Cave tours are available at Ozark Caverns from March through October. Bats of the cave include big and little browns and eastern pipistrelles. From U.S. 54 at Osage Beach, turn east on Highway 42, and travel 4 miles. Turn south on Highway 134 for .5 mile to the park office. The eastern pipistrelle is one of 11 species of bats in Missouri.
Bats make their homes under tree bark, in caves and barns, and occasionally in the attics of houses.
They are not dangerous and, in fact, are highly beneficial because they eat great numbers of night-flying insects pesky to humans. A visit to Onondaga Cave State Park wouldn't be complete without a cave tour, but the forested hills and Meramec River are rich in wildlife too. Onondaga Cave is known for its spectacular cave deposits and scenic rooms. Watch for big brown and eastern pipistrelle bats, grotto and slimy salamanders and other cave wildlife. Enjoy scenic bluffs and hills by canoeing the river, where you'll see wildlife such as raccoons, red fox, songbirds, herons, beaver, turtles and fish.