Bats in Iowa in September
Yes, September is a good month to see bats in Iowa. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 24 of the 238 sightings logged across the year (10.1%), 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.
Good month for bats in Iowa
10.1%
of yearly sightings
24
records in September
#5
busiest month of 12
238
verified records a year
August 14.7%, September 10.1%, October 6.7%. 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, September carries 10.1% of the year's bats sightings, about 1.8 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from August (14.7%) into September, and it heads toward October (6.7%) after. The busiest month is July (19.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September 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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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 September?+
Yes. September accounts for 24 of the 238 verified bats sightings logged in Iowa across the year, which is 10.1% of the annual total.
Is September a good time to see bats in Iowa?+
September is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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