ORLANDO, Fla. — At the University of Central Florida’s Harris Engineering building, at the bottom of a trench is an old drainage pipe that’s now home to a large bat colony.
>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<
Each night, just after sunset, the bats emerge, foraging for food.
READ: Bears create buzz in Seminole County neighborhood
At first, it’s just a few bats, but venturing further into the culvert reveals as many as 5,000 bats living as deep as 6,800 feet into the pipe.
UCF Biologist Patrick Bohlen says the bats pose no threat to the public.
In fact, UCF students have studied the bats for research, including determining whether the droppings, or guano, could be a hazardous pollutant to a nearby stream.
WATCH: Atlas V rocket successfully launches from the Space Coast
Bohlen says it’s likely the colony has lived on UCF’s campus for more than 20 years, and consists of two of the roughly 13 bat species native to Florida.
For about two hours after sunset each night, they’re very active, eating insects.
Bohlen says he doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon.
READ: UF research gives insight into omicron variant
“We have no intention of removing them, and chances are they’ll be there for a very long time,” Bohlen said.
While they don’t pose a threat to the public, Bohlen warns bats can carry rabies, and should never be picked up off the ground.
Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.