Who They Are
The colony is primarily Mexican free-tailed bats, known for fast flight and long nightly insect-feeding routes.
About The Colony
Austin’s Congress Bridge Bats
Austin\'s bat emergence is a nightly wildlife event centered at the Congress Avenue Bridge. This app tracks timing and conditions so people can plan better visits while protecting the habitat.
Why They Matter
They help suppress insect populations through spring and summer, making them one of Austin's most visible urban wildlife success stories.
How To Watch
Arrive before sunset, keep pathways clear, avoid flash photography, and leave space for families and cyclists near the bridge.
Quick Facts
March through October is the primary viewing season when the bridge colony is consistently active at dusk.
- Estimated colony size
- ~1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats in peak season
- Scale
- One of the largest urban bat colonies in North America
- Nightly impact
- Consumes tons of insects through the warm season
- Migration pattern
- Most bats migrate south from late fall through winter