Some of the most beautiful sights are often viewed from atop a bridge: A multi-colored sunset, the calm ocean, a sprawling city, and... Bats? If you're visiting Austin between March and October you can come see this one-of-a-kind phenomenon that Yelp users are calling "way better than […] a boat tour, you're literally a foot away from the stealthy mammals” and “a fun family activity that entertains across multiple age groups."
Witnessing over 1.5 million bats shooting up into the sky and fluttering along the river has become a must-see for many people visiting Austin. And while hundreds of people visit the bridge on summer and fall nights to watch the largest urban bat colony in the world take flight, it's also become a way for people to not only accept bats, but understand them.
“This is definitely a must see when you visit Austin. And don't worry about bats pooping or peeing on you. Have a great time.” - Dwaine W.
According to Bat Conservation International (BCI), the Austin bats eat about 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of insects on their nightly flights, including agricultural pests. In fact, some plants fully depend on bats to control the pest population that plague them, while others require bats to pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds to survive.
“It's a huge thing,” said former BCI Education Manager Diane Odegard in an interview with the Weather Channel. “They eat an enormous number of really terrible North American crop pests, like moths. Moth larvae eat and damage over $1 billion worth of corn, cotton and vegetable crops. Bats can eat so many of them that it has been scientifically quantified that they can save American agriculture anywhere from $3.7 billion to $50 billion a year.”
Despite the bats' integral role in pest-protection, many people began a petition to eradicate the Mexican Free-Tailed Bats when they first started appearing in droves to Congress Avenue Bridge in the 80s. In response, Merlin Tuttle formed the BCI and informed the city of the bats' “gentle and incredibly sophisticated” nature. Feasting only on insects, the bats were harmless to spectators and city dwellers alike.
According to Odegard, the mostly female bats come up from Mexico each summer to stay warm under the bridge. Ever since repairs to the bridge started in the 1980s, these pregnant bats found that the concrete blocks with expansion joints used in the architecture were perfect for raising the helpless, furless pups. Dianne Odegard and her husband Lee currently operate a wonderful nonprofit organization in Austin called Austin Bat Refuge.
Spectators patiently wait for the flurry of Mexican Free-Tailed bats to emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge, Austin, TX. [Photo/Lars Plougmann-CC]
While the BCI was able to squash the petition, their official website states that “persecution from humans” remains the primary cause of bat colony population decline. They go on to call bats “the world's least appreciated and most endangered animals” despite the tourist revenue they bring in from their daily bug hunts.
“I personally think bats are underappreciated, so I like it that much more. From the bridge, it feels like you could reach out and touch them when they leave. It's an awesome sight. - Kirk C.
Many people have this similar shared memory: A frazzled panic erupts when a bat accidentally gets inside. People start screaming. Hitting things. Hearts beat almost loud enough to hear as someone approaches the bat, desperately wanting it to find the window and escape, but too scared to get close.
Images flash before them: Sharp fangs, a flash of white. Transparent wings with visible veins flapping rapidly as they fly towards a neck with a wide open mouth. Ready to sink their teeth in.
While bats, like many wild animals, can carry diseases, most people are not thinking about that when the image of a bat sends shudders down their spine. So what causes this fear? Like spiders, bats get a bad rep. Maybe from famous movie monsters such as Dracula coming out at night, lurking in the shadows. Folk lore. Or possibly seeing older people panic, a learned response. Fear of the dark. It's complicated. But the truth is that these Mexican Free-Tailed Bats are only after migrating insects.
These nocturnal foragers are some of the highest flying amongst bat species, reaching up to two miles into the air in a quick, direct 31 mile path. They can also possibly reach speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, making them not only useful, but impressive creatures. And there's nothing quite like watching over a million of them charge into the summer night sky, on a mission to find pesky bugs.
“There were so many. I just wanted to tickle a baby bat.” - Alex L.
The one-of-a-kind bat colony attracts more than 100,000 people a year to the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas - officially known as the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. But it's such a fascinating sight that locals can't seem to get enough either.
“Having lived here almost seven years, I have seen them from every possible angle, and I can tell you that, by far, the best way is to view them from the water, right before dusk, from either an individual water bike or kayak,” said Leila R. in a Yelp review.
According to Leila, when the bats start to get ready for their nightly hunts, you can “hear them as a symphonic hum” from in the water. “I had rented a water bike one Halloween night,” she continued, “and the hum had reached a fever pitch and the crowds both on the bridge and in the water were waiting in anticipation as random bats started to flit out into the night sky. Then there was an almost palpable 'pause' just before three synchronized flumes of bats exploded from under the bridge! Seeing the frenzy up close was like witnessing controlled chaos, an incredible sight to behold.”
Kayaks gathered below the bridge indicate to spectators above where they should be looking if they want to see the bats in action. While people down below can see the bats shooting out from their nesting spots, people on the bridge itself can get a closer view of the bats soaring right above their heads. The variety in viewing options has kept people coming back year after year. All are recommended.
The large crowds that form around the bridge each evening are exciting for BCI, who enjoy coming out and talking to people about the bats. Some people who show up are still afraid of bats because of myths, said Odegard, and it can be helpful to hear about the bats from an expert.
“These bats are absolutely beautiful in all kinds of ways,” Odegard gushed. “I think these guys are amazing. They're noble, tough creatures.”
While the bats fly out most evenings, check out BCI's weekly weather and viewing times at Batcon.org.
Destinations, Environmental Issues, Open Road, Texas, Wildlife