We took the elevator out of the cavern (~750 ft. trip) and went back to our coach in the parking lot. We had a cocktail and made initial preparations for dinner while waiting for dusk to observe the typical mass exodus of bats from the cavern.

We didn’t head back to the amphitheater early, and all the seating that was currently in the shade was taken, so we sat on a wall not far behind the last row. We wanted to be near the back anyway, as we had agreed that watching the exodus for 10 minutes would be enough (and we could drive back to the campground before it was totally dark).

A ranger with an easy manner and a sense of humor started the talk and provided lots of interesting information about bats in general, and more on the various species of bats calling this particular cave home. The caverns are home to up to one million bats, of six different species. It is the Mexican Free-Tail bats that leave the cave at dusk to search for food (moths, mostly) and return before dawn. From April through mid-to-late October, the mass exodus from the cave is reliable, but it’s not a command performance. The bats come out when they’re ready. So the ranger, with his back to the cave, asked for the audience to make circles with their hands and immediately cease all conversation as soon as we saw the first sign of bats. After coaching us on how to help make the most of the experience, he resumed his talk. And then it happened. Talking stopped and arms shot up in the air making circles just as he'd asked us to do. It began with just a few. The early exiters kind of scout it out and then spread the word. Once they gave it a 'thumbs-up,' it was a slow but steady stream until a huge swath of them streaked across the sky. Photography is not allowed (the camera electronics interfere with the bats' sonar), so the photograph we have included was NOT taken by us. Just so you know :-)