Bats in Michigan in April

Yes, April is a good month to see bats in Michigan. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 64 of the 683 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), 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.

Eastern Red Bat photographed in MichiganEastern Red Bat photographed in MichiganLittle Brown Bat photographed in Michigan
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bats in Michigan

9.4%

of yearly sightings

64

records in April

#6

busiest month of 12

683

verified records a year

March 3.1%, April 9.4%, May 12.4%. Busiest month is August at 21.8%.

Best months: August, July, MayPeak season right now

683 verified observations of bats in Michigan, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bats are recorded in Michigan

Peak month

August

149 records (21.8% of the year)

Quietest month

January

8 records

MonthObservationsShare
January81.2%
February121.8%
March213.1%
April649.4%
Maypeak8512.4%
June8212%
Julypeak11416.7%
Augustpeak14921.8%
September8312.2%
October223.2%
November274%
December162.3%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Big Brown Bat299
Little Brown Bat57
Silver-haired Bat45
Eastern Red Bat41
Northern Hoary Bat21
Northern Myotis8
Tri-coloured Bat3
Evening Bat1

In Michigan, April carries 9.4% of the year's bats sightings, about 1.1 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 is rising from March (3.1%) into April, and it heads toward May (12.4%) after. The busiest month is August (21.8%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bats most often recorded in Michigan are Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat and Silver-haired Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which bats you are most likely to see

  • Big Brown Bat299 records
  • Little Brown Bat57 records
  • Silver-haired Bat45 records
  • Eastern Red Bat41 records
  • Northern Hoary Bat21 records
  • Northern Myotis8 records
Plan your tripIsle Royale National Park

Plan your bat trip in Michigan

Start with live tours near Isle Royale National Park, 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 Michigan in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 64 of the 683 verified bats sightings logged in Michigan across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see bats in Michigan?+

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

What month is best for bats in Michigan?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and May, based on 683 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Michigan are Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat and Silver-haired Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.