Bats are wild animals and, if handled, may bite in self-defense. Bat exiting a roost site they can be safely evicted by use of netting hung in front of their exits. Leaving the bottom open will allow the bats to escape, yet prohibits their return. Several evenings later, when the bats are gone, their holes can be plugged. Entrance to Bracken Cave America's largest bat colonies live in caves.
Bats gather here to rear their young in what is known as a nursery colony.
A mother gives birth to just one pup each year and quickly learns to recognize its voice and scent. The baby's survival depends on her finding and nursing it several times a day. Amazingly, she remembers her own pup's exact location and voice even though it is packed tightly among millions of others. Like all bats, the babies are nourished by their mother's milk. They, too, must travel south for winter.