Bats at I-35 bridge? (Austin, Cool: living, pollution, park) - San Antonio - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

miche111e · 05-30-2009, 12:55 PM

I heard that there are some new residents under the bridge. I fondly remember watching the bats fly at dusk in Austin and my kids want to see them here in SA. Have you been? I can't find anything online about where to park, etc.

sapphire · 05-30-2009, 01:16 PM

Ohhhhh!! Cool! We made a special trip to Austin just to see the bats. I hope someone's been so they can give a review.

Where under 35 are they supposed to be living?

amye1158 · 05-30-2009, 01:28 PM

I think it's under the bridge at the new section of the Riverwalk.

AnthonySA · 05-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Aha Austin!

miche111e · 05-30-2009, 01:44 PM

Don't get too excited too soon...last time the bats came to SATX the city sealed the roosts so that when they came back the next year there was no home. I saw on the news that the fate of the bats is up in the air (that really was an unintended pun LOL), so go see them while you can.

We *may* go tonight but I was hoping someone had been already. I don't know how busy it will be...

deek102 · 05-30-2009, 01:46 PM

Did anyone go down there today?? Anyone know how crowded it is/was?

ShaneSA · 05-30-2009, 03:09 PM

They are under the part of 35 that goes over downtown. It's actually Camden Street by the Pearl Brewery. You can park on either Camden of Elmira ( I think that is the street.) It's where Camden ends at the brewery. The new part of the river goes under. It's not been real crowded. I've gone several times. There are about 3,000 bats coming out from the bridge. It happens about 8:30. You can also stay a bit longer and see the fish hanging under the bridge lit up. The lights go on about 845 or so.

sapphire · 05-30-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

They are under the part of 35 that goes over downtown. It's actually Camden Street by the Pearl Brewery. You can park on either Camden of Elmira ( I think that is the street.) It's where Camden ends at the brewery. The new part of the river goes under. It's not been real crowded. I've gone several times. There are about 3,000 bats coming out from the bridge. It happens about 8:30. You can also stay a bit longer and see the fish hanging under the bridge lit up. The lights go on about 845 or so.

Thanks!

miche111e · 05-30-2009, 09:10 PM

Thanks! We went tonight. The city did a really nice job with the Riverwalk extension. We really liked it. And yes, we got to see bats!

On a side note, I don't know how recently the bats have moved in, but there is not the noticeable guano smell that is under the Congress bridge in Austin. I think that is one of the city's concerns. I personally think they would be stupid to get rid of the bats. They are so good for the ecosystem and will bring people down there to see them.

ShaneSA · 05-31-2009, 10:59 AM

The city appears to plan to leave the bats alone. The bats are over the ground, not the river. There is no danger of pollution of the river. the bats have been there a long time, no one saw them because no one was looking. Now that the riverwalk is extended, the bats will be a new attraction. You don;t have to go to Astin to watch bats anymore. We can be batty ourselves.