Why do your bat walks sell out so quickly?

As excited as we are to see our events rapidly fill up, we are equally frustrated with the barrier it can present for the many people interested in attending. We cap bat walk attendance at 30-50 people (depending on how much staff we have available) to ensure the events remain enjoyable and relaxed. This year, we experimented with offering an open, free event; however, the experience taught us that more people will show up than we can reasonably hope to speak to in a night. With the current size of our staff (2 people), even when we offer multiple bat walks a month, the demand far outstrips what we're able to supply. 

Rest assured, we are currently recruiting more people to lead bat walks so that we can offer more events, both free and paid, and better serve the bat-loving communities of NYC. 

What's the best way to get tickets for a bat walk?

The best way we can recommend is to follow us on Eventbrite. Many people who come to our events have never even seen our website or social media, they just saw our event while perusing Eventbrite. You can set a notification to let you know when we publish events. 

We also recommend checking out our events outside of Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. Our bat walks in parks like Ridgewood Reservoir, Naval Cemetery Landscape, and Crotona Park are typically free and rarely fill up. 

How accessible are your bat walks/what kind of accommodations are available? 

Any bat walk we offer in Prospect Park, Green-Wood Cemetery, or Central Park has been carefully planned to be accessible to a variety of mobility levels. We stay on paved paths, avoid stairs/steep inclines, and only walk a short distance to the bat viewing area. An associate waits behind the group as we move to guide anyone who may need to move at a slower pace. Though we strive for accessibility in general, we can not guarantee that we have identified the most accessible route outside of these three parks (but we are working on it!)

For anyone with sight limitations, we offer an audio-emitting device that will make clear when bats are present. 

What should I bring for a bat walk?

PERSONAL BUG REPELLENT!!! Where there are bats, there will be biting insects, trust us. For those who would rather not stand for the full 90-120 minutes, we also recommend bringing a folding seat or blanket to sit on. 

Are your bat walks family friendly?

Yes, though we do ask you let your bat walk leader know that there are children present and roughly what age group they are. This will help us communicate information during the bat walk in a way that is easily understandable for both you and your children (and it will also let us know to watch our language). 

We are aware that the late timing of bat walks during the summer can make them difficult for families. For parents with young children, we recommend later summer bat walks (later July/August) when our start times can be as early as 7:30 PM.