Bat Removal Austin, TX

The bridge and your attic

TPWD and the City of Austin both describe the Congress Avenue Bridge colony as the largest urban bat colony in North America. TPWD puts it at about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, and bat cruises run from March through October. Bat-watching is a big part of Austin life. Bats in a house are a separate issue. Texas Tech's Mammals of Texas says free-tailed bats use buildings in every Texas town, and most building colonies hold fewer than 100 bats. A colony in a South Austin attic doesn't need the bridge nearby.

Austin's rules: Animal Protection and 311

• Rabies control authority: Austin Animal Protection serves the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County. It handles bites and possible exposures.
• Bat on the ground: the city treats a grounded bat as sick. Don't touch it and keep pets away. Call 311 (512-974-2000) right away.
• Possible exposure: call 311 and get medical advice. Austin Public Health has a 24-hour line at 512-972-5555.

Grounded bats are a real warning sign in Austin. A healthy bat rarely ends up on the ground, and Austin Animal Services' wildlife page treats one as sick. Under state rules (25 TAC § 169.25), a possible human exposure has to be reported to the local rabies control authority, which here is Animal Protection.

Timing around the bridge season

Austin is in the range of the migratory western free-tailed bats, so building colonies follow a similar seasonal pattern to the bridge. TPWD discourages exclusion from May 1 to August 15 because pups can't fly yet. At Camp Mabry, average lows stay at 50°F or warmer from March through November, and August averages almost 98°F. That gives Austin a longer fall exclusion window than north Texas, running from mid-August through October and often into November. Late winter and early spring also work, before maternity colonies form.

Austin housing and climate snapshot

• Housing units: 518,574 (median year built 2000)
• Built before 1980: 25%; built 2010 or later: 32%
• Single-family detached: 41%; buildings with 10+ units: 40%
• Renter-occupied homes: 59%
• Average January low: 42°F; average August high: 98°F
• Months with an average low of 50°F or warmer: Mar–Nov

Housing figures: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year estimates (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003) via Census Reporter. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Austin-Camp Mabry station.

Austin has the newest housing among the large Texas cities on this list. The median unit was built in 2000, and about a third were built in 2010 or later. Detached houses make up about 41% of housing, and 59% of homes are rented. On newer homes and townhomes, we look at the joints between rooflines, gaps around metal or composite trim, and ridge-vent ends. On older central bungalows, the weak spots are usually gable vents, fascia gaps, and old chimney chases.

Common questions

Nearby city guides

• Round Rock
• Pflugerville
• Cedar Park
• Buda
• Kyle

Sources

1. Austin Animal Services: wildlife
2. Austin Animal Services: Animal Protection
3. City of Austin FAQ: contact with a bat
4. Texas DSHS: Travis County disease reporting contacts
5. TPWD: Congress Avenue Bridge
6. Mammals of Texas (TTU NSRL): Brazilian free-tailed bat
7. TPWD Outdoor Annual: nongame and other species (bats)
8. 25 Tex. Admin. Code § 169.25: reports of human exposure to rabies
9. Texas DSHS: bat exposure scenarios and capture tips
10. Census Reporter: Austin ACS 2024 profile
11. NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 monthly normals (Austin-Camp Mabry)