10 GREAT PLACES
10 great places to go bat-watching for Halloween
USA TODAY
As far as spooky mammals go, it’s hard to beat the bat. But the night-time fliers get a bad rap, says Karen Krebs, author of "Bat Basics: How to Understand and Help these Amazing Flying Mammals" ($14.95, Adventure Publications).
They're misunderstood, she says.
JAH/Getty Images/iStockphotoThey're misunderstood, she says.
Bats "aren’t the scary, mean animals people think they are. These are the good guys,” Krebs says, noting that they keep insect populations under control and serve as pollinators.
But bats are increasingly under threat from a deadly fungal infection called white-nose syndrome, which has closed many bat-viewing areas. Thankfully, there are still some great places to see bats in the wild and in zoos across the country.
Kreb shares 10 of them with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY; click forward to see her picks.
Ken Bohn/San Diego Zoo GlobalBut bats are increasingly under threat from a deadly fungal infection called white-nose syndrome, which has closed many bat-viewing areas. Thankfully, there are still some great places to see bats in the wild and in zoos across the country.
Kreb shares 10 of them with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY; click forward to see her picks.
East Broadway bridge, Tucson, Arizona
No need to head to the wilderness to see bats. Colonies of thousands of bats – specifically Mexican free-tail bats – are found underneath bridges, where the expansion joints create a cozy nursery for mothers and their young pups. “You can stand there and watch the bats come out at night,” Krebs says.
More information: library.pima.gov
Ann Froschauer/USFWSNo need to head to the wilderness to see bats. Colonies of thousands of bats – specifically Mexican free-tail bats – are found underneath bridges, where the expansion joints create a cozy nursery for mothers and their young pups. “You can stand there and watch the bats come out at night,” Krebs says.
More information: library.pima.gov
Audubon Zoo, New Orleans
With its haunted history, perhaps it’s no surprise that New Orleans’ venerable zoo has a colony of vampire bats along with several hundred seba short-tailed bats, which are native to Latin America.
They’re all displayed at the zoo’s new nocturnal house, set to reopen by the end of the year. The exhibit, located in Jaguar Jungle, has fly-ways to watch bats in flight and simulates nighttime during the day so visitors can see the bats awake.
More information: audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo
Susan Poag Photography LLC/Audubon Nature InstituteWith its haunted history, perhaps it’s no surprise that New Orleans’ venerable zoo has a colony of vampire bats along with several hundred seba short-tailed bats, which are native to Latin America.
They’re all displayed at the zoo’s new nocturnal house, set to reopen by the end of the year. The exhibit, located in Jaguar Jungle, has fly-ways to watch bats in flight and simulates nighttime during the day so visitors can see the bats awake.
More information: audubonnatureinstitute.org/zoo
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico
From the comfort of bleacher seats in the Bat Flight amphitheater, park visitors can settle down and watch the nightly emergence of Mexican free-tailed bats. The spectacle can last more than two hours from mid-May through October.
There are so many of them,” Krebs says. Park rangers are on site to answer questions, and also lead early morning tours to watch the bats return at dawn.
More information: nps.gov/cave
Nick Hristov/NPS PhotoFrom the comfort of bleacher seats in the Bat Flight amphitheater, park visitors can settle down and watch the nightly emergence of Mexican free-tailed bats. The spectacle can last more than two hours from mid-May through October.
There are so many of them,” Krebs says. Park rangers are on site to answer questions, and also lead early morning tours to watch the bats return at dawn.
More information: nps.gov/cave
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
One of the country’s top zoos, Cincinnati does its bats proud in a large Night Hunters exhibit, which has colonies of giant fruit bats (also called Indian flying foxes) and 200 vampire bats.
Krebs describes the flying foxes as “very lovable looking. They have really neat-looking faces.”
More information: cincinnatizoo.org
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical GardenOne of the country’s top zoos, Cincinnati does its bats proud in a large Night Hunters exhibit, which has colonies of giant fruit bats (also called Indian flying foxes) and 200 vampire bats.
Krebs describes the flying foxes as “very lovable looking. They have really neat-looking faces.”
More information: cincinnatizoo.org
University of Florida Bat House, Gainesville, Florida
Bats have dorms of their own on this university campus, and the giant bat houses and barns welcomes watchers. “They’re just huge and can house thousands of bats,” Krebs says.
The fenced-off area is active most evenings when the temperature exceeds 65 degrees, and up to a half-million of the mammals emerge to hunt insects.
More information: floridamuseum.ufl.edu/bats/
Kristen Grace/University Of FloridaBats have dorms of their own on this university campus, and the giant bat houses and barns welcomes watchers. “They’re just huge and can house thousands of bats,” Krebs says.
The fenced-off area is active most evenings when the temperature exceeds 65 degrees, and up to a half-million of the mammals emerge to hunt insects.
More information: floridamuseum.ufl.edu/bats/
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia
With vampire and fruit bats, this popular zoo can hit all the Halloween notes. Krebs says the vampires, in particular, are worth a look.
“Vampire bats are cool,” she says, noting that they show surprising behavior like adopting orphan bats. “That’s pretty unusual in the animal world.”
More information: philadelphiazoo.org
Philadelphia ZooWith vampire and fruit bats, this popular zoo can hit all the Halloween notes. Krebs says the vampires, in particular, are worth a look.
“Vampire bats are cool,” she says, noting that they show surprising behavior like adopting orphan bats. “That’s pretty unusual in the animal world.”
More information: philadelphiazoo.org
7. Congress Avenue Bridge, Austin, Texas
Crowds gather most evenings at special viewing areas from spring through fall to watch the emergence of hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats. The mammals live under the downtown Austin bridge in what has been called the world’s largest urban bat colony.
There are also bat-watching cruises and drinks specials at the nearby Four Seasons Hotel, where a terrace provides a bat’s-eye view of the action.
More information: austintexas.org
VisitAustinCrowds gather most evenings at special viewing areas from spring through fall to watch the emergence of hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats. The mammals live under the downtown Austin bridge in what has been called the world’s largest urban bat colony.
There are also bat-watching cruises and drinks specials at the nearby Four Seasons Hotel, where a terrace provides a bat’s-eye view of the action.
More information: austintexas.org
8. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, California
Bats get star treatment in the safari park’s Nairobi Village, which has a dedicated bat house.
The exhibit features more than two dozen Rodrigues fruit bats, which are sometimes called Rodrigues flying foxes, and are native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
More information: sdzsafaripark.org
Ken Bohn,/ San Diego Zoo GlobalBats get star treatment in the safari park’s Nairobi Village, which has a dedicated bat house.
The exhibit features more than two dozen Rodrigues fruit bats, which are sometimes called Rodrigues flying foxes, and are native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
More information: sdzsafaripark.org
9. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
Egyptian fruit bats rule the roost at the zoo’s small mammal-reptile house. Krebs is a fan of these fliers which can have a wingspan of up to two feet.
“Fruit bats are cool. They’ve got big eyes and a fox-like face with long muzzles," she says. They’re not like our little guys here.”
More information: lpzoo.org
Lincoln Park ZooEgyptian fruit bats rule the roost at the zoo’s small mammal-reptile house. Krebs is a fan of these fliers which can have a wingspan of up to two feet.
“Fruit bats are cool. They’ve got big eyes and a fox-like face with long muzzles," she says. They’re not like our little guys here.”
More information: lpzoo.org
10. Oregon Zoo, Portland
The African Rainforest exhibit offers plenty of batty activity, with nearly two dozen Rodrigues flying foxes and more than 100 straw-colored fruit bats.
The latter are strong fliers and have been spotted out in the ocean, 125 miles from land.
More information: oregonzoo.org
Oregon ZooThe African Rainforest exhibit offers plenty of batty activity, with nearly two dozen Rodrigues flying foxes and more than 100 straw-colored fruit bats.
The latter are strong fliers and have been spotted out in the ocean, 125 miles from land.
More information: oregonzoo.org
Featured Weekly Ad