Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — Congress Ave. Bridge Bats

Tourists observing 1.5 million free-tailed bats emerge from the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Emergence

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) roosting in unusual numbers beneath Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Roosting

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) roosting in 16-inch deep crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Roosting

A Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) roosting in a crevice beneath concrete beams in a Florida bridge. Roosting

Tourists at Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas observe more than a million Brazilian free-tailed bats close-up. Millions have enjoyed these bats for more than three decades without harm. Emergence

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) about to emerge from their dayroost in a bridge crecice in Austin, Texas. Roosting

A Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) about to emerge from its dayroost in a bridge crecice in Austin, Texas. Roosting

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) about to emerge from their dayroost in a bridge crecice in Austin, Texas. Roosting

Congress Avenue Bridge emergence of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) as tourists enjoy watching. Millions of visitors have viewed this spectacle, close-up, over more than 35 years, and no one has been harmed by a bat. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Emergences

The famous colony of approximately 1.5 million Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) living in crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas has attracted millions of visitors to enjoy its spectacular emergences over the past 35 years. Small signs simply warn not to handle the bats, and despite countless close encounters no one has ever been harmed. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Photo credit: Paula K. Tuttle

The famous colony of approximately 1.5 million Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) living in crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas has attracted millions of visitors to enjoy its spectacular emergences over the past 35 years. Small signs simply warn not to handle the bats, and despite countless close encounters no one has ever been harmed. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Emergences

Congress Avenue Bridge emergence of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) as tourists enjoy watching. Millions of visitors have viewed this spectacle, close-up, over more than 35 years, and no one has been harmed by a bat. The bats attract millions of tourist dollars each summer and consume tons of crop and yard pests each night. Emergences

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) roosting in a bridge crevice in Austin, Texas. Roosting

Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerging from the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Emergences

Tourists observing the emergence of 1.5 million Brazilian free-tailed bats from crevices beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, Texas. Emergences