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Where Is the World's Largest Bat Colony?

naturewildlife

Quick Answer

Bracken Cave near San Antonio, Texas, is home to about 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats.

The Full Story

Bracken Cave, located north of San Antonio, Texas, hosts the world's largest bat colony — an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) during the summer maternity season. Each evening from March to October, the bats emerge in a swirling column visible on weather radar, consuming an estimated 140 tonnes of insects per night. The cave is owned and protected by Bat Conservation International. The Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas, hosts another famous colony of about 1.5 million bats.

Key Facts

1.The colony consumes agricultural pest insects worth millions of dollars in crop protection.
2.Mother bats can locate their own pup among millions using unique calls and scent.
3.The bats fly up to 100 km from the cave each night to feed.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"Twenty Million Bats — The Nightly Spectacle at Bracken Cave"

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