The Phoenix Bat Cave is one of the city’s unique attractions, a flood control tunnel in Arcadia that doubles as the summer home of a colony of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats.
Every evening around sunset, the bats leave the tunnel in search of food. It’s an impressive sight: a cavalcade of bats streaming out of the tunnel and flying off into the night.
Phoenix New Times is in the middle of its summer membership drive, and our latest perk is a bit batty.
We’re inviting new and current supporters to join us at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, for an excursion to the Phoenix Bat Cave. Our special guest will be Angie McIntire, a bat specialist with the Arizona Game & Fish Department.
You can make a contribution to become a member and get an invite. Already a member? Keep an eye on your email for the RSVP.
“I always like to tell people, bats never attack people, and so most of the misconceptions come from (the fact that) most people have never seen a bat up close; they don’t really even see bats unless they go to a location like this and see them flying,” McIntire told Phoenix New Times. “But on any given night, there are anywhere from dozens to thousands of bats, depending on where you are in the Valley, that are out hunting insects. There are several different species that can cope with the urban environment, and then as you get into the wilder areas, Arizona is a very diverse state with 29 different species.”
The event will last about an hour, after which we’ll retire to a nearby bar for drinks. You’ll need to bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes suitable for flat gravel. You’ll get full details on where to park and where to meet in an email.
If you’ve benefited from our reporting, discovered a new restaurant, learned about an important issue or simply enjoyed reading our coverage, we hope you’ll consider becoming a member today. And join us Aug. 25 for a visit to the Phoenix Bat Cave.
Jennifer Goldberg
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