Summer Species: Bats!
Summer Species: Bats!
An annual celebration of a native species found along the bayou, featuring nature walks, public art, and more.
This year, discover the bats of Buffalo Bayou in collaboration with the Houston Area Bat Team—including the nearly 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bat that live beneath the Waugh Street Bridge.
Summer Species Adventures
Bat Chats
Get batty and learn from the Houston Area Bat Team (HABT) about Houston’s native bat species, including the Mexican Free-tailed Bats at Waugh Drive Bridge every Friday evening.
Buffalo Bayou Cruise: Bats
Sail the scenic waterway on a 90-minute, guided tour from downtown to Waugh Drive Bridge and back to watch the emergence of the 300,000+ Mexican free-tailed bats that live under the bridge.
Bikes & Bats
Bring your bike for an evening ride along Buffalo Bayou with BikeHouston to the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony, where you’ll witness an unforgettable sight—more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerging at sunset.
More to come!
Discover the Bat Life
In addition to Bat Chats, there are even more ways to explore Summer Species and get to know Houston’s night flyers up close!
Dive deeper into the story with our “Bridge for Bats” feature on the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony, where you can learn more about one of the largest urban bat populations and their nightly emergence from beneath the bridge.
Stop by The Water Works Visitor Center to pick up Summer Species: Bats! zine and scavenger hunt sheet designed for a self-guided adventure through bat facts, clues, and discoveries throughout Buffalo Bayou Park. Or for a firsthand experience, paddle along Buffalo Bayou at dusk on a guided Bat Kayak Tour and watch thousands of bats take flight in a dramatic sunset display.
Bridge for Bats 🌉
Did you know more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats live beneath the Waugh Drive Bridge? Each evening around sunset, the colony spirals out from the bridge in a dramatic whirlwind formation before heading across Houston’s skies in search of insects. These fascinating mammals can eat up to two-thirds of their body weight in bugs each night and fly distances of more than 60 miles. Learn more about Houston’s beloved bat colony, when to see them, and why they play such an important role in the ecosystem.
Get Batty at Buffalo Bayou Park 🦇
Explore the nocturnal side of Houston with Summer Species: Bats! A playful zine designed to help you discover the fascinating world of bats at Buffalo Bayou Park. Pair your reading with a self-guided scavenger hunt that leads you through the park’s trails, bridges, and green spaces as you uncover bat facts, clues, and hidden details along the way.
Perfect for families, curious explorers, and bat enthusiasts alike, this experience turns an evening in the park into an interactive adventure celebrating one of Houston’s most iconic residents. Prints are also available for pickup at The Water Works Visitor Center.
Bat Views from the Bayou 🚣
Paddle along Buffalo Bayou at sunset and experience one of Houston’s most unforgettable natural spectacles. These guided kayak tours take you to the iconic Waugh Drive Bridge just in time to witness thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats take flight for their nightly emergence. Along the way, enjoy skyline views, peaceful evening paddling, and fascinating insight into the bayou’s nocturnal residents.
Generous support for this program is provided by
Buffalo Bayou Partnership is funded in part by
