Bracken Cave Bat Flyout

The World's Largest Bat Colony

Bracken Cave shelters an estimated fifteen to twenty million Mexican free-tailed bats, the densest concentration of mammals anywhere on Earth. The colony gathers each warm season to raise its young deep inside the cavern before emerging in a vast living column.

The Famous "Batnado"

As the colony pours from the cave in a swirling vortex, radar has tracked the emergence for miles. The spiralling exodus — nicknamed the "batnado" — is one of North America's most extraordinary wildlife phenomena, drawing scientists and naturalists from around the globe.

Bracken Cave Preserve

The cave sits within a protected preserve managed by Bat Conservation International, safeguarding both the colony and the surrounding Texas Hill Country habitat. The bats provide immense ecological value, consuming tons of insects and supporting the region's farmland.

An Ecological Landmark Near San Antonio

Located just outside San Antonio, this preserve is a globally significant site for bat conservation and research. The live view offers an intimate window onto a wild gathering that has returned to this cavern for thousands of years.