by Rick LoBello

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Get Your Free Agave Plant!

Join our efforts to protect endangered Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) that make their home in Big Bend National Park, Texas! These fascinating bats depend on agave plants for sustenance, and with climate change affecting their habitat, we’re working to expand their range northward to help ensure their survival.

For the past few years, our Adopt-An-Agave program, in partnership with Bat Conservation International, has engaged community members in caring for agave plants for about a year before relocating them to the Davis Mountains, approximately 120 miles north of the bats’ natural range. This initiative has been a tremendous success, and we’re now collaborating with the community to establish new agave habitats for these essential pollinators right here in El Paso. Imagine if our program gains traction—we could transform El Paso into the City of Agaves, allowing even more people to contribute to the conservation of these remarkable creatures.

If you’re interested in taking part, just fill out our registration form below. Once you’re registered, we’ll provide you with all the details on how to pick up your free agave plant (Agave americana) and get started. Keep in mind that supplies are limited, so we’ll be distributing potted agaves to El Paso homeowners while they last. To qualify, you must own property in El Paso and be committed to planting the agave in your yard.

Together, we can make a positive impact for these bats and our environment. Let’s cultivate a future where both agave plants and bats can thrive!

More about Mexican long-nosed bats

The Mexican long-nosed bat, a remarkable species, is one of just three bats in the United States known for its pollination abilities, and it holds the unfortunate distinction of being the only endangered bat in Texas. Emory Cave, nestled within Big Bend National Park, serves as the largest and most significant roost in the U.S. for this species, hosting up to 3,000 bats from April to September. This cave is not just any roost; it provides a vital sanctuary where mother bats can nurture their young during the summer months. While spending time in Texas before their migration south for the winter, these bats thrive on the nectar from agave flowers, playing an essential role in pollinating these iconic plants.

However, the survival of these bats is jeopardized by the loss and alteration of their foraging habitats and the impacts of climate change. This alarming situation has led to their inclusion in the Endangered Species Coalition’s 2021 report, “Last Chance: 10 U.S. Species Already Imperiled by Climate Change.”

In response, Bat Conservation International (BCI) is spearheading the Agave Restoration Initiative in collaboration with partners like the El Paso Zoo. Together, they are dedicated to protecting and restoring foraging habitats for the Mexican long-nosed bats throughout their migratory routes. The Trans-Pecos region of Texas, situated outside Big Bend National Park, is believed to serve as a vital migratory corridor for these bats. With climate forecasts indicating that this region may gain even more significance in the future, safeguarding foraging habitats here is crucial for the long-term survival of the species.

The El Paso Zoo is taking proactive steps with BCI to develop a climate-resilient nectar corridor that will aid these bats during their time in Texas and along their migratory pathway for years to come. Over recent years, BCI, alongside local partners such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Nature Conservancy, Sul Ross State University, and private landowners, has gathered thousands of native Agave havardiana seeds from key agave habitats across the Trans-Pecos region. In partnership with Sul Ross State University, BCI has also begun renovating greenhouse space in Alpine, Texas, successfully propagating 1,000 plants from the gathered seeds.