No, You Cannot Keep an Austin Bat as a Pet

Every year, thousands of people visit Austin, hear about the famous Congress Avenue Bridge bats, and think some version of the same thought:

“What if I just… took one?”

Let’s stop you right there.

The Bats Are Not Souvenirs

Austin’s Mexican free-tailed bats — roughly 1.5 million of them at peak season — live under the Congress Avenue Bridge and perform their nightly emergence like clockwork. It’s one of the largest urban bat colonies in the world. It’s dramatic. It’s beautiful. It’s extremely Instagrammable.

It is not a pet store.

These bats are protected wildlife. Capturing, harming, or attempting to keep one is illegal under Texas law. You can face fines and potential criminal charges for disturbing or possessing them without a permit.

Translation: you will not be flying home with a bat in your carry-on.

They Are Wild Animals (Very Wild)

Even if it were legal (it isn’t), bats are not domestic animals. They don’t bond with humans. They don’t want to live in your apartment. They do not care about your loft aesthetic.

Mexican free-tailed bats can fly up to 60 mph, eat thousands of insects per night, and migrate long distances. They are built for the sky, not your living room.

Also important: bats can carry rabies. While the risk is low if you leave them alone, attempting to handle one dramatically increases that risk. If you find a bat on the ground, do not touch it. Call animal control or a wildlife professional.

You Will Lose This Battle

Let’s say, hypothetically, you ignore all advice and try to catch one.

You won’t.

They emerge in dense, swirling formations at dusk and are faster than you. They can detect obstacles with echolocation. You, meanwhile, are likely holding a phone and wearing sandals.

The bats will win.

Enjoy Them the Right Way

Want the full bat experience? Great.

Watch them from the bridge or from the water. Visit between late spring and early fall for peak numbers. Bring friends. Clap when they spiral into the sky. Take photos.

Then let them go do what they do best — devour mosquitoes and remind everyone that Austin is just weird enough to have 1.5 million bats as a civic mascot.

The bats are part of the ecosystem. They’re part of the culture. They’re part of what makes Austin Austin.

They are not your emotional support animal.

Welcome to Austin. Please leave the wildlife where you found it.