Bats in Missouri in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see bats in Missouri. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 115 of the 1,105 sightings logged across the year (10.4%), 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 June 28, 2026.
Peak month for bats in Missouri
10.4%
of yearly sightings
115
records in May
#3
busiest month of 12
1,105
verified records a year
April 14%, May 10.4%, June 8.6%. Busiest month is October at 16.9%.
1,105 verified observations of bats in Missouri, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bats are recorded in Missouri
Peak month
October
187 records (16.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 39 | 3.5% |
| February | 40 | 3.6% |
| March | 100 | 9% |
| Aprilpeak | 155 | 14% |
| Maypeak | 115 | 10.4% |
| June | 95 | 8.6% |
| July | 91 | 8.2% |
| August | 82 | 7.4% |
| September | 98 | 8.9% |
| Octoberpeak | 187 | 16.9% |
| November | 68 | 6.2% |
| December | 35 | 3.2% |
Bats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | 335 |
| Eastern Red Bat | 187 |
| Tri-coloured Bat | 132 |
| Evening Bat | 96 |
| Silver-haired Bat | 28 |
| Gray Bat | 24 |
| Northern Hoary Bat | 13 |
| Little Brown Bat | 12 |
In Missouri, May carries 10.4% of the year's bats sightings, about 2.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from April (14%) into May, and it heads toward June (8.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bats most often recorded in Missouri are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Tri-coloured Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which bats you are most likely to see
- Big Brown Bat335 records
- Eastern Red Bat187 records
- Tri-coloured Bat132 records
- Evening Bat96 records
- Silver-haired Bat28 records
- Gray Bat24 records
Plan your bat trip in Missouri
Start with live tours near George Washington Carver National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bat viewing area.
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Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bats in Missouri in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 115 of the 1,105 verified bats sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 10.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bats in Missouri?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of October, April and May.
What month is best for bats in Missouri?+
October is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through October, April and May, based on 1,105 verified observations.
Which bats are you most likely to see in Missouri?+
The most-recorded species in Missouri are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Tri-coloured Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bats in Missouri in other months
More places to see bats
More wildlife in Missouri