken – they are not intentionally going after anyone.”

Press PLAY below to hear her advice for what to do in the unlikely event of a ‘bat encounter’

Images: Getty iStock