With temperatures struggling to rise above the freezing mark on Monday and Tuesday, the Houston Humane Society said it was rescuing as many cold-stunned bats as it could.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the agency said it had collected over 1,300 bats from four different colonies. The group says that the Mexican free-tailed bats are recovering quickly once rescued.
"As temperatures look to remain below freezing throughout the rest of today and overnight, our staff remain dedicated to helping as many cold-stunned bats as possible across the city," the Houston Humane Society said.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, Mexican free-tailed bats generally migrate through the Texas Hill Country from late October through mid-November. They generally spend their winters in Mexico.
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Officials say there are only a handful of suitable sites for large maternal colonies as they require high humidity and temperature levels.
After spending their winters in caves in Mexico, the bats start migrating to Texas in February.
The Mexican free-tailed bat was named Texas' state flying mammal in 1995.
The bats are generally 3.5 inches to 4.25 inches long, with a 1- to 1.5-inch tail.
Officials say if you see a cold-stunned bat, don't rescue it yourself. They recommend calling an area humane society.
According to the National Weather Service, the low temperature dropped to 18 degrees on Tuesday, marking a daily record in Houston. The high temperature on Monday was 33, marking the coldest high for the day.
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