Bats in Michigan in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see bats in Michigan. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 149 of the 683 sightings logged across the year (21.8%), 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.

Peak month for bats in Michigan

21.8%

of yearly sightings

149

records in August

#1

busiest month of 12

683

verified records a year

July 16.7%, August 21.8%, September 12.2%. 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, August carries 21.8% of the year's bats sightings, about 13.5 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 July (16.7%) into August, and it heads toward September (12.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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 August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August 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 August?+

Yes. August accounts for 149 of the 683 verified bats sightings logged in Michigan across the year, which is 21.8% of the annual total.

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

August is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of August, July and May.

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.