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Texas family donates historic cave to protect maternity home for 4m bats

Times of India Nov 09, 2026 at 06:30 AM IST
Texas family donates historic cave to protect...

AI summary

The Eckert family donated the Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve to The Nature Conservancy, guaranteeing permanent protection for a colony of roughly four million Mexican free‑tailed bats. The donation required surrounding land to stay open for public education, while TNC manages visitation and research to safeguard the bats’ critical maternity habitat.

Key takeaways

  • The cave hosts one of the nation’s largest bat nurseries, with females giving birth each June.
  • Bats consume vast numbers of insects, including crop pests, providing significant ecological and agricultural benefits.
  • TNC’s management plan restricts cave entry during maternity season and monitors the population to prevent disturbance.
  • Visitors can view the evening bat emergence for a $5 fee, though the site lacks basic amenities and wheelchair access.
Read the original at Times of India

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