March | 2016 | Austin Bat Refuge

https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/sites/default/files/resource/final-cave_access_advisory_2016_2.pdf

Recommendations to reduce the potential for humans to disturb hibernating bats or inadvertently transport the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome to uncontaminated bat habitats. This guidance was produced by the interagency national response to white-nose syndrome through the White-nose Syndrome Disease Management Working Group.

https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/resource/updated-cave-advisory-recommendations-managing-access-subterranean-bat-roosts-reduce

Posted on March 28, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

Frio 28Mar2016 UTC Click to left for video

Last night, what looks like about 3-1/2 million bats emerged from Frio Bat Cave and headed south toward the Winter Garden area south of Uvalde, providing free pest-control service to farmers in a large area west toward Bracketville. Hope they stayed clear of the turbines at the wind farm. Anybody doing a count this morning?

UNQC_CREF_29.549999-100.41000428.580000_15367_10240_1_none_20160328004800_4

Posted on March 28, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

Easter Bat – 911

First thing this morning we got a call from the Austin Police Department. Our first reaction? We didn’t do it! Then they said “We have a bat in the main building downtown, can Dianne come and help us?” So, ready to protect and to serve, we saved the APD from this bat. She sure does seem ferocious!

Posted on March 27, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

Bridge bats say “We never seen so many humans!” Maybe it’s global warming.”

2 million

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/austin-metro-area-surpasses-2-million-residents/nqrQF/

Posted on March 25, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

I just had an amazing experience releasing a rehabilitated bat. They are so tiny! She was eager to join the party at Congress Bridge. Thanks Lee and Dianne. Your passion and love for bats is inspiring. Thank you for the great service you give to the Austin community and especially the bats!

Posted on March 17, 2016, updated on March 24, 2016 by The Refuge

Bats are Back 16Mar2016 UTC HD (Click on link to see video)

The bats are back at Congress Ave Bridge in Austin!

2016-03-16_10-45-58

This video from last night shows 3 or 4 separate flights from the bridge before a north front sweeps in, taking most of the bats along for the ride.
The last few years the bats have made sure to be back for the South by Southwest Music Festival.

The viewing is great these days, they’re coming out well before dark.

Posted on March 16, 2016, updated on May 5, 2016 by The Refuge

After a week of rain, Rucker and Frio bats explode out on a lovely evening to explore the agricultural fields around Uvalde. It was a good night to be a bat.
Frio & Rucker 14Mar2016 UTC 40 Mg (click link on left to see video)
UNQC_CREF_30.270000-101.58000228.610001_15879_10240_1_none_20160314004400

Posted on March 14, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

“After thousands of years, we’re still strangers to darkness, fearful aliens in an enemy camp with our arms crossed over our chests.” Annie Dillard

Posted on March 12, 2016, updated on May 3, 2016 by The Refuge

Renowned NatGeo photographer Joel Sartore visited Austin Bat Refuge yesterday before his talk at SXSW Interactive. We are proud to have contributed three new species to his Photo Ark. Here’s a video of Joel’s contribution to the film Racing Extinction.

Posted on March 11, 2016, updated on March 17, 2016 by The Refuge

The Texas Night Sky Festival was this weekend in Dripping Springs, Texas. It was hosted by the International Dark-Sky Association Texas Section (IDA Texas), Hays County Master Naturalists, and the City of Dripping Springs, the first community in Texas, and the sixth in the world, to receive the International Dark-Sky Community designation in 2014.
From an IDA Brochure: “Join Us in Protecting the Night!”

IDA Wildlife

Posted on March 7, 2016, updated on March 17, 2016 by The Refuge

Month: March 2016

Udated “Cave Advisory”

Updated “Cave Advisory”: Recommendations for managing access to subterranean bat roosts to reduce the impacts of white-nose syndrome in bats

Free Pest-Control Service for the Winter Garden

Sunrise service work – Happy Easter!

Austin metro area home to 2 million people

Releasing a Bat

The Bats are Back!

Rucker & Frio bat caves on a spring evening

The dark

Photo Ark

Texas Night Sky Festival