Department of Fish and Game Web Maintenance July 12-13

Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

Bats: Talk & Walk Summer Series

Join Yolo Basin Foundation and the Department of Fish and Game for an evening with bats. Bats are incredible animals with highly complex sensory and communication systems, and in the case of Mexican free-tailed bats, the ability to migrate hundreds of miles each year.

The program begins with a 45 minute indoor presentation on bat natural history and includes an opportunity to view live bats. Then the group will carpool to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area to watch one of the largest colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats in California as it emerges to hunt insects at sunset. Over 100,000 bats swirling up into the evening sky is an amazing spectacle.

The entire program will last for approximately three hours. Once the group enters the Wildlife Area, participants must stay with the group for the entire program since the viewing will be in an area not accessible to the general public. Participants will be driving on gravel and dirt roads and walking a short distance.

YBWA Bats by John Hargraves

A visitor enjoying the tour.
Photo taken by John Hargraves.

Tour dates and times

  • **FULL** 6:45 PM on Thursday, 29th of May, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:45 PM on Thursday, 12th of June, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:45 PM on Thursday, 26th of June, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:45 PM on Thursday, 10th of July, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:45 PM on Thursday, 24th of July, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:30 PM on Thursday, 7th of August, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:15 PM on Saturday, 16th of August, 2008
  • **FULL** 6:00 PM on Thursday, 21st of August, 2008
  • **FULL** 5:45 PM on Thursday, 4th of September, 2008

All tour dates are now full and registration has closed. For those that have registered, you can verify your registration by clicking here.

Reservations Required

Due to the overwhelming popularity of these events and for the safety and quality of the visitor experience, attendance this year is by online reservation only. Tours are restricted to a maximum of 60 participants each evening.

To make a reservation, please go to the Registration page. You will be able to choose a tour date and make a reservation for up to six people.

Once registration is completed, a confirmation e-mail will be sent with the following information:

  • Date and time of the tour
  • Directions to the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters
  • What to bring on the tour

You can also check your registration by clicking here.

Please support the education programs at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area with a suggested donation of $8.00 per adult to be collected before the program begins.

For more information about Yolo Basin Foundations programs visit www.yolobasin.org or call 530-757-4828.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When are the tours?

Tours are held the end of May though the beginning of September.

How much does it cost to go on a tour?

Please support the education programs at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area (YBWA) with a suggested donation to Yolo Basin Foundation of $8.00 per adult when you arrive for your tour.

The Yolo Basin Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the appreciation and stewardship of wetlands and wildlife through education and innovative partnerships. It serves thousands of people annually with its education and conservation services. For more information on programs and volunteer opportunities visit www.yolobasin.org.

Are children allowed on tours?

Tours are family oriented, so children are welcome to come, but they must be under parental supervision, and they must be registered unless they are young enough to sit on a parent's lap for the whole presentation.

How do I register for a tour?

Go to the Registration page where you will find tour information and registration forms. As dates fill up, they will no longer be available on the registration page.

Are tours accessible for individuals with limited mobility?

This is a driving tour on gravel and dirt roads. Viewing is quite close to the parking area and involves very little walking. If you have limited mobility, please call ahead (530-757-4828) so that we may make appropriate arrangements.

Do you have to go on a tour to see the bats in the YBWA?

The large colony is only accessible by scheduled tour. Other smaller colonies are located all along the causeway. You are welcome to park in the first parking lot (parking lot A) and watch for these other groups. Please note that the YBWA closes at sunset.

Is there a lot of hiking or walking involved?

Our tours involve very little walking. Once we reach the viewing location we park on the road and gather in front of the first car.

Are there restrooms in the Wildlife Area?

There are restrooms located at the headquarters building, where we will begin. There are no facilities in the area where we will watch the bats.

What about mosquitoes?

The bats come out when mosquitoes become most active. On our tours we will be surrounded by rice fields and wetlands, prime mosquito habitat. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants as well as mosquito repellent with DEET are recommended

Are bats dangerous?

Bats present very little danger to people. However, they have been known to carry rabies. For more information regarding bats and rabies consult the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention web site: http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats.html

This informative article written by Fish and Game bat expert Betsy Bolster dispels some of the myths regarding bats and offers some tips on "Living With Bats." http://www.dfg.ca.gov/viewing/bats2.html

How do I find out more about bats?

Bat Conservation International has a large amount of in depth information about these fascinating animals: http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

For some great information regarding local bats, go to the Northern California Bats website: http://www.norcalbats.org