A Tucson Day Trip that has you eating breakfast with the bats at Carlsbad Caverns

June 23, 12:45 PMTucson Getaways ExaminerNancy Dickinson

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Visitors preparing for the bat flight.  Photo Credit: National Park Service

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is hosting a breakfast so visitors can dine with the bats this July 18th.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park is noted for its amazing sunsets and, well, caverous caves but one of its lesser known attractions is the bats that call the caverns their home.

From May 15th until October 15th, give or take a dew days either way, the tours of Carlsbad Caverns includes the evening bat flight program taking place at their amphitheater each night at dusk.  Nearly 400,000 Brazilian (Mexican) bats take wing each evening as the sun sets to feed and cavort in the New Mexico desert.  Though they are in residence primarily between May and October, the National Park Service recommends the months of July and August for peak bat viewing, as this is the time of year the baby bats take part alongside some migrating Northern bats.

As the usual time for the Bat Flight Program is in the evening, each year the Park Service plays host to a morning breakfast and this year is no exception.  Given annually, hundreds of guests from around the world are invited to take part in a morning return flight of the bats that make their home in the caverns of Carlsbad.  Beginning at 5 AM on Saturday, the 18th of July, and ending at 7 AM, sponsored by the park employees.  There is a nominal fee to beat breakfast with last year's prices bing $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 years old and younger.  For participants of the Bat Flight Breakfast, the normal fees for self-guided tours are waived.

Cave opening, bats in flight.  Photo Credit: National Park Service

The Bat Flight Breakfast has been part of the Bat Flight Program since 1957 and the 2009 breakfast is the 52nd to rake place.  It is important to note that there is absolutely NO photography or videography of any kind permitted without a special use permit, a fee of $50 and two weeks notice.  Generally, normal tourist type photography is permitted around the park but it is limited with regard to the inside of the cave where the flash could damage the walls.  It is also extremely limited with regard to the bats as it disturbs them and their flying.  For those wishing to own photos of the bats in flight, the gift shop has them available for sale.

For more information related to the Bat Flight Breakfast and other programs offered at the Caverns, the following information is taken from their website:

By Mail
Carlsbad Caverns National
3225 National Parks Highway
Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220

By Phone
Visitor Information
575.785.2232

Bat Flight Information
575.785.3012

By Fax
575.785.2133

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