PUBLISHED: November 2025 by Liz Rebstad.
Photo Credit: Liz Rebstad

On September 25, 2025, the Houston Parks Board (HPB) Conservation & Maintenance team joined the White Oak Bayou Association (WOBA) and the Houston Area Bat Team for a special bat emergence event at the Watonga Prairie, located along White Oak Bayou and Watonga Blvd. At dusk, attendees gathered for a bat chat led by the Houston Area Bat Team, which highlighted all the bat species here in Houston, as well as the importance of bat safety.

Following the discussion, and once it was dark enough, the scout bats began to emerge. Scout bats take flight first to test the air before signaling to the rest of the colony that it is safe to follow. Once the scouts did their job, hundreds of bats began to fall from the bridge. Because of the way their bodies are designed, bats must utilize gravity to gain momentum before they spread their wings and take flight.

Mexican free-tailed bat
Credit: U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management

The bat colony that roosts under the Watonga Blvd bridge are Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis). These bats are the most recognizable species in Texas and have been declared the official state mammal. Mexican free-tailed bats are fast and agile flyers; they can travel up to 30 miles in one night in search of insects, consuming thousands of mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. They are also important pollinators of native plant species, making them a vital part of the local ecosystem and a key component in pest control for Houston. While there are many colonies of bats throughout the city, Watonga remains a lesser-known site for viewing the nightly emergence. Still, thousands of bats call Watonga home.

Watching thousands of bats take off into the night was an incredible sight that truly highlighted why urban prairie restoration and partnerships with local organizations are so important for the health and well-being of our city’s wildlife. The HPB Conservation & Maintenance team loved seeing their hard work restoring the prairies and installing bat boxes in the surrounding area pay off!

When given the chance, we highly recommend seeing the emergence at the Watonga Blvd prairies. Here are some tips when visiting:

  • Keep your distance: It is important to always observe wildlife from a safe distance and do not attempt to touch or handle the bats, as they can be carriers of rabies.
  • Avoid bright lights: Bats are sensitive to light. Avoid using flashlights, flash photography, or shining lights into the cracks of the bridge during emergence, as this can disorient the bats. They are used to streetlights, not direct bright lighting into their path.
  • Arrive at dusk: To enjoy the full experience, plan to arrive at sunset to catch the scouts emerge right before the rest of the colony.
  • Respect the habitat: Stick to the Bayou Greenways trail and yield to other trail users. Avoid going off trail to help protect the prairie and avoid disturbing other wildlife in the area.

For more bat facts and future bat chat information, visit the Houston Area Bat Team’s Facebook page.