Texas Is Home to the World’s Largest Bat Colony

Hidden in plain sight just outside of San Antonio is Bracken Cave Preserve, home to the largest bat colony on Earth. More than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats pack into this limestone cave every year. That number alone is mind-blowing, but what happens inside the cave might be even more incredible.

Around February, the bats fly into Texas and transform caves into nurseries. The female bats give birth to tiny pups that survive on incredibly rich milk produced in mammary glands located beneath each wing. That nutrient-dense milk helps the babies grow fast, so fast that many are ready to fly just four to five weeks after being born

At peak season, researchers estimate pups can roost at densities of up to 500 babies per square foot.

No matter how dense the caves get, each mother can easily locate their own baby. Scientists believe the mother bats rely on a mix of scent and the unique sound of their pup’s call to identify them, even among thousands of other bats.

Every night, these bats fly out across Texas, eating massive amounts of insects. When you think about it, bats are a natural pest-control service that are sure to save farmers money every year.