The University of Florida Bat Houses are home to the world's largest urban bat colony — over 400,000 Brazilian free-tailed and Southeastern Myotis bats that roost in two large wooden structures near Lake Alice on the campus grounds. The nightly emergence at dusk from late spring through autumn is one of the most spectacular wildlife events in Florida: for 20 to 30 minutes, a continuous stream of bats pours out of the houses in a dense dark column visible from well across the lake.
The best viewing is from the designated observation area about 30 minutes before sunset from March through October. The colony is at its peak size in summer. There are typically dozens of people gathered for the emergence on any given evening, making it an easy self-guided experience. The site is free and accessible without any special arrangement.