Looking for something exciting to do on a summer night? Come take a Summer Bat Walk! You will experience the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, a beautiful 300 acre-freshwater wetland in Irvine, during a time when it is normally closed to the public. Guided by trained bat enthusiasts, we will take an outdoor evening walk along the ponds in search of bats. These bats visit the marsh in small numbers at night to feed on flying insects. Using our eyes and bat sonar detectors, we can watch and hear the bats flying right over the ponds, trails, and even us! A special Junior Batologist badge is available for children. Programs are on a Saturday night in August, and start time varies depending on sunset (see flyer for exact times). Entire program lasts 1 1/2 hour.
Program Fee
$20 Adults $10 Children ages 10-12
Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Children must be age 10 or older.
Participants must be pre-registered. Walk-ins are not accepted.
A 48-hour cancellation notice is required for a refund.
Please note: There is an additional online registration fee.
Event Dates: See the PDF flyer for current dates and the EventBrite enrollment link.
Reservation is through EventBrite. Enrollment link is listed on our Summer Bat Walks PDF flyer on this page. Enrollment opens June 1. This popular event fills quickly so register as soon as possible.
A signed liability release form is required for all participants; print the form on this page, sign it, and bring with you on Bat Walk night
Due to the presence of disease-causing insects, there is a strict clothing requirement. Long pants and long-sleeves are a must; insect-repellant is optional. For your safety,failure to comply with the clothing requirement means youcannotparticipate in this event.
Flash photography and flashlights are not allowed. These lights are a disturbance to the bats and destroy human night-vision for at least 20 minutes. Leaders will carry flashlights for emergency use only.
Participants should be able to walk at a moderate pace up to a mile on flat, uneven, unpaved ground using ambient night-time light.
Entire program lasts about 1 1/2 hours. Be prepared to stay the entire time with our leaders.
What Participants Say:
“It was great to get to walk the nature preserve after hours. It was fantastic to learn about my local community and about bats. They are fascinating creatures.”
“It was a fun experience and interesting to learn about how many bats actually live right here.”
“Thanks for a wonderful evening into the unknown!”
“[My favorite part was] Everything! Using the bat detectors to “hear/see” the bats, the scenery and walk around the wildlife sanctuary, and the information from the tour guide.”
Resources About Local Bats
SeeIrvine Weeklyfor 7/2019 article about our former Bat Walk program.
