Bats in California in June

Yes, June is a good month to see bats in California. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 767 of the 7,270 sightings logged across the year (10.6%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Mexican Free-tailed Bat photographed in CaliforniaCalifornia Leaf-nosed Bat photographed in CaliforniaNorthern Hoary Bat photographed in California
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bats in California

10.6%

of yearly sightings

767

records in June

#6

busiest month of 12

7,270

verified records a year

May 10%, June 10.6%, July 13.8%. Busiest month is July at 13.8%.

Best months: July, August, SeptemberPeak season right now

7,270 verified observations of bats in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bats are recorded in California

Peak month

July

1,001 records (13.8% of the year)

Quietest month

December

149 records

MonthObservationsShare
January2313.2%
February2343.2%
March4646.4%
April81811.3%
May73010%
June76710.6%
Julypeak1,00113.8%
Augustpeak95113.1%
Septemberpeak88212.1%
October78210.8%
November2613.6%
December1492%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat1,061
Pallid Bat420
Canyon Bat415
Big Brown Bat413
Northern Hoary Bat409
Townsend's Big-eared Bat348
California Myotis227
Yuma Myotis225

In California, June carries 10.6% of the year's bats sightings, about 2.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between May and June, and it heads toward July (13.8%) after. The busiest month is July (13.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bats most often recorded in California are Mexican Free-tailed Bat, Pallid Bat and Canyon Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a June split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in June itself.

Which bats you are most likely to see

  • Mexican Free-tailed Bat1,061 records
  • Pallid Bat420 records
  • Canyon Bat415 records
  • Big Brown Bat413 records
  • Northern Hoary Bat409 records
  • Townsend's Big-eared Bat348 records
Plan your tripAlcatraz Island

Plan your bat trip in California

Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bats in California in June?+

Yes. June accounts for 767 of the 7,270 verified bats sightings logged in California across the year, which is 10.6% of the annual total.

Is June a good time to see bats in California?+

June is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for bats in California?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and September, based on 7,270 verified observations.

Which bats are you most likely to see in California?+

The most-recorded species in California are Mexican Free-tailed Bat, Pallid Bat and Canyon Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.