Bats in Ohio in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see bats in Ohio. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 239 of the 1,916 sightings logged across the year (12.5%), 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 Ohio
12.5%
of yearly sightings
239
records in May
#3
busiest month of 12
1,916
verified records a year
April 9.7%, May 12.5%, June 15.1%. Busiest month is July at 25.6%.
1,916 verified observations of bats in Ohio, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bats are recorded in Ohio
Peak month
July
490 records (25.6% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 34 | 1.8% |
| February | 32 | 1.7% |
| March | 97 | 5.1% |
| April | 185 | 9.7% |
| Maypeak | 239 | 12.5% |
| Junepeak | 289 | 15.1% |
| Julypeak | 490 | 25.6% |
| August | 202 | 10.5% |
| September | 150 | 7.8% |
| October | 99 | 5.2% |
| November | 71 | 3.7% |
| December | 28 | 1.5% |
Bats you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Big Brown Bat | 762 |
| Eastern Red Bat | 385 |
| Silver-haired Bat | 140 |
| Northern Hoary Bat | 93 |
| Tri-coloured Bat | 58 |
| Little Brown Bat | 54 |
| Northern Myotis | 21 |
| Evening Bat | 19 |
In Ohio, May carries 12.5% of the year's bats sightings, about 4.2 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 rising from April (9.7%) into May, and it heads toward June (15.1%) 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 Ohio are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired 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 Bat762 records
- Eastern Red Bat385 records
- Silver-haired Bat140 records
- Northern Hoary Bat93 records
- Tri-coloured Bat58 records
- Little Brown Bat54 records
Plan your bat trip in Ohio
Start with live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bat viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Cuyahoga Valley National Park
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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 Ohio in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 239 of the 1,916 verified bats sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 12.5% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bats in Ohio?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, June and May.
What month is best for bats in Ohio?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and May, based on 1,916 verified observations.
Which bats are you most likely to see in Ohio?+
The most-recorded species in Ohio are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bats in Ohio in other months
More places to see bats
More wildlife in Ohio