Bats in New Mexico in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see bats in New Mexico. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 186 of the 1,057 sightings logged across the year (17.6%), 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 New Mexico
17.6%
of yearly sightings
186
records in May
#2
busiest month of 12
1,057
verified records a year
April 10.6%, May 17.6%, June 17.7%. Busiest month is June at 17.7%.
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 |
In New Mexico, May carries 17.6% of the year's bats sightings, about 9.3 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (10.6%) into May, and it heads toward June (17.7%) 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 New Mexico are Pallid Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat and Big Brown 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
- Pallid Bat132 records
- Mexican Free-tailed Bat97 records
- Big Brown Bat89 records
- Silver-haired Bat88 records
- Northern Hoary Bat47 records
- Townsend's Big-eared Bat45 records
Plan your bat trip in New Mexico
Start with live tours near Bandelier National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Bandelier National Monument
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bat viewing area.
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Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bats in New Mexico in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 186 of the 1,057 verified bats sightings logged in New Mexico across the year, which is 17.6% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bats in New Mexico?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, May and July.
What month is best for bats in New Mexico?+
June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, May and July, based on 1,057 verified observations.
Which bats are you most likely to see in New Mexico?+
The most-recorded species in New Mexico are Pallid Bat, Mexican Free-tailed Bat and Big Brown Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bats in New Mexico in other months
More places to see bats
More wildlife in New Mexico