There’s no doubt if you’ve been outside just after sunset you have seen a few bats flittering here and there. No big deal. If you’re like me, you might duck when one flies too close to you, but you don’t think much about them other than that quick flyby. But, did you know that Florida is also home to the world’s largest occupied bat houses? In fact, they have become quite the nightly attraction.
Bats, Bats and More Bats!
As the sun starts its descent for the day, a crowd gathers along Museum Road at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. Lined up along a fence just across from Lake Alice, they position themselves near two bat barns and a bat house. They are waiting for the nightly exodus of the 400,000 bats.
Three types of bats dwell in the structures. The Brazilian free-tailed bat is the most common one you will see, but you can also catch a glimpse of the Southeastern bat and the Evening bat. Each night these bats may travel as far as 25 to 30 miles from their home and consume about two and a half billion insects – that’s 2,500 pounds of bugs!
Let the Show Begin
About 15 – 20 minutes after sundown, a few bats will start to emerge in search of food and water. Within minutes, what looks like a river of bats can be seen along the treetops, many heading out toward Lake Alice.
Bat History at UF
Just where did these bats come from? The first bat house was built in 1991 to provide a new “home” for a colony of bats that were left homeless after a fire destroyed Johnson Hall in 1987. Two-thousand bats that once lived in the hall then inhabited the concrete bleachers at two of the athletic fields on campus. The smell, the stains and the close proximity to spectators prompted the athletic association to take action. After the first house was built, the bats were captured and relocated. However, they didn’t stick around. It took three years before bats permanently moved into the house. As the bat population continued to grow, the first bat barn was added in 2010 and the second in 2017. The original bat house, said to be deteriorating, will be removed at some point in time. While it’s estimated 400,000 now occupy these dwellings, they can hold up to 750,000.
If you’re curious about what bats do during the day, the University of Florida provides a livestream from inside the bat houses. Click here.
Fast Facts
- The best time to view the bats is spring through early summer, when temperatures are above 65 degrees.
- The bats will not come out if there are high winds, heavy rain or cold temperatures.
- Bats eat many types of bugs, including moths, beetles, mosquitos, flies, and gnats.
- Do NOT touch a bat if it lands on you or falls to the ground. Bats can carry a number of diseases, including rabies. A phone number is provided at the bat houses for you to call if a bat is on the ground.
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