Discover Bracken Bat Cave: San Antonio, Texas

by Milo Putnam

The tornado emergence of Twenty MILLION bats is a jaw-dropping, life-changing feel — one that I think every animal lover should add together to their bucket-list.

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Hey in that location! I'thou Milo, and I am on a mission to find the natural earth and help protect it in the process. I have curated a platform, known as Milo'due south Wildlife, that acts as a guide to inspire travelers to connect with nature. By creating connections and sparking life-changing experiences, I can help preserve this wild world! To bring together on my journey for wildlife visit www.miloswildlife.com and follow Milo'south Wild fauna on Instagram at @milos_wildlife

From my immediate experience, observing the largest congregation of mammals on Earth can human action as a catalyst to teach people. Seeing bats behaving naturally is the best way to acquire about their ecological and economic value and their demand for conservation globally. Of course, these connections tin happen in far more places than Bracken Cavern. Imagine welcoming bats into your own one thousand, non 20 million bats of grade, simply a bat house is a perfect way to contribute to bat conservation right in your own backyard.

Located less than 20 miles from San Antonio, Texas, Bracken Cave is home to the legendary roosting site of approximately twenty MILLION Mexican costless-tailed bats. For decades Bat Conservation International has spearheaded the preservation of Bracken Cave to protect the largest colony of bats in the world. The nigh one,500 acre preserve ensures human encroachment and artificial lighting remain far away from the bats' roosting site. Bat Conservation International has created one of the near upstanding and sustainable wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. The success story from Bracken Cave is even used as a model for other conservation groups striving towards sustainable wild fauna tourism.

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I was fortunate enough to see this conservation masterpiece myself in August of 2018. The awareness that still leaves me speechless was the powerful gusts of current of air from the "batnado" that was produced as millions of bats circled the cave entrance flying higher and college. Mexican complimentary-tailed bats only counterbalance near as much every bit two quarters and have a wingspan that measures a mere 10 inches. But when 20 million of those tiny bats brainstorm flying together the funnel of air their flapping wings create is unreal. Betwixt mid-May to mid-September this colony emerges nightly right before sunset. The reason for the mass exudes is to hunt the night skies for insects. In fact, the unabridged colony of 20 million bats tin can consume up to 147 tons of insects each dark. This amount of hunting saves the region's cotton wool growers effectually $740,000 every yr in pesticide and crop damage costs.

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July and Baronial, brand for the best months to view the bats. This fourth dimension follows the yearly baby boom and is right effectually when the immature bats are learning to fly with the residuum of the colony. In addition, during these months the days are longer which makes for an extended opportunity to view the bats.

The flim-flam to Bracken's success lies in their restrictive management practices. To best protect this sensitive surface area, they have express access to minor, scheduled groups. Only members of Bat Conservation International are granted admission to designated viewing nights. Members can visit once per year and are allowed either three guests or v guests depending on their contribution level. Individuals interested in visiting may practice so past registering for a Member Bat Flying, available on select dates from mid-May to mid-September. Yous can go a member of Bat Conservation International to share your support!

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I may take already checked off this wonder of Mother Nature from my wildlife bucket list, only that doesn't finish me from wanting to return to Bracken Cave again. This spectacular display of behavior is worth seeing over and over! The emergence of 20 one thousand thousand bats, is just something you can't simply see once.  The paradigm of the shifting screw of millions of flapping wings flight into the darkening sky will e'er be an unforgettable sight to me!

If you want to host a pocket-size portion of this wildlife spectacle in your own backyard, consider installing a bat house! You too can help support bat conservation by merely installing your own BatBnB . These homes provide sanctuary for bats to thrive and give you the opportunity to create your own wonder of nature right in your m!

Larn more about bat houses hither!

Installing a bat house. Learn more about bat houses here