Bracken Bat Cave

Bracken Bat Cave is the summer home of the world's largest bat colony. With as many as 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats living in the cave from March thru October, Bracken holds one of the largest concentration of mammals on earth.

The emergence of these millions of bats, as they spiral out of the cave at dusk for their nightly insect hunt, is an unforgettable sight.

The cave and 697 acres of the surrounding Texas Hill Country is owned and protected by Bat Conservation International. The cave is on the suburban fringe of San Antonio, in an area of rapid population growth. If not for the generous donations of BCI's members and friends, the cave and its remarkable bats likely would have been engulfed by subdivisions.

In addition to conserving the cave bats, BCI stewards the entire property, protecting endangered birds and rehabilitating the land by removing invasive vegetation and reviving native plants.

Members of Bat Conservation International may visit the cave and witness the bats' emergence on designated Member Nights. To protect the Bracken bat colony and its natural setting, the cave is not open to the general public. If you would like to visit the cave, read the Visiting Bracken Cave FAQ's.