Bats in Iowa in July
Yes, July is one of the best months to see bats in Iowa. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 47 of the 238 sightings logged across the year (19.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Peak month for bats in Iowa
19.7%
of yearly sightings
47
records in July
#1
busiest month of 12
238
verified records a year
June 12.6%, July 19.7%, August 14.7%. Busiest month is July at 19.7%.
238 verified observations of bats in Iowa, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bats are recorded in Iowa
Peak month
July
47 records (19.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4 | 1.7% |
| February | 9 | 3.8% |
| March | 14 | 5.9% |
| April | 29 | 12.2% |
| May | 19 | 8% |
| Junepeak | 30 | 12.6% |
| Julypeak | 47 | 19.7% |
| Augustpeak | 35 | 14.7% |
| September | 24 | 10.1% |
| October | 16 | 6.7% |
| November | 6 | 2.5% |
| December | 5 | 2.1% |
Bats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | 113 |
| Eastern Red Bat | 15 |
| Little Brown Bat | 14 |
| Tri-coloured Bat | 10 |
| Northern Hoary Bat | 7 |
| Evening Bat | 3 |
| Silver-haired Bat | 3 |
| Indiana Bat | 1 |
In Iowa, July carries 19.7% of the year's bats sightings, about 11.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from June (12.6%) into July, and it heads toward August (14.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bats most often recorded in Iowa are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Little Brown Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.
Which bats you are most likely to see
- Big Brown Bat113 records
- Eastern Red Bat15 records
- Little Brown Bat14 records
- Tri-coloured Bat10 records
- Northern Hoary Bat7 records
- Evening Bat3 records
Plan your bat trip in Iowa
Start with live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Effigy Mounds National Monument
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bat viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Effigy Mounds National Monument
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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
Can you see bats in Iowa in July?+
Yes. July accounts for 47 of the 238 verified bats sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 19.7% of the annual total.
Is July a good time to see bats in Iowa?+
July is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, August and June.
What month is best for bats in Iowa?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 238 verified observations.
Which bats are you most likely to see in Iowa?+
The most-recorded species in Iowa are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Little Brown Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bats in Iowa in other months
More places to see bats
More wildlife in Iowa