Development Threatens World’s Largest Population of Bats
Mexican Free-Tail Bats Emerging From the Bracken Bat Cave. Photo by Daniel Spiess/flickr
If a developer has his way, the bats of Bracken Cave, the world’s largest population of bats, will be flying over a new subdivision.
San Antonio developer Brad Galo of Galo Properties, has proposed a massive new 1,500-acre, 3,800-home subdivision directly next to the cave reserve.
The summer home to an estimated 20 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats, Bracken Cave is the largest known concentration of mammals. Located in southern Comal County, Texas, 20 minutes outside the city of San Antonio, the cave and 697 undeveloped acres around it are owned by Bat Conservation International.
Their concern, aside from putting 10,000 people on land that lies within the sensitive Edwards Aquifer-recharge zone and that the area is critical foraging area for the bats, is that this development would put people and bats in a situation where they would surely come into conflict.
Adult bats that love buildings will surely cause headaches for home-owners, while juvenile bats will no doubt be attracted to insects gathering around the lights of these homes. In the end, someone or their pet will surely come into contact with a sick bat, contract rabies and raise problems for the bats, those threats to public safety.
Map showing the proposed Crescent Hills Subdivision south of the Bracken Cave Reserve. Map via Bat Con International
It seems that Texas law leaves little legal recourse for the environmental issues, and the only hopes to stop the process from going ahead is to make it a significant public and media issue.
In an effort to do just that, Andrew Walker the Executive Director of Bat Conservation International sent out a plea to try to drum up support.
They’re looking for folks to come out and show support on Wednesday, May 22nd when they present their concerns to San Antonio’s City Council during a public meeting at City Hall.
Anyone who can’t make the meeting is urged to call, write and email the Mayor, City Council and Planning Commission to tell them that the proposed subdivision is an incompatible use that is sure to put people and bats into conflict.
For more information email [email protected] or call 512 367-9721 x19.
Save Bracken Cave Reserve! [Bat Conservation International]
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