Bats in Pennsylvania in October

Yes, October is a good month to see bats in Pennsylvania. It is the 7th busiest month of the year, with 109 of the 1,334 sightings logged across the year (8.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Tri-coloured Bat photographed in PennsylvaniaBig Brown Bat photographed in PennsylvaniaEastern Small-footed Myotis photographed in Pennsylvania
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bats in Pennsylvania

8.2%

of yearly sightings

109

records in October

#7

busiest month of 12

1,334

verified records a year

September 8.2%, October 8.2%, November 4.7%. Busiest month is August at 16%.

Best months: August, July, JunePeak season right now

1,334 verified observations of bats in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bats are recorded in Pennsylvania

Peak month

August

213 records (16% of the year)

Quietest month

January

29 records

MonthObservationsShare
January292.2%
February392.9%
March675%
April14310.7%
May15311.5%
Junepeak17112.8%
Julypeak20615.4%
Augustpeak21316%
September1098.2%
October1098.2%
November634.7%
December322.4%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Big Brown Bat577
Eastern Red Bat181
Silver-haired Bat61
Little Brown Bat51
Tri-coloured Bat43
Northern Hoary Bat21
Northern Myotis13
Eastern Small-footed Myotis9

In Pennsylvania, October carries 8.2% of the year's bats sightings, about 0.1 points below an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 7th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity holds steady between September and October, and it heads toward November (4.7%) after. The busiest month is August (16%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The bats most often recorded in Pennsylvania are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired 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 Bat577 records
  • Eastern Red Bat181 records
  • Silver-haired Bat61 records
  • Little Brown Bat51 records
  • Tri-coloured Bat43 records
  • Northern Hoary Bat21 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bat trip in Pennsylvania

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 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 Pennsylvania in October?+

Yes. October accounts for 109 of the 1,334 verified bats sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 8.2% of the annual total.

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

October is the 7th busiest month. It is workable, though August and July is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for bats in Pennsylvania?+

August is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through August, July and June, based on 1,334 verified observations.

Which bats are you most likely to see in Pennsylvania?+

The most-recorded species in Pennsylvania are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Silver-haired Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.