Half a Million Bats Create a Living Tornado at This New Mexico Cave Every Night

The Bat Flight at Carlsbad Caverns, NM

Most tourists show up for caves at Carlsbad Caverns. The smart ones stay for the bats. Here’s what makes this nightly exodus worth the drive into New Mexico and how to join watch the spectacular show.

The Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat Colony

Brazilian free-tailed bats make up most of the 17 bat species living in Carlsbad Caverns. The summer colony ranges from 200,000 to 500,000 bats.

In 2005, scientists used heat-sensing cameras to count a record 793,000 bats during migration time. They created special computer programs to track the warm bat bodies against the cool cave background.

The Counter-Clockwise Spiral Formation

Bats stream from the cave entrance in a thick cloud. They form a counter-clockwise spiral as they rise into the evening air, creating a living tornado of wings.

Scientists still study why the bats always fly counter-clockwise. Current research looks at how Earth’s magnetic field might guide their flight direction. This pattern happens every night without fail.

The Mystery of Emergence Timing

Bats start leaving the cave soon after sunset, but never at exactly the same time. Scientists found they often emerge during civil twilight, which happens 28 minutes after sunset.

Some bats can see light changes through a second natural opening in the cave. This light signal helps trigger their exit, but other unknown factors also affect when they decide to leave as a group.

The Nightly Hunting Expedition

After leaving the cave, the bats fly 10-25 miles to the Pecos and Black River valleys to hunt. They spend hours catching insects in the dark before coming home at dawn.

The colony eats 4-6 thousand pounds of insects each night. Half their diet includes pests that damage cotton and alfalfa crops. This natural pest control helps local farmers protect their fields.

The Electronics Ban Protection Measure

The park strictly forbids all electronic devices during bat flights. This includes cameras, phones, tablets, and anything that makes light or sends signals.

In 2006, the park banned all cameras after too many people used flash photography despite warnings. The park manager found that many visitors couldn’t figure out how to turn off their camera flashes, so a complete ban became necessary.

The Duration of the Exodus

The entire bat exit can last up to three hours from beginning to end. Most people watch for about 20 minutes until darkness makes it hard to see the bats.

During peak times, about 100 bats fly out each second. This creates a steady stream of bats flowing into the night sky, continuing long after most visitors leave.

The Seasonal Migration Pattern

The bats live in Carlsbad Caverns from April or May until late October or early November. When cold weather comes, they fly south to Mexico for winter.

The bats mate during winter in Mexico. Each spring, they return north to the same caves at Carlsbad. This yearly journey brings them back to their summer home.

The Summer Birthing Season

Female bats have one baby in late June or early July inside the cave. Mothers clean and feed their babies right after birth, learning their scent and sounds.

Each mother can find her baby among thousands through smell and calls. By August, the 4-5 week old babies join their mothers on nightly hunts, making the evening bat flights even bigger.

The Size and Speed of Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats

Brazilian free-tailed bats weigh only half an ounce but fly with great skill. Their wings spread about 11 inches wide, letting them fly fast and far.

These bats earn their nickname as “speedsters of the bat world” through their quick movements. Their body shape cuts through air easily, helping them travel long distances to find food.

The Ranger-Led Educational Program

Park rangers give talks about bat life and habits before the evening flight. These programs happen at the Bat Flight Amphitheater built for watching the nightly exit.

Rangers explain how bats live, answer questions, and clear up wrong ideas about bats. When the bats start to come out, rangers stop talking and step aside so everyone can watch the natural event.

Joining the Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight Program

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is located at 727 Carlsbad Caverns Highway, Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220. The Bat Flight program runs nightly from April 6 through October 31, 2025.

Program times change with sunset throughout the season. In April, it starts around 7:15 pm, shifting to 8:00 pm by June, and back to 6:30 pm by September.

It’s free, and the amphitheater seats 400 people on stone benches near the Natural Entrance.

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