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Thousands of bats live in this Phoenix storm drain. Here’s how to watch them emerge

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Thousands of bats live in this Phoenix storm drain. Here’s how to watch them emerge


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If you see a foreboding cloud of bats flood the night sky this summer, don’t be spooked. This mass migration is not a bad omen but a glimpse at some of Arizonan’s most interesting creatures.

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The National Weather Service reported a large emergence of bats from the Phoenix bat cave at about 9 p.m. on Sunday, drawing closer attention to the many bats in metro Phoenix and Arizona.

Bats are an important part of Arizona’s ecosystem and are much more common than you may think.

Here’s everything about the Phoenix bat cave and the creatures that reside there.

What is the Phoenix bat cave?

Angie McIntire, a bat biologist at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said in an interview with The Arizona Republic there could be between 10,000 to 20,000 bats living in this unsuspecting storm drain.

But this tunnel is actually the ideal home for many species of Arizona bats. Insectivorous bats, whose diets rely heavily on insects, prefer to stay by long water sources that make skimming the water to catch prey easy, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Since bats spend their downtime hanging upside down, the flood control tunnel’s rough concrete ceilings is the perfect surface to hang from.

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Where is the Phoenix bat cave?

The Phoenix bat cave is located north of 40th Street and Camelback Road. Conveniently, you can walk to the top of the tunnel by following the Arizona Canal. Take the path on the north side of the canal for about 200 yards, past the office buildings and parking garage, to reach the perfect spot to watch the bats.

If you need to find parking, you can find the bat cave parking lot on Google Maps.

What is the best time to see the bats in Phoenix?

Every year, from May through October, thousands of bats migrate to Mexico. They start their journey southbound just before dusk, or 8 p.m. in the summer months, and continue into the night.

What is the most common bat in Phoenix?

Of the 28 different species of bats found in Arizona, Mexican free-tailed bats are the most common. The United States has a Mexican free-tailed population of over 100 million, according to the National Park Service.

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According to another interview with The Republic with McIntire, Mexican free-tailed bats have been found congregating in huge numbers under several bridges in the Phoenix area. McIntire said the Gilbert Road bridge, where Gilbert Road crosses the Salt River, has approximately 30,000 in its structure.

Mexican free-tailed bats can be identified by their reddish to dark brown or gray fur, forward-pointing ears and wrinkled lips. These bats have narrow wings that typically span 12 to 14 inches, allowing them to fly at speeds of 60 miles per hour, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.



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Arizona man convicted for role in bringing cocaine to Cincinnati, other US locations for over 5 years

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Arizona man convicted for role in bringing cocaine to Cincinnati, other US locations for over 5 years


CINCINNATI — An Arizona man has been found guilty of supplying dozens of kilograms of cocaine to multiple U.S. locations, including Cincinnati, bi-weekly for more than five years.

Tucson resident Cesar Cervantes, 52, was convicted of participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies in a jury trial after the government seized more than 160 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl and $1.4 million in cash from him.

According to court documents, Cervantes would use a network to deliver drugs that originated in Mexico to multiple locations across the country, including designated couriers in Cincinnati, between at least July 2018 and August 2023. Officials said he would supply between 25 and 50 kilograms biweekly to his coconspirators.

Cervantes would then use money launderers to funnel money back to Mexico. In one instance, court documents said he had coconspirators deliver around $300,000 to two separate money launderers — one based in China and another in Colombia.

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The jury found Cervantes guilty on all counts for his role in the conspiracies following a trial before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland in the Southern District of Ohio. He faces at least 10 years and up to life in prison.





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Backyard blaze erupts after Arizona monsoon lightning strike

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Backyard blaze erupts after Arizona monsoon lightning strike


Investigators are analyzing two ransom notes sent after Nancy Guthrie vanished, as a retired FBI agent questions whether the latest message is real. A new development in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance centers on two ransom notes sent to her family after she vanished. Investigators believe the messages may have come from the same person or group, possibly from the same computer IP address. The first note demanded billions in bitcoin, while the second claimed Guthrie had died and offered an apology. Retired FBI agent John Iannarelli says he is skeptical of the second note and questions why the sender has not provided credible information about her location. The case remains active as detectives continue following any reliable leads.



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Lit cigarette sparks fire at Arizona wildlife park

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Lit cigarette sparks fire at Arizona wildlife park


CAMP VERDE, AZ (AZFamily) — An Arizona wildlife park is asking visitors to follow its rules after a visitor discarded a lit cigarette in the park, sparking a fire.

Park officials said Saturday a visitor ignored the no-smoking policy and threw a lit cigarette on the ground near the Tiger Splash Arena, causing the fire.

A visitor discarded a lit cigarette in the park and sparked a fire, park officials said.(Out of Africa Wildlife Park & Sanctuary)

“If you are not willing to respect our policies, we understand that our park may not be the right destination for you,” Out of Africa Wildlife Park and Sanctuary said in a social media post.

Copper Canyon Fire and Medical District firefighters put out the fire before it could spread or threaten any animals, park officials said.

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“Every policy we have in place exists for a reason, even if it may seem inconvenient to some visitors,” park officials said. “The outcome could have been devastating for the animals. We respectfully ask all visitors to follow the rules that are in place for everyone’s safety.”

Park officials said the safety of the animals, guests and staff is the highest priority.

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