Janine Davies, from the Wildlife Rescue South Coast Bat Sanctuary, says they have rescued 16 baby flying foxes since November 3 this year.

She said the availability of blossom and birthing season drove the number of flying foxes in the region up.

"Less than 1% of flying foxes and insectivorous bats can carry the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) and anyone handling them needs to be vaccinated," she said.

"The ABL is transmitted through saliva, and not faeces or urine. Flying foxes are a keystone species, listed as vulnerable to extinction, are our night-time pollinators and are crucial to the health of our native forests and native fruit trees."

She urged anyone who found a hurt or orphaned flying fox to contact Wildlife Rescue South Coast (WRSC) on 0418 427 214 at any time.

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"Flying-foxes can be entangled in netting loosely placed over fruit crops, and they are found caught by the wing membrane in barbed wire fences," she said.

"WRSC has trained and vaccinated flying-fox rescuers from south of Wollongong, to the Southern Highlands and south to the Victorian border.

"Please choose only Wildlife Friendly Netting which has an aperture of 5ml or less."

She said babies attached to a dead mother were often difficult to see - but could be heard.

"A dead adult female flying-fox electrocuted on the powerlines may have an unharmed baby and it is very important that we get to them quickly," she said.

"Sometimes a shrill whistle up at the bat will elicit a chirruping response from the little one."

If anyone is bitten or scratched by a flying-fox or microbat, they should immediately wash the area with soap and running water for 5 minutes then seek immediate medical attention.