Hiding out in Sparks, Nevada is a unique wildlife attraction that you’ll definitely want to see with your own eyes. Hiding underneath the bridge along a busy highway is a humongous bat colony. By day, you can barely tell that they’re there. However, when night falls they put on a grand show for the “bat watchers” that come to see them. The next time you’re in Sparks, plan a stop at this “bat bridge”. This is a sight that you need to see.
The next time you find yourself driving over the S. McCarran Boulevard bridge at dusk, you might just witness an extraordinary sight: thousands upon thousands of real bats flying through the air!
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Some people refer to it as “The Bat Bridge”. For years, the bridge that runs over the Truckee River on S. McCarran Boulevard has been home to a massive bat colony. The size of the colony fluctuates from year to year, but it’s estimated that around 40,000 bats call the bridge home.
reader of the pack/Flickr
The bats are Brazilian free-tailed bats and they provide one of Sparks’ most unique wildlife viewing experiences. Every night as the sun begins to set, the bats come out from underneath the bridge and put on a “performance” for passerby. People can view from the top of the bridge or the Truckee River Bike Trail which runs directly underneath the bridge.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr
As evening descends onto the town, the bats start screaming and flying around as they set off on their nightly hunt for insects. It’s a magnificent sight to see, especially in such an urbanized area.
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Despite being in the middle of a highly trafficked area, the bridge is actually perfect for the bat colony. The deep grooves beneath the bridge make for ideal roosting locations where they can linger undisturbed.
rhbird/TripAdvisor
The bats generally stay at the bridge during the summer and migrate somewhere warmer as the weather gets colder. They may or may not have already migrated for the year, but considering they’ve returned to this bridge for at least a decade, you can bet they’ll be back next year!
rhbird/TripAdvisor
Did you know about this unique bat bridge? It’s hard to believe so many of these majestic creatures live underneath this bridge of all places. Take a look at our list of 11 Things To Do In Nevada For $10 Or Less for more low cost fun in the Silver State!
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reader of the pack/Flickr
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr
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