Old Tunnel State Park Goes Batty Each Evening

Mexican free-tailed bats and a smattering of cave myotis bats funnel out of the defunct railroad tunnel that has been home to the migratory colony since the early 1940s at Old Tunnel State Park. The bats swarm into the evening sky at dusk from May through October.

Standard-Radio Post/Joe Southern

Emergence of 3 million bats at dusk a sight to behold

By Joe Southern Standard-Radio Post reporter

The furry flurry that emerges each evening from May to October at Old Tunnel State Park is a sight to behold as more than 3 million bats make their sunset trek into the Texas skies in search of food.

The mix of Mexican free-tailed bats and an estimated 3,000 cave myotis bats funnel out of the defunct railroad tunnel that was built in 1913 and used by the Fredericksburg and Northern Railroad until its abandonment in 1941. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the entire colony to emerge, almost on cue at dusk.

The migratory mammals make their home in the 920-foot tunnel, often arriving in late March or early April, and then departing south in the fall and winter. They dine on moths and other flying insects. Their nightly emergence, however, is the main attraction at Old Tunnel State Park.

The park, located at 10619 Old San Antonio Road (around 11 miles south of Fredericksburg), is open every day from sunrise to sunset.

During the summer and early fall months, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hosts sessions to educate visitors about the bats. Bat-viewing opportunities are available seven nights a week, and nightly educational presentations are given Thursday through Sunday.

At dusk, viewing sessions are held where spectators can watch as a “black tornado” forms before their eyes as thousands of bats leave behind their roosts inside the abandoned railroad tunnel, swirling out en masse on their nightly foraging flights.

To better see the bats on their nightly runs, the park offers an upper viewing deck and a lower observation level which is closer to the bat tunnel and walking trail. Although there is no entry fee to the park from sunrise to 5 p.m., a permit is needed after 5 p.m. in order to observe the emergence. The fee is $2 per person for the upper deck and $5 per person for the lower level, which includes the educational presentation. Space is limited and permits must be purchased online in advance at http://tpwd.texas. gov/state-parks/old-tunnel. There are also links on the park’s Facebook page.

Bring drinking water, as no water is available in the park. Picnic tables are available. Restrooms are only open in the evenings during bat season (May to October).

To minimize disturbance to the bat colony and for safety, attendees are asked to stay on the designated trail and not approach the tunnel.

Due to the sensitive nature of the park, no camping, pets or smoking are allowed.

Since the program start depends upon the emergence times (which vary with sunset times), Old Tunnel State Park maintains an informational

phone line to distribute updated information. Information on estimated “show” times is available at 1-866-978-2287. There is no phone at Old Tunnel. Officials can be reached by email at Old.Tunnel@ tpwd.texas.gov.

Park visitors can also enjoy hiking, bird-watching and general wildlife viewing on the half-mile nature trail. The trail opens daily at sunrise and closes at 5 p.m. The trail is primitive and can be steep.

Old Tunnel State Park is located in Kendall County, approximately 13 miles north of Comfort, and 11 miles south of Fredericksburg. The 16.1-acre site was acquired in 1991 for the specific purpose of protection and management of a seasonal colony of bats.

Standard-Radio Post/Joe Southern Darryl Pitts, a volunteer at Old Tunnel State Park, talks about bats during a program just before the nightly emergence of the winged mammals from the abandoned tunnel at the park.