to the survey by just mapping the known passages which have not yet been surveyed. Additional unexplored leads exist in sections of the Discovery Passages (North Cavern). Since May 8, 2019, a team of cave explorers have discovered over 1,600 feet of new never before seen passages. As explorers move deeper into the cavern, each expedition takes longer, with the latest taking more than 19 hours to complete. Passages renamed In 2008, the Caverns' owners changed the names for the passages. The "North Cavern" was changed to "Discovery Passages," and the "South Cavern" was changed to "Hidden Passages." According to the landowners, the change in names better reflects the discovery and exploration history of the cavern and removes some confusion for guests. Wildlife There is recent evidence of bats residing in Natural Bridge Caverns including roosting areas and accumulation of bat guano. Bracken Cave, near Natural Bridge Caverns is home to one of two large bat colonies in Texas. The bats that inhabit Bracken Cave are a small species called Mexican free-tailed bats. Bats control the insect population, help to pollinate plants, and are a food source for other animals, making them a valuable part of the ecosystem. The cave was the focus of a 2013 episode of the syndicated anthology television series, Texas Country Reporter, hosted by Bob Phillips. Natural Bridge Caverns Sinkhole Site Located on the property is the Natural Bridge Caverns Sinkhole Site, an archeological site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The location of the site is not publicly disclosed in order to preserve artifacts in their context for ongoing research. Gallery See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Comal County, Texas List of National Natural Landmarks in Texas References External links Natural Bridge Caverns official website Caves of Texas Natural arches of Texas Landforms of Comal County, Texas National Natural Landmarks in Texas Show caves in the United States Tourist attractions in San Antonio Tourist attractions in Comal County, Texas Texas Hill Country