Nature and Wildlife in San Antonio

Located in the heart of San Antonio, Brackenridge Park is a 343-acre park that features walking trails, picnic areas, and gardens, making it a great spot to enjoy nature and wildlife. You can spot ducks, turtles, and a variety of birds in the park’s creek and pond areas. The San Antonio Botanical Garden is designed with sustainability in mind, including habitats that attract butterflies, bees, and birds.

Bracken Cave, on the northern outskirts of San Antonio, is home to the largest bat colony in the world, where 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats can be viewed emerging from the caves at dusk through the summer months. This is a key maternity site for the species, and females congregate there each year to give birth and rear their young.

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center is another great spot for nature lovers and birdwatching enthusiasts in San Antonio. Located just south of downtown, this 1,200-acre wildlife sanctuary offers a peaceful retreat with a diverse range of habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, and prairies. It's one of the best places in the area to observe migratory birds, with over 300 species recorded at the center.