Just the facts visit austin is the official destination marketing and sales organization for the city of austin. In austin, texas, a colony of mexican freetailed bats summers they winter in mexico under the congress avenue bridge 10 blocks south of the texas state capitol. Bats are intelligent, unique mammals facing multiple threats of ignorance, suspicion, poisoning, roost destruction, habitat loss, and overexploitation. It is home to 32 of the 47 species of bats found in the united states. With these facts about texas, let us learn more about its history, geography, people, culture, economy and more. Only three of the worlds more than 1,100 species of bats are classified as vampire bats, and these live in tropical areas of latin america. The bat watching cruise runs nightly starting in early march through early november. Whether a bat enthusiast or not, many just love to take in an evening view of bats in austin as one of the many local austin, texas attractions simply put, people are batty for austins worldrenowned mexico freetailed bats and their night flight of 60plus miles per hour and 2mile high flight patterns, and feeding frenzy of austin insects thanks to lady bird lake, formerly town lake. Poisons, naphthalene flakes and harmless repellant devices do not deter bats and may actually harm humans. Jul 11, 2019 its good to remember that the emergence of the bats relies on many factors, including the time of year and the weather. Not only does it hold the distinction of having the most kinds of bats, it also boasts the largest known bat colony in the world, bracken cave preserve, near san antonio, and the largest urban bat.
The largest urban freetailed colony is located here in the capital city, beneath the congress avenue bridge. Austin congress avenue bridge bats urban bat colony. Visitors from around the world flock to texas to enjoy public batviewing at several locations throughout the state. Texas department of state health services, infectious. Freetailed bats of central texas consume close to 200 tons of insects on an average summer night, essential to keeping ecosystems healthy.
It is the largest urban colony in north america, with an estimated 1,500,000 bats. Believe it or not, this scene takes place every night, all summer long, at bracken cave in texas, where 20 million bats zoom outside to feed on insects. Recent research shows bats climb thousands of feet into the sky and use tail winds to reach speeds near 100 mph. And while bats contribute greatly to our ecosystem, austintravis county health and human services department wants to remind the public how to protect themselves around these animals. Po box 149347 austin, tx 787149347 1100 west 49th street, suite g401 austin, tx 78714.
Austintravis county animal services does not provide a bat removal service for buildings in which bat colonies. Bat fact and fiction bat facts and fiction howstuffworks. Exposure exposure and treatment of rabies in texas. Once it freezes, bats cannot fly in these cold spikes and survive.
A mexican freetail colony in bracken cave, texas, containing more than 20 million bats, will eat roughly 200 tons of insects in a night. Austin is home to north americas largest urban bat population, with anywhere from 750,000 to 1. Six bats over texas an overview of texas bat species. Bat survival station teams compete as a bat species for habitat and food discover the hardships for bat colony survival explore different. International austin, texas, usa gives more information. Bat season is here and austin is once again home to the largest urban bat colony in north america. Watching the bats take off each evening on the congress avenue bridge in austin, texas has become quite a tourist attraction. Rabies information texas department of state health. For example, the famous bat colony that lives in austin, texas eats between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds of insects each night. Everything you need to know to see bats in austin and. Awareness is the best tool citizens have against exposure. That said, some evenings, swarms of bats emerge and others, its hard to see much of anything at all. Richards congress avenue bridgespans town lake in downtown austin and is home to the largest urban bat colony in north america. Other bats pollinate flowers and help spread the seeds of plants.
Its good to remember that the emergence of the bats relies on many factors, including the time of year and the weather. To obtain detailed information about bats and public health issues, visit. Bracken cave, located on the suburban fringe of san antonio, tx is also home to the largest colony of mexican freetailed bats in the world. The austin americanstatesman created the statesman bat observation center adjacent to the congress bridge, giving visitors a dedicated area to view the nightly emergence. Most common species in north texas are the mexican freetail, red, pipistrelle, evening and hoary bats. Bats can eat large amounts of insects during their nightly feeding period. Oct 01, 2014 bats of austin texas almond front desk. The following two maps are helpful in finding the name or location of a texas county. Bats also sleep in trees, mines, under bridges, in bushes and even in old buildings or barns. Before the settlement of the europeans in texas, the land was home to indians of texas native american. And while bats contribute greatly to our ecosystem, austin travis county health and human services department wants to remind the public how to protect themselves around these animals. October the perfect time to work bats into the curriculum and teach about some of the misconceptions often held about these interesting creatures of nature.
You can call the bat hotline at 512 3279721 to see when bats have been emerging downtown. The large pontoon boat, southern star, seats up to 60 people. Millions of bats have made a home in the crevices beneath the. Austin bat control and removal continues year round due to the warm weather. Things to do in austin, tx find attractions, sports, and. She holds a phd in zoology from texas tech university. The famous colony of mexican freetail bats that lives underneath the congress avenue bridge in austin, texas, will eat up to 30,000 pounds of insects in a single night. Austins bat history and the benefits of bats to food. Amazing bats of bracken crave national geographic kids.
Austin, texas is located in the heart of mexican freetailed bats summer range. Feb 21, 2011 only three of the worlds more than 1,100 species of bats are classified as vampire bats, and these live in tropical areas of latin america. Zcb educational materials texas department of state. They are small, do not suck blood and do not target humans. At sundown they zip out from under the bridge and fly east along the river, to texas capitol building. Each night from midmarch to november, the bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk to blanket the sky as they head out to forage for food. Even the big brown bat is not able to provide enough body heat to fly in cold weather. Mar 10, 2015 the bat watching cruise runs nightly starting in early march through early november. An accredited member of destinations international, visit austin is contracted by the city to market austin nationally and internationally as a premier convention and leisure destination. We at austin bat refuge revived and reinvented the longdormant information program at the bridge and austin bat refuge continues to provide information to the tourists several times a week. Austin is a seasonal home to north americas largest urban population of mexican freetailed bats, which live beneath the congress avenue bridge. Brazilian freetailed bats austin bats watching guide. Educational materials texas department of state health.
Know these bat facts when viewing texas bat colonies. On our travels for after the storm, our team learned about a nightly event that has become a seasonal staple in austin, texas. Sep 23, 2016 on our travels for after the storm, our team learned about a nightly event that has become a seasonal staple in austin, texas. From march through november of each year, large groups of locals and tourists visit bats in austin, texas each night between 5. Protecting congress ave bridge bats advice for city managers. How to see austin bats at the congress avenue bridge. Texas bats the texas department of transportation ftp server. Texas designated the mexican freetailed bat as official state flying mammal in 1995 texas also recognizes a state large mammal and a state small mammal. It is magical, says jim kennedy of bat conservation international in austin texas. Many austinites support the athletic programs of the university of texas at austin known as the texas longhorns.
Bats, people, and buildings forest products laboratory usda. The bats you are most likely to see eat lots of insects. Bats drink onthefly, swooping over water for quick sips. Even if it is raining, there are always a few austinites and visitors from around the world hoping to catch sight of the cloud of bats. Why have hundreds of people gathered by the congress avenue. Bats normally do not hibernate in southern texas as temperatures do not get below freezing very often. Guano was texass largest mineral export before oil. Austin loves its bats, says mylea bayless, a senior director at bat conservation. Bat droppings, called guano, are one of the richest fertilizers. Bats in peril printable 4th 6th grade main idea activity. Indeed, the worlds largest mexican freetailed roost, estimated to contain over 20 million bats, is less than sixty miles away, in bracken cave.
Texas department of state health services, infectious disease. Search other collection databases for locations where bats have been collected. Austin is home to more than 300 parks, including 360acre zilker park. South congress bridge bats austin bats austin, texas. Prior to the discovery of oil, guano fertilizer, extracted from these bats caves, was the biggest mineral export of texas. The texas longhorns play home games in the states secondlargest sports. Here are 10 astounding facts about the legendary austin bats. Jul 20, 2016 to learn more about mexican freetailed bats, visit bat conservation internationals website or read this incredibly insightful article by bat expert and conservationist merlin d.
Hice is a research assistant professor of biology at the university of new mexico. Bats in eastern woodlands, bci, austin tx, 301 pages. During the 200506 academic term, longhorns football team was named the ncaa division i fbs national football champion and longhorns baseball team won the college world series. A colony of 300 evening bats was estimated to consume 6. Bat conservation and management workshop course book. Jun 19, 2019 infectious disease prevention section mail code.
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