Millions of Bats Leave Oklahoma
for the Winter (Sep 26, 2007)
Meet Oklahoma’s official flying mammal, the Mexican free-tailed bat. Each year, millions of them nest and raise their young at half a dozen caves around the state. With summer now officially over and the first frost on its way, they’re headed back to warmer environs south of the border. We pay a visit to the 2007 Selman Bat Watch, held a few months ago near Alabaster Caverns in Freedom, Oklahoma. Guests include Melynda Hickman with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and bat watcher Frank Malkemus of Tulsa.

WEB EXTRAS:
View photos from this year’s bat watch

Watch a video of the bats emerging from their cave


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