Best Time to See Bats in the US
August, July and June is the best time to see bats in the United States. This is a national picture built from 49,184 verified iNaturalist observations across 50 states, showing when and where bats are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
49,184 verified observations of bats in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bats are recorded in the US
Peak month
August
6,607 records (13.4% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,638 | 3.3% |
| February | 2,116 | 4.3% |
| March | 3,475 | 7.1% |
| April | 5,433 | 11% |
| May | 5,584 | 11.4% |
| Junepeak | 5,663 | 11.5% |
| Julypeak | 6,320 | 12.8% |
| Augustpeak | 6,607 | 13.4% |
| September | 4,978 | 10.1% |
| October | 3,798 | 7.7% |
| November | 2,120 | 4.3% |
| December | 1,452 | 3% |
Bats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | 8,452 |
| Mexican Free-tailed Bat | 4,790 |
| Eastern Red Bat | 4,136 |
| Tri-coloured Bat | 2,954 |
| Silver-haired Bat | 1,701 |
| Northern Hoary Bat | 1,312 |
| Evening Bat | 1,195 |
| Pallid Bat | 1,153 |
Across the country, bats sightings peak in August, when 6,607 of the 49,184 annual observations are logged, about 13.4% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through August, July and June.
The best states to see bats by recorded sightings are California (7,270), Texas (5,527), Arizona (3,185), Florida (2,755) and Ohio (1,916). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The bats you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Big Brown Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat and Eastern Red Bat, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see bats
- bats in California7,270 sightings, peak July
- bats in Texas5,527 sightings, peak April
- bats in Arizona3,185 sightings, peak August
- bats in Florida2,755 sightings, peak May
- bats in Ohio1,916 sightings, peak July
- bats in Virginia1,613 sightings, peak July
- bats in New York1,465 sightings, peak August
- bats in Illinois1,340 sightings, peak May
- bats in Pennsylvania1,334 sightings, peak August
- bats in North Carolina1,309 sightings, peak June
- bats in Missouri1,105 sightings, peak October
- bats in New Mexico1,057 sightings, peak June
- bats in Oregon1,013 sightings, peak August
- bats in Tennessee997 sightings, peak March
- bats in Oklahoma981 sightings, peak April
Most-recorded bats species nationwide
- Big Brown Bat8,452 records
- Mexican Free-tailed Bat4,790 records
- Eastern Red Bat4,136 records
- Tri-coloured Bat2,954 records
- Silver-haired Bat1,701 records
- Northern Hoary Bat1,312 records
Plan your bat trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bat viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bat viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bat tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see bats in the US?+
August is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through August, July and June, based on 49,184 verified observations across 50 states.
Which states are best for seeing bats?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Texas and Arizona. California leads with 7,270 verified observations.
How many bats sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 49,184 verified bats observations are logged on iNaturalist across 50 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of bats live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Big Brown Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat and Eastern Red Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.