Casares residents invited to meet the night-time neighbours most people misjudge

These nocturnal neighbours don’t have the best reputation, but Caseres is hoping to change that opinion with two special dates in September.

What’s happening and when

Bats rarely get a warm welcome unless it’s the form of a man in a costume in Gotham city to sort out the bad guys, yet Casares is preparing to celebrate them with a night of talks, storytelling and live tracking equipment. Organisers behind the returning “Noche de los Murciélagos” (night of the bat) event hope to change minds about one of Spain’s most misunderstood creatures.

Two dates have been set for this year’s event. El Secadero hosts the first session on Friday, September 18, with Casares’ town centre welcoming visitors a week later, on Friday, September 25. Each evening begins at 7.30pm.

A discovery journey into the world of the bat

Talks kick off proceedings, starting with “Vecinos Nocturnos” (“Night-time Neighbours”), delivered by Alfredo Valencia from local caving society SIE Caxara at 7.45pm. Half an hour later, Jorge L. Romo takes over with a session exploring bats’ role in biodiversity. Families with children can look forward to “Murci Historias”, a storytelling session led by Susana Oda and Begoña Cabrera, designed to create curiosity among the little ones.

It’s not just listening, real hands-on science arrives at 9.15pm, when participants pick up radiofrequency equipment for a guided workshop on locating, identifying and monitoring local bat populations. Children are encouraged to try the devices themselves under supervision, turning what could be a dry scientific exercise into something closer to a treasure hunt.

Why bats deserve better press

Folklore has painted bats as sinister for centuries, yet ecologists argue the opposite is true. Insect-eating species can devour hundreds of pests in a single night, easing pressure on crops and gardens without a single chemical spray. Organisers hope demonstrating this practical value will chip away at superstitions that have followed bats since medieval times.

Casares’ celebration is part of EUROBATS’ International Bat Night 2026, a larger programme run across Europe to raise awareness of bat conservation and support the continent-wide agreement protecting these mammals.

Families searching for something different and interesting to do this September now have an alternative reason to head outdoors after dark. Between storytelling for youngsters and real fieldwork for curious adults, organisers have put together an outing that appeals across age groups without feeling like a lecture.