Best Time to See Bats in New Mexico
June, May and July is the best time to see bats in New Mexico. Based on 1,057 verified iNaturalist observations, here is exactly when bats are most active across the year in New Mexico.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
North American Hoary Bat · colinpena CC BY
Big Brown Bat · Brandon Bourassa CC BY
Long-eared Myotis · Curtis Hansen CC BY
1,057 verified observations of bats in New Mexico, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bats are recorded in New Mexico
Peak month
June
187 records (17.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 11 | 1% |
| February | 17 | 1.6% |
| March | 25 | 2.4% |
| April | 112 | 10.6% |
| Maypeak | 186 | 17.6% |
| Junepeak | 187 | 17.7% |
| Julypeak | 166 | 15.7% |
| August | 161 | 15.2% |
| September | 122 | 11.5% |
| October | 44 | 4.2% |
| November | 19 | 1.8% |
| December | 7 | 0.7% |
Bats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Pallid Bat | 132 |
| Mexican Free-tailed Bat | 97 |
| Big Brown Bat | 89 |
| Silver-haired Bat | 88 |
| Northern Hoary Bat | 47 |
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | 45 |
| Canyon Bat | 28 |
| Fringed Myotis | 20 |
Weather to expect, source Open-Meteo
Typical weather in New Mexico
Recent typical conditions by month, so you can plan a trip around both when bats are active and what the weather is doing. The best months to look for bats sit around 51 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit, so pack for that.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44°F | 26°F | 0.6" |
| Feb | 47°F | 26°F | 0.8" |
| Mar | 57°F | 34°F | 1" |
| Apr | 68°F | 42°F | 0.4" |
| Maybest time | 76°F | 51°F | 0.5" |
| Junbest time | 84°F | 60°F | 1.1" |
| Julbest time | 87°F | 65°F | 1" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 1.2" |
| Sep | 79°F | 57°F | 0.9" |
| Oct | 67°F | 44°F | 0.9" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 0.7" |
| Dec | 47°F | 29°F | 0.6" |
Typical recent conditions (5-year means) from the Open-Meteo archive, averaged for New Mexico. Weather varies year to year, so treat these as a guide.
More on bats in New Mexico:
Sightings of bats in New Mexico peak in June, when 187 of the year's 1,057 verified observations are logged — about 17.7% of the annual total. Activity stays high through June, May and July.
The quietest stretch is December, when bats are hardest to find — December sees just 7 records. If a reliable sighting matters, plan around the peak window rather than the off-season.
The bats you are most likely to encounter in New Mexico are Pallid Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat and Big Brown Bat — the most-recorded species in the state. Each keeps its own seasonal rhythm, but the month-by-month pattern above reflects every reported sighting together.
Where to go
Best places to see bats in New Mexico
- Bandelier National Monument — National Monument
- Capulin Volcano National Monument — National Monument
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park — National Park
- El Malpais National Monument — National Monument
- El Morro National Monument — National Monument
- Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument — National Monument
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to see bats in New Mexico?+
June is the single best month, and the broader peak window runs through June, May and July, based on 1,057 verified iNaturalist observations.
When are bats hardest to see in New Mexico?+
December is the quietest month for bats in New Mexico, with only 7 verified records.
Are bats active year-round in New Mexico?+
Bats are recorded in 12 of 12 months in New Mexico, so they can be seen year-round, with a clear peak in June.
More places to see bats
More wildlife in New Mexico