Live Bat Exhibit
Going Batty at the Nature Center
Going Batty consists of weekly talks and observation of hundreds of native California Myotis bats. The program takes place only during warmer months when migratory California Myotis bats take residence in the nature center’s bat boxes. We typically start offering talks in late April or early May, and end any time between September and November depending on the weather and bat behavior.
Guests of Cachuma Lake Recreation Area are welcome to visit our bat boxes at any time during their visit. The bats typically come out about 30 minutes after sunset and are most active here during the summer.
ADMISSION: Donation
There is a $10 per vehicle county park entry fee except for Annual Day Use permit holders.
Please do not disturb the bats with lights or loud noises.
These are wild bats—we never feed or touch the animals.
Keep at least a 10ft distance away from the bat boxes at all times.
*Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset*
Meet in front of the Nature Center for a Docent led talk and Q&A.
After learning about the local bats, we’ll move to the Native Garden to watch as the bats drop out of the bat boxes to feed.
Scroll down to Going Batty Program Schedule to see upcoming events.
Going Batty Program Schedule
Please check again in April or May if there are no upcoming events posted below.
A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of a […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! Friday & Saturday evenings at dusk Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […] A Living Exhibit! ADMISSION: Donation *Program times vary by week depending on the time of sunset* Meet at the front entrance of the Nature Center. Going Batty consists of […]Going Batty
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Save the Bats!
More than half of the bat species in the United States are in severe decline or are listed as endangered. Bats play a vital role to both natural ecosystems and human society by controlling insect populations, pollinating plants, and so much more.
You can do your part to protect bats by donating to conservation programs, or even building your own bat box at home.
Learn more about the fascinating world of bats and how you can protect them with this bat fact sheet and resources, or by visiting us at the Nature Center.
California Myotis
The species of bats that live at the Neal Taylor Nature Center’s bat boxes are the California myotis (Myotis californicus), which are part of the Mouse-Eared Bat family and are considered micro bats. Weighing: 0.1 oz; Wingspan: 6-9″; Length: 1/2-2″.
This species of bats migrates south during the colder months, so you will typically see them active here at the Nature Center from late Spring to early Fall. They give birth to one pup per year, usually in late late June to early July.
There are hundreds of these bats that live in the two bat boxes at the nature center, coming out at dusk every evening to feed.
Photo by Lauren Angel, BLM, CC BY-2.0
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Barn Owl (Tyto Alba)