Emergences - Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation

Emergences

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerging from Bracken Cave. This cave shelters the world's largest remaining bat colony, some 10 - 20 million bats. They consume 100 to 200 tons of insects nightly, mostly crop pests, a huge benefit to Texas farmers. Emergences
Congress Avenue Bridge emergence of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) as tourists enjoy watching. Millions of visitors have viewed this spectacle, close-up, over more than 35 years, and no one has been harmed by a bat. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Emergences
The famous colony of approximately 1.5 million Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) living in crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas has attracted millions of visitors to enjoy its spectacular emergences over the past 35 years. Small signs simply warn not to handle the bats, and despite countless close encounters no one has ever been harmed. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Emergences
The famous colony of approximately 1.5 million Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) living in crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas has attracted millions of visitors to enjoy its spectacular emergences over the past 35 years. Small signs simply warn not to handle the bats, and despite countless close encounters no one has ever been harmed. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Photo credit: Paula K. Tuttle

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerge from Bracken Cave in Texas. Emergence