bat flight program im carlsbad cavern national park

When we went back to the caverns last summer we wanted to see the bats. The bat flight program is need but not quite as we expected. First of all the bats don't all come flying out at once in some black mass of bat tornado like you would expect to see from some movie. Once the bats start to come out they slowly trickle out several at a time. Then it gets dark and you can't see them anymore, but they still just trickle out. The rangers seemed to be well informed and were giving what we that was probably accurate info, but then one said that bats like to eat 'payapas', she said it several times so we knew it wasn't just an accident. The correct word is papayas. After that we were wondering if what were were learing was true or not. They said that the bat bodies were about the size of your thumb, but several flew right past our heads on their way out of the cave and their bodies were as big as limes. Also, you are not allowed to take any photos or videos, or talk, while the bats are flying out. This supposedly makes them fly into the ground or some such thing. It was a cool experience but only needed once. I wonder if the return flight to cave is any different? I don't want to be there at that time of morning and camera and video aren't allowed, so I guess I'll never see it...

We really enjoyed seeing this. I would say it is a MUST see if the bats are around. You will be amazed at how many bats fly. Arrive early. You cannot take flash photography when the bats start flying.

If you go to Calrsbad Caverns - you MUST do this. This was really cool. The event occurs between 6 and 6:30'ish. There is a schedule you can check to find out when they expect the bats to leave the cave for that day. I would recommend getting there a bit early and ensuring your camera is properly set to take pictures WITHOUT the flash. The park rangers will tell you many times that flash photography is prohibited -of course, someone always does not listen and they had to reprimand one person twice and then asked him to leave the amphitheater. So, practice with the flash off or just film it. It is amazing - just a tornado of bats swirling out of the cave. Prior to the bats leaving, a park ranger will give the history of the caverns and the bats -so, it is very informative. Finally, you should make a day of it at the caverns -starting early. And, if you have young kids -sign them up for the National Park Service's Junior Ranger Program (free). They will get an activity book and will be given some tasks for the day -what to see, some questions. If they complete it, you can take it back to the Visitor's Center and they will give your child a Junior Ranger patch. It's pretty cool and keeps the kids engaged throughout the day (and, the parents learn something as well). It cost about $10 dollars for 16 and up -free for kids 15 an younger. This allows you to do the self-guided tour. There are some ranger guided tours for additional fees -many don't allow for children under 12 or 8 -but, some are very cool. Check out the Carlsbad Caverns website.

This was my favorite experience of the day!! We finished touring the caverns an hour before The Flight of the Bats so we hung around to see their flight. So glad we waited.

When you get to the caverns, check on the time to return for the bat flight. We were told to arrive by 6:15 p.m. There is a nice amphitheater set up that can accommodate several hundred people. The bats decided to leave the cave a 6:22 p.m. What a display! We stayed for about 25 minutes and saw hundreds of thousands of bats leaving the mouth of the cave. The winds were pretty strong and it was liking a bat tornado. The sky was thick with bats and the sound of the flapping wings was amazing. If you visit the caverns, do not miss the flight of the bats!

I learned so much about the importance of bats to all of us, but it was a rare thing to see a group of children and adults from all around the world silent and in awe. Don't miss it.

I have seen the bat flight program numerous times. Every time has been a miracle.Some bat flights will be pure awesomeness, especially if they happen to occur before it's completely dark. You can see them against the late afternoon sky, moving like a magic rope down to the valley to feed. Some flights will be like puffs, some will be a steady stream, some will be massive clouds of hungry animals. All are wonderful.Obviously you're going to want to combine this with a tour of the cave. There is plenty of time between when the cave closes and when the bat flight program begins.If you finish the cave tour early, and you don't want to drive all the way to Carlsbad and then come back, I recommend walking the nature trail, which begins just outside the natural entrance where the trail crosses the ravine. When the pavement ends, and you find yourself meeting a gravel trail for the return to the bat flight area, stop and look to your right. You will see a small area with a chain link fence around it. Take the time to go see that - it's the old guano bucket drop, where the miners and first visitors to the cave were lowered down to the bat cave, for access to the rest of the cave. Take a whiff of that guano in the air.Now go back to the cave entrance for the bat flight.The rangers frown on the use of cameras, and for good reason, but burn that memory into your mind. Don't be afraid to ask questions, the rangers know everything there is to know about bats.And on your way home, reflect on the fact that you have seen one of the great wonders of the world, thanks to your friends at the National Park Service.

This is an absolute must do. We were told to be at the Natural Cave entrance at 6:15. A park ranger was there telling use all about the bats and such. Then ~6:45, bats started to come out of the cave. They came out in DROVES for over 40 minutes until it became too dark to even see them anymore, although they were still coming out. It was an absolutely amazing sight of nature!

This program is offered around dusk--the time of the bat's naturalexit from the cavern to go out hunting insects for food. The ParkRanger gave an excellent talk about how the observation of thebat's exit of the cave led to discovery of the cave in the last century, although there is evidence that Native Amercans had long known of it's existence. The Ranger explained the rules toprevent we visitors from disturbing the bats, as well as answeringany questions. The bats continue to fill me with wonder and appreciation!

We went on Oct 5th and the bats started coming out at 6:45 pm. They kept coming out steady for 30 minutes which was really amazing. We left after 30 minutes and they were still coming out. We were told that there were about 300,000 to 400,000 bats in the cave but it seemed like a lot more. The program started at about 6 pm and was very interesting and informative.

The bat flight program was interesting. It begins about one hour before sunset. Thousands of bats emerge from the caverns, fly in a circle and then go off in search of food.

Don't miss this adventure. Excellent program and well worth the time. Park service presenter was exceptional

We settled in the amphitheater to hopefully witness the emerging bats as they venture out to dine on thousands of small insects, and we were not disappointed. As we waited and visited with fellow Bat Seekers around us, the cave sparrows put on their on show as they went into the cave to nest for the night. Approximately one hour prior to the flight, a park ranger began giving the crowd Bat information, that gave most of us a better appreciation for these little creatures.In the quite at dusk, thousands of lil Brazilian free tailed bats ventured out Carlsbad Caverns and gave us the show we waited to see. They flew out in tornado fashion, hundreds and hundreds at a time. Well worth the wait!No electronics allowed.

One of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring experiences you can have at a national park. It's absolutely amazing in this day an age to be in a small amphitheatre with over 100 people, who are not on their phones (prohibited at the program) in pindrop silence, observing the thousands of bats as they fly out of the cave and start their nocturnal journey. Absolute bliss.

Silently witnessing the flight of bats and swallows in the calm of dusk is something that should not be missed. The beautiful drive out to the Caverns sets the mood. The visitors are respectful of the rules to turn off phones and respect the wonders of nature.