The Central Western Daily reported this week that about 100 bats have begun their annual visit to Orange.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd said he had spotted the colony in trees on Ploughmans Lane.

The arrival of the bats will concern orchardists with the cherry harvest ready to start.

Orchardists are hoping numbers don't get out of hand but, in the meantime, WIRES Central West is urging residents to keep an eye out for flying foxes that might be struggling in the heat.

The mercury across the Orange region is tipped to climb above 30 degrees Celsius on both Saturday and Sunday and flying fox species co-ordinator Pamela Dury said the bats faced a number of threats.

She said the number of flying fox rescues was increasing each year as bats became tangled on barbed wire fences and fruit netting, caught in powerlines and impacted by heat stress events, bushfire and severe storms.

"This is a particularly tricky time of year for flying foxes as spring heralds the start of the birthing season when females can be heavily pregnant or pups can be separated from their mothers," Ms Dury said.

"If you see a sick, injured or orphaned flying fox please keep your distance, do not touch it or try to contain it.

"Please keep any pets and other people away from the animal as well. If the animal is obviously injured, if it's a young pup, or if it's on the ground, please call WIRES 1300 094 737 for assistance.

"If it is a hot day when you are waiting for a rescuer to arrive and you are able to safely provide some form of shade over the flying fox to keep it out of the direct sun, please do."

Ms Dury said flying foxes played an important role in the Australian environment.

"They are natural pollinators and seed dispersers and are crucial for the survival and regeneration of our native forests - extremely important after last summer's bushfires," she said.

Residents can help flying foxes and all native species by planting native trees or even becoming a wildlife carer and rescuer.

Go to www.wires.org.au.