Congress Avenue Bridge bat myths

A common myth is that the bats under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge are vampire bats or will attack people; in fact the colony is composed primarily of Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), a species that feeds on insects and does not drink blood. The nightly summer emergence of the colony, estimated in the hundreds of thousands, is a well-documented wildlife phenomenon that attracts many visitors. While sensational claims persist in popular culture, scientific surveys and wildlife officials provide documented species identification and behavioral information. The bridge and its bat colony are a protected and studied urban wildlife site.