Waugh Bridge Bat Colony
Waugh Bridge Bat Colony
Thousands of Mexican Free-tailed Bats reside in the crevices of the Waugh Drive Bridge throughout the year, reaching peak population of approximately 300,000 bats in the summer months. The viewing platform at the corner of Allen Parkway at Waugh Drive provides a great place to watch their evening flight!
Bridge for Bats
The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony is a maternal colony of Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis).
This medium-sized bat is native to North, Central, and South America. Their fur is reddish, dark brown, or gray in color and they have broad ears that point forward. Their tails make them unique and extend almost a third of their body length beyond their tail membranes.
A maternal colony is composed of female bats and their young, also called pups! Mexican Free-tailed Bats form these large colonies that are crucial for giving birth and raising pups. Even when pups congregate together in dense groups of up to 500 per square foot, mothers are able to identify their young through scent and vocalization.
Mexican Free-tailed Bats dine mostly on insects. When they emerge at sunset, they fly along Buffalo Bayou and then up to heights of 10,000 feet to search for migrating clouds of insects. Don’t be fooled by their small size, they consume up to two-thirds of their body weight per night, making them highly efficient insect predators!
While these bats generally migrate to Texas in February for reproduction and return to Mexico seeking warmer weather in November, many bats in the Waugh Bridge Colony remain in Houston throughout the year. Although the highest population numbers are in the summer, the city’s warmer winters and temperate climate allow for awesome emergences in any season.
The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony is the largest in Houston but not the only one! There are smaller colonies under a number of other bridges along the city’s waterways, including White Oak, Sims, and Halls Bayous. Check out Houston Parks Board’s website for more information about colonies on other bayous.
Sunset Emergence
Around sunset, the bats leave the crevices and create a whirlwind-like formation under the bridge. When the conditions are right, the bats fly out from the eastern side of the bridge and down Buffalo Bayou.
Their flight pattern varies, but they eventually disperse over Houston’s skies, eager to catch a delicious meal of insects. They can fly more than 60 miles round-trip at speeds up to an estimated 99 mph in horizontal flight!
When & Where
The bat colony is located at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway, beneath the Waugh Drive bridge over Buffalo Bayou. Weather permitting, the bats usually emerge around sunset. They typically choose to remain inside the bridge when temperatures dip below 50 degrees or when it rains, but you can still hear their chatter!
Parking
Spott’s Park on Waugh Drive, just north of Memorial Drive, has a parking lot within easy walking distance of the bridge. There is also a parking lot at Lost Lake, and parking pull-offs along Allen Parkway and side streets near Waugh and Allen Parkway.
Bat Viewing Tips
- Do not stand under the bridge before or while the bats are emerging. The bats drop waste prior to flight in the evenings.
- Observe the bats quietly. Supervise children and pets.
- Do not use flash on your camera or the flashlight on your phone.
Bat Team Partners
Austin Bat Refuge
Bat Conservation International
City of Houston Parks and Recreation Dept.
Houston Zoo
Texas Master Naturalists
Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.