In search of some batty summer time enjoyable? As many as 20 million bats spend their summer time hanging out in a cave simply northeast of city. And you may see these bats in San Antonio if you realize the place to look.
Every March, some 10-12 million feminine Mexican Free-tailed Bats migrate from Latin America to roost in Bracken Cave, the place they provide start to 5 to 6 million (or extra) juvenile bats every June. These bats use the encircling countryside to be taught to fly and forage for bugs. Each evening for 3 or 4 hours, these hundreds of thousands of bats spiral counter-clockwise out of the cave every evening, on their approach to hunt a tasty insect dinner at speeds of as much as 60 miles per hour.
Located on the Bracken Cave Protect, virtually 700 acres of land owned by Bat Conservation Worldwide (BCI). On the peak of summer time, the Bracken bat colony eats 140 tons of bugs every evening as these summer time residents forage the encircling countryside and past. In actual fact, they really journey as much as 60 miles away every evening, which means that they full a 120-mile round-trip to forage, eat, and discover earlier than returning house to the cave at dawn.
The protect is situated in southern Comal County, simply outdoors of San Antonio in Bracken, close to Pure Bridge Caverns. The unforgettable scene of hundreds of thousands of bats swirling out of the cave and the way we non-nocturnals can see this gorgeous present. Entry to the cave is restricted to guard the habitat of the resident bats, however BCI presents guided excursions to permit the general public to observe the bats emerge from the cave. Moreover, BCI hosts particular nights for BCI members, offering them a chance to make reservations for a viewing. Based in 1982 and primarily based in Austin, BCI is dedicated to conservation, schooling and analysis initiatives involving bats and the ecosystems they serve.
An alternative choice is Bracken Bat Flight, a mixed cave- and bat-viewing bundle supplied by way of a partnership between Pure Bridge Caverns and BCI. The bundle features a tour of Pure Bridge Caverns, adopted by a bat viewing. Examine with Pure Bridge Caverns for extra particulars.
What does a viewing entail? Becoming a member of BCI workers and volunteers for a pre-sunset speak in regards to the bats after which front-row seats for a present that have to be seen to be believed. As a maternal colony, the Bracken bats function mothers and their infants. (The “daddy bats,” as my son used to name them, and nonreproductive females dwell individually in bachelor colonies, certainly one of which will be present in downtown San Antonio on the Museum Attain on the Camden Avenue Bridge. The San Antonio River Authority and BCI host “Bat Loco” occasions on the Museum Attain that target the colony, however this yr’s bats are popping out a lot later than earlier years: the spring rains imply extra bugs/much less work foraging, so the Camden Bridge colony could also be tougher to identify this summer time.)
As for the Bracken mothers and their infants, neither phrases nor nonetheless photographs do them justice. After driving into the protect—which is gated and solely open throughout hosted occasions and requires guests to pre-register to enter—you drive 1.7 miles to the parking space. From there, viewing requires strolling a half-mile into the world of the cave. You’re in what seems like an amphitheater, however as a substitute of a stage, there’s a 100-foot-wide gap, and whereas the solar continues to be within the sky, you may see bats fluttering in regards to the opening.
The cave itself is about two soccer fields lengthy and 80 ft deep, however solely researchers enterprise in and by no means when the bats are in residence. Truthfully, the outline of the cave’s insides shouldn’t be fairly: mites, scorpions, fleas, and bat poop, in any other case referred to as guano, which is believed to be 19 meters deep or extra—the researches wish to do core samples for carbon relationship. I admire the science behind that, however YUCK. The scent outdoors of the cave—an occasional whiff of guano on the wind—was greater than sufficient to inform me I don’t should be any nearer.
Because the solar begins to set, you stare down into the crescent-shaped opening as you sit on benches and pure rock formations, ready for the enjoyable to start. The solar slips decrease within the sky, and because it begins to dip under the timber on the horizon, a ribbon begins to spin out of the cave. Few in quantity at first, then increasingly motion because the bats begin on their nightly journey. Such as you, your fellow viewers are sitting in awed silence as you watch the bats emerge. By the way in which, bats don’t like noise, so you could be quiet in order to not interrupt their journey, which isn’t onerous as a result of, actually, phrases escape you as they proceed to spill out of the cave.
The sky above the viewing space fills with bats, and if you happen to cup your hand behind your ears, you may hear their wings as they fly. It’s also possible to hear them “speaking” to one another: little bat sounds that make you marvel in the event that they’re discussing the place they’ll go for the evening and what kind of bugs are on their breakfast/lunch/dinner menu.
After the bats start to emerge, BCI volunteers and workers escort you to the again aspect of the cave—a straight shot from the viewing space, accessible down a gravel path. Whilst you can’t see the mouth of the cave from that angle, the positioning of the bats filling the sky, with the stays of the setting solar as their backdrop, leaves you together with your mouth open as you ponder nature’s magnificence and the wonders of those little creatures.
A couple of misconceptions about our misunderstood nocturnal winged buddies: they don’t seem to be blind or soiled, nor are they seeking to nest in your hair. They’ve wonderful imaginative and prescient and, in fact, use organic sonar to hunt in complete darkness and groom their fur like cats do. And regardless of what Hollywood would have you ever imagine, they don’t suck blood—no less than, not mos of them. Solely three of greater than 1,300 bat species are vampire bats that feed on blood. All of those reside in Latin America, solely one of many three vampire species targets mammals, and that one prefers home livestock, so actually, you’re secure.
Bats are additionally not rodents; they’re mammals—and sure, they nurse their younger. Some nurse for so long as six months and can carry their infants with them after they fly. Think about what it’s wish to breastfeed whereas hanging the wrong way up or in flight—c’mon, you realize that may’t be simple! Give these little mamas some respect. And whereas she lives in a colony with hundreds of thousands of different bats, a mama bat can return and discover her toddler by voice and scent. As soon as once more, bravo, mama bats!
So cool issue apart, why must you admire bats? As a result of they assist pollinate quite a few crops (together with avocados and agave) and their voracious little tummies actually like bugs. A mom bat can eat as much as her physique weight in bugs each evening, and one million bats can eat as a lot as 10 tons of bugs. That urge for food helps save American farmers greater than $3.7 billion every year and cuts down on pesticide use.
And whereas we’re speaking bat information, let’s speak security. Although the incidence of rabies in wholesome bat populations is as little as—or decrease than—1%, 10 to 25% of all sick or lifeless bats discovered on the bottom in Texas check optimistic for rabies. Anybody dealing with a bat with out carrying gloves could also be required to obtain preventative rabies photographs, so consider and share together with your kids {that a} bat discovered on the bottom is to not be touched. You possibly can contact animal management for secure disposal.
A couple of issues to know in regards to the excursions—and BCI’s FAQ part is one thing it is best to take a look at if you happen to’re enthusiastic about attending a viewing. It offers you tips about what to convey (bug spray is a should, as are closed-toed sneakers; binoculars can assist you watch as hawks and falcons see if they’ll snag a bat for dinner; and depart your pets and smokes at house).
Very first thing to know: that is an journey that requires planning. You will need to pre-register, and spots fill shortly, so if that is one thing you wish to do, plan prematurely by visiting the BCI webpage to take a look at public and member nights.
Second: make certain your kids are sufficiently old for a viewing. Whereas we as soon as took our four-and-a-half-year-old and have seen younger kids there , BCI recommends viewing for ages six and up. After attending a viewing, this mother agrees. As cool as that is, it’s onerous for youngsters to sit down nonetheless and keep quiet. For his or her security, they’ll’t roam and play—that is undeveloped land, and whereas BCI has cleared an amazing space for viewing, you don’t need your kids exploring on their very own. The evening of our go to, even kids ages eight to 10 have been dropping curiosity.
Third, take into account supporting BCI. With assist, BCI can assist defend bats and protect areas just like the Bracken Cave, ensuring your children can witness this marvel and maybe share it with their very own kids sometime.
