Bats in Missouri in October

Yes, October is one of the best months to see bats in Missouri. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 187 of the 1,105 sightings logged across the year (16.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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 MissouriBig Brown Bat photographed in MissouriBig Brown Bat photographed in Missouri
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bats in Missouri

16.9%

of yearly sightings

187

records in October

#1

busiest month of 12

1,105

verified records a year

September 8.9%, October 16.9%, November 6.2%. Busiest month is October at 16.9%.

Best months: October, April, May

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)

Quietest month

December

35 records

MonthObservationsShare
January393.5%
February403.6%
March1009%
Aprilpeak15514%
Maypeak11510.4%
June958.6%
July918.2%
August827.4%
September988.9%
Octoberpeak18716.9%
November686.2%
December353.2%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Big Brown Bat335
Eastern Red Bat187
Tri-coloured Bat132
Evening Bat96
Silver-haired Bat28
Gray Bat24
Northern Hoary Bat13
Little Brown Bat12

In Missouri, October carries 16.9% of the year's bats sightings, about 8.6 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 September (8.9%) into October, and it heads toward November (6.2%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so October 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 October split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in October 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 tripGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

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.

Gear to see them

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bats in Missouri in October?+

Yes. October accounts for 187 of the 1,105 verified bats sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 16.9% of the annual total.

Is October a good time to see bats in Missouri?+

October is one of the best months. It ranks 1st 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.