HOUSTON – More than 200 bats which were rescued from frigid conditions under a Houston bridge were set to be released back to their colony Sunday.
The bats were rescued from beneath the Waugh Bridge over Buffalo Bayou, located at Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway, after the cold temperatures this week caused them to go into hypothermic shock, lose their grip on the bridge, and fall to the ground.
The Waugh Bridge bats were not the only ones rescued during the cold weather. Over 2,500 were collected. Many of them came from the Spring, Cypress, and Pearland areas.
The rescue effort was led by Mary Warwick, Wildlife Director at Houston Humane Society, and the 16-person bat rescue team.
“Sadly, despite Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center’s efforts to save every single one of the cold-stunned creatures, 803 bats did not survive their falls from the bridges,” the Humane Society said.
The Mexican free-tailed bats, which are a popular site when they take flight at dusk from Waugh Bridge, were placed in warming boxes and incubators, then administered IV fluids to aid their recovery.
The Humane Society said that they were prepared to release the 200 bats back to their colony Sunday. However, some of the bats chose not to return to the bridge. The bats that did not return will be taken back to the wildlife center and released privately when the weather is more comfortable.
Bats from the other locations in Pearland, Spring and Cypress will also be released privately when the weather warms up. The wildlife center will continue to care for these creatures until they can all safely return to their habitats.
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