You would have to be, well, living under a bridge to not know about the bat colony that makes its home and its dramatic assent each evening from the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, TX. But did you know there is another famous bat colony that calls Texas home? Neither did I, until I was driving through Houston and I saw crowds of people gathering around the Waugh Street Bridge with cameras at the ready. Looking suspiciously like something I would want to examine closer, we pulled over to check out the draw.
The Waugh Street Bridge, about a mile from downtown Houston, is home to the second largest bat colony in Texas. 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats (as compared to the 1.5 million that live in Austin)live under the bridge and have the distinction of being the only bat colony in Texas to reside year round. Warm, wet weather in Houston is a perfect host for the colony of bats (and the insects they love) who find no reason to migrate south to Mexico in the winter.
Know Before You Go:
- Arrive 15-20 minutes before sunset for the best opportunity to view the bats.
- Unlike the Austin bat viewing experience, there is usually plenty of room to view the bats from the bridge or other areas.
- Bats will not emerge if the temperature is below 50 degrees at sunset.
- Bats will vocalize just before emerging, signaling you to get your camera ready.
- Family Bat nights are held Thursday-Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Arrive 30 minutes prior to sunset to visit with Bat Team Volunteers about the colony.
- Check the Waugh Bat Colony website for tips on viewing sites and parking.
Really cool! i knew about the ones in Austin. I tried to go see them once but they werent too active at least at the time we were there (maybe they slept in that night). Didn't know about these near Houston however!
Okay bats are one thing that I don't want to go to Texas to see!