Bat Flights
December 31st, 2008 by John Wolfe
Right here, in the state of New Mexico, exists one of the coolest, naturally based Halloween attractions on the planet – bats, bats and more bats! And most people think all we have to offer is a few little “green” men from Roswell. 
Carlsbad Caverns, in the southern part of the state, provides summertime shelter to almost 400,000 Brazilian free-tail bats. Every night, near dusk, from April through mid October, the bats make their ascension out of the cave and into the night sky.
I’ve been to the caverns, but have yet to catch an actual bat flight.
Bat flight image source: National Park Service
January 1st, 2009 at 12:53 pm
That is cool as ice! John, you live in one of thee most interesting locations on Earth, well, in our country I should say. What a great photo too. As you might have guessed, I’ve always adored bats but not for the sake of Halloween. I think they are a creature that has been sadly misunderstood, hmmm, reminds me of someone, me!
Back in 92, the location of where I was living existed this immense tree that always had thousands of high pitched sounds coming from it at night. Upon being overly curious to what was causing the sound, I ventured out late one night to take a look and was beyond delighted to see the tree have more bats in it than leaves on the branches. Many of them would swoop down and circle me, some would get so close their wings would touch my hair. A neighbor of mine thought I was under attack because I had so many bats flying around me and she screamed, which caused both the bats and I to be alarmed. Thankfully, she was so scared, she ran back into her place and concluded I must have been a witch because I never budged and seem to be talking to them, LoL, humans…..silly silly humans!
If people would just stop to think for a moment, WHY are they scared of bats? Becaaaaause of the countless number of movies they’ve seen of bats landing on the neck and sucking the blood, or turning into a vampire. In my opinion it’s more scary given how easy it is to program the human mind of fear than of any sweet little ‘ol bat who’s just hanging out for the night
You’ve never known this about me, have you? Learn something new everyday it seems 
But WOW, to be able to be so near such a cavern is incredible John, your one lucky Mo-Fo!
HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS TO YOU JOHN!!! May 2009 bring to you everything you could have possibly imagined AND MORE, lots more!
All of My Best and Much Love, Goldie~*~
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I’d have to agree with you, Goldie – New Mexico is pretty interesting and amazing. It has such an eclectic blend of not only geographical locations, but also quite the blend of “attractions” at those locations.
When I lived in Arkansas, as a kid, we used to stay out late during summer nights just for the bats and fireflies. However, I’ve never seen a tree loaded up in the manner you described – that must have been an incredible sight!
One of these days, I will definitely be taking in the bat flights at the caverns.
You’ve got a point about people being easily manipulated by Hollywood myths and urban legends. From my small amount of knowledge, I think bats, in America, are harmless, outside of an occasional case of rabies.
Thank you for the new year wishes, my friend. The same to you!