Protecting our Central Texas bats

From KEYE, April 28, 2009...

Every spring our Mexican Free-tailed Bats return by the thousands to once again call the Congress Avenue Bridge home. And every spring visitors flock by the thousands to witness their massive sunset flights. But a disease could threaten our bat populations in the years to come.

“So far this die off has exceeded our worst nightmarish expectations, it has never been seen before ever on the face of the planet,” Tuttle said.

And seeing fewer bats also equates to seeing more bugs... Way more!

“Just our bats under the congress bridge consume over 30 thousand pounds of insects on an average night,” Tuttle said.

Read more...

Bats preparing for fall migration

From statesman, September 24, 2008...

Central Texans might find winged visitors in unexpected places over the next several weeks as most of the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge begin their annual migration to Mexico.

The bats will roost for a few days in places that are usually bat-free as they move through the Austin area and other parts of Central Texas, said Barbara French, a biologist and science officer for Bat Conservation International.

Read more...

"Rabies Exposure Warning" In Effect In Central Texas

From KEYE, September 3, 2008...

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is sending out a "rabies exposure warning" to all Central Texans.

Most cases of rabies in Texas happen in September and October.

Central Texas has plenty of high risk animals including bats skunks, raccoons and coyotes. Austin is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies. Roughly 1.5 million bats live under the Ann Richards Congress Ave. Bridge.

Read more...