• Never handle a grounded bat. Should you find one, call
  Austin Bat Refuge immediately.
• Be kind, don’t shine bright lights.
• Loud sounds or rhythmic clapping only serve to delay the flight even longer.
• Keep drones at a distance; don’t get down in the stream of bats!

A Word on Drones

A permit is required from
Aerial Wildlife Management,
as well as permission from the landowner to photograph wildlife from aircraft – which includes drones. Filming close to bats could constitute harassment, and killing of bats by a drone would be considered reckless take. These are misdemeanors, and serious violations of the Aerial Wildlife Management permits.

After a bat strike event in September 2020 that killed and injured numerous bats at Congress Avenue Bridge, we asked Texas Parks and Wildlife and the City of Austin to limit amateur drone usage at the bridge and ensure that drones keep a safe distance from the bats. In May 2021, the regulations were updated to further protect the bats. Thank you for your help in keeping our bat colony safe!