Did you know that a huge colony of migratory bats live under the Yolo Causeway during the summer? Join Yolo Basin Foundation for a summertime Bat Talk and Tour to learn all about these amazing and beneficial mammals.
Following a presentation on bat natural history, where you will have the opportunity to see live ambassador bats up close, the group will caravan out to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area for a brief tour of the wetlands and rice fields. Then we get in position to watch the “flyout” of the largest urban colony of Mexican Free-tailed bats in California. The bats emerge in long ribbons as they head out to hunt for insects for the night.
The whole experience takes about three hours. This is a family friendly event! There is a small amount of walking. Those in wheelchairs or unable to walk may view the bats by car. Please let us know if you have special needs. Bat Talk and Tour events begin late-June and run through September.
Registration for 2025 will open in late May or early June.
Special Events
Batty for Bats!
07/13/2024 – Concluded
08/24/2024 – Concluded
Celebrate summer and join us for Batty for Bats!
Enjoy a little bite to eat and see an exciting local band perform. You’ll also get to meet a number of live ambassador bats and learn about a variety of native bat species.
As part of the festivities, we will view the spectacular sunset fly-out of one of the largest colonies of Mexican Free-tailed bats in California. Yolo Basin Foundation bat expert, Corky Quirk will lead the tour and offer lots of great bat information.
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Bats and Crafts
07/21/2024 – Concluded
08/10/2024 – Concluded
Join us as we host a special bat event aimed at young children, especially those that are too young to stay up late to watch the bats fly. This fun filled day will include meeting live bats, arts and crafts, games and other bat related activities.
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Unfortunately, we are not able to offer “Bat House Building” this year. We hope to bring it back in 2025!
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We require minimum two weeks notice to refund or reschedule all event tickets.
Bat T-shirts!
T-shirts are available for purchase at all Bat Talk & Tour events and at the YBF office.
$20 per t-shirt.
T-shirt art provided by Ching Chang (Explore the Dark Side).
Private Events:
Bring a larger group (e.g. scouts, PTA school trip, church group, or a bunch of your friends) for a private bat event. Maximum number of attendees is 70. Please contact Corky Quirk, CQuirk@yolobasin.org, to arrange a private tour.
Bat Talk and Tour Media Coverage
“Bats swarm in Yolo County overpass”
KCRA, Tom Miller
“360° Video: Flight of the Bats”
(Best viewed on smart phone)
“These bats don’t need a cave, they have a bridge”
KCRA, Tom Miller, July 13, 2016
KQED Quest: “Bats Beneath Us”
featuring Corky Quirk, Yolo Basin Foundation’s bat expert
“The Invisible Mammal: The Bat Rescuer”
by Kristin Tieche
Additional Bat Related Information and Resources
Help CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife track bat populations in California by reporting bat colonies or their roost sites, https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Bats/Report-Colony.
Articles about the Bat Talk & Tours
- Help CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife track bat populations in California by reporting bat colonies or their roost sites, https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Bats/Report-Colony.
- “5 places in California to go a little batty,” SF Chronicle, 4/13/14 View
- “A highway, a wetland and 250,000 bats,” Bay Nature, 7/26/13 View
- “Going Batty,” Davis Enterprise, 8/12/12 View
- Yolo Flyway Newsletter, Summer 2011 Download pdf
Bat Organizations
