Bats

photo by David Phillips

Although often mistaken for crows at night, the skies of Davis sometimes fill up with hordes of bats. These handy and très gothique insect hunters help keep Davis bug free. Next time you see wings flapping above you, look close. There are several species of bats that live in Yolo County. The large colonies living in Davis are Mexican free-tailed bats called Tadarida brasiliensis. They fly out just a few minutes after sunset.

In downtown Davis, especially in the areas with large old trees, there are Hoary bats. These are large (for California) bats which eat large nocturnal insects. You may hear them clicking and chirping prior to flying, after it is truly dark.

There's an article about local bats in Davis Life Magazine.

In some other areas, bat colonies have become real spectacles for tourists. While the colonies in Davis aren't as large as some of these other cities (notably under Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, TX where 1.5 million bats live) they do provide an exciting event to a night. Most of the colonies in Davis will clear out over approximately a 5 to 10 minute period each night. In this time, hundreds or even thousands of bats can be seen.

Attempts to rid the town of bats have been met with much opposition at City Council meetings. The camp protecting the bats was mocked by a Davis citizen who felt that the town was more protective of bats than of its own citizens. Unsympathetic to his cause, the City Council was not amused when he put on a Batman mask to curry favor with them. There was also a successful move by some downtown businesses to remove a bat colony. (on 3rd street? anyone have more information?)

Incidentally, you have a higher chance of winning the state lottery than being bitten by a bat with rabies. The rabies danger from bats is actually much less than from other wild animals like raccoons and skunks.

Look out bats. Do you need help with bats in your home? Bat Conservation International explains humane "do-it-yourself" methods as well as listing ethical professionals. http://www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?idPage=51

If a bat is on the ground — do not touch it! They are wild animals and should be left alone for many reasons. Call NorCal Bats at 530-902-1918 or the California Department of Fish and Game for rescue. NorCal Bats will send a volunteer to retrieve the bat, a free service that is safer for you and the bat.

If there has been skin contact with the bat, you'll need to call your health provider. If animal control retrieves the bat for you, they will have it tested for rabies. This involves killing the animal since it is the brain that must be tested, so the act of petting that cute (and wild) animal condemns it to death. Please do not touch them.

Educational sign in the arboretum near the California Avenue bridge

Educational sign in the arboretum near the California Avenue bridge

Bats viewed leaving the causeway In May, the Yolo Basin Foundation [www.yolobasin.org] (530-758-1018) begins tours to view bats in the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area.

There's a colony living beneath the pedestrian walkway over Covell, near Davis Senior High School. As of June 14th, you can see them pouring out from under the bridge at precisely 9pm (this time varies with sunset throughout the year). This is really a sight to see. Bats also live under the Yolo Causeway, and can be seen flying out at dusk in great clouds. Sometimes they're also found near University Mall. Woodland, as well, is especially populated with large bat colonies.

If you walk under bridges in Davis and hear squeaking noises coming from the bridge, you know it's filled with bats. The squeaking noises will reach a crescendo just before the exit for the night. In Downtown Davis, the squeaks in the trees are Hoary bats.

If you are lucky your cat will bring a fully live, uninjured, but stunned bat into your apartment through the catdoor and put it on you while you are sleeping. And then you can get a nice closeup picture of a bat on your dirty kitchen floor before it finally finds it way back out into the wild. Indoor bat!

Bats? Bats!

At the times (eventually) listed in these schedules, you can plan to view the bats as they exit their day-time homes. Be there promptly at the indicated time (or early) because the exoduses only last 5 to 10 minutes. Mexican Free-tailed Bats fly out at sunset, give or take 5 minutes. It varies slightly with cloud cover.

If you add times to these schedules, please be precise down to the minute so others can show up at the right time. Sunset times are chosen for the 15th of the month.

— = time not yet known

xx = migratory, not in area

xx = migratory, not in area

Comments:

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2005-06-15 15:10:51   Back east we used to catch bats for fun as kids when bored. Works a lot easier in the woods then in Davis, but take a handful of gravel or pebbles/rocks, and toss a couple high up against a tree. You can trick a few bats into investigating. Good timing and a blanket can catch a couple. Be careful not to hurt them, and watch out for the teeth should you attempt this. —ES

Bats are responsible for most human cases of rabies, at least in the US (CDC ref.). Read up on this before attempting to catch any bats. —DanWillenbring

2005-06-21 11:13:09   Around here the best way to spot them is to go out at night and find a parking lot light. The lights a lot of large flying insects, which attracts the bats. Watch long enough and you will see at least one bat avail itself of these insect buffets. —RogerClark

2005-07-05 15:39:29   Catching bats or any wild animal is not a good idea for the safety of the animal and the human. —CorkyQuirk

2005-07-05 16:01:39   Yolo Causeway flight of free-tails July 8:30, Aug 8:15, Sept 7:30, three flights about 6-10 minutes apart. —CorkyQuirk

2005-07-07 14:50:52   The fly out under the causeway was spectacular last night. 30,000 mexican free-tail bats and about 100 humans watching. —CorkyQuirk

2006-06-01 12:53:55   We went last night with the Yolo Bypass Wildlife people, it was great! There is a presentation with a slideshow and live bats at the wildlife center, followed by a caravan to the causeway for the flyout. It was really cool, and is fun for any age group! Thanks, Corky! —JeffieBaby

2006-10-23 11:15:39   When biking around Davis in the Fall, some tree or bush has white flowers, and smells strong, having an oily and musky odor around dusk (in my opinion, it smells unpleasant, and like something I'd care not to mention here). Is this a plant pollinated by bats? —MatthewTom

• I believe those would be the Cumbleberry Trees to which you refer. —AlphaDog
  

2006-10-30 15:07:09   All bats in the US eat insects. There are three species that also pollinate but they are only found in the far southern tip of CA and in Florida. Corky —NorCalBats

2006-10-30 19:40:56   If you go under the covell pedestrian overpass you can see the line of quano that they make! —StevenDaubert

2006-11-04 15:42:56   The bats are now gone from Covell Ped Overcrossing. The rain seeps in from above and through their crevices. —NorCalBats

2006-12-28 15:35:48   Is there a bat guru that can suggest what compass point I should hang my batbox from on my chimney in W Davis? —RobiPochapin

2007-02-02 15:57:37   Generally our bats in the central valley can tolerate morning sun or partial shade but not full afternoon sun. The following is a wonderful study about Central Valley bats conducted here in Yolo County. http://calag.ucop.edu/0602AMJ/pdfs/7_BatHouses.pdf —NorCalBats

2008-10-10 20:35:24   Where can i find bats?? i tried covell blvd and i tried the bridges in the arboretum and i couldnt find any. —itsedmondfoo