Bats in Virginia in April

Yes, April is one of the best months to see bats in Virginia. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 191 of the 1,613 sightings logged across the year (11.8%), 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 July 2, 2026.

Peak month for bats in Virginia

11.8%

of yearly sightings

191

records in April

#3

busiest month of 12

1,613

verified records a year

March 6.9%, April 11.8%, May 9.7%. Busiest month is July at 14.7%.

Best months: July, June, AprilPeak season right now

1,613 verified observations of bats in Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bats are recorded in Virginia

Peak month

July

237 records (14.7% of the year)

Quietest month

January

45 records

MonthObservationsShare
January452.8%
February774.8%
March1126.9%
Aprilpeak19111.8%
May1579.7%
Junepeak22413.9%
Julypeak23714.7%
August18211.3%
September1187.3%
October1187.3%
November845.2%
December684.2%

Bats you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Big Brown Bat351
Eastern Red Bat339
Tri-coloured Bat154
Silver-haired Bat141
Eastern Small-footed Myotis97
Evening Bat63
Northern Hoary Bat31
Little Brown Bat17

In Virginia, April carries 11.8% of the year's bats sightings, about 3.5 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 March (6.9%) into April, and it heads toward May (9.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so April is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bats most often recorded in Virginia are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Tri-coloured Bat. Those counts are annual totals rather than a April split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in April itself.

Which bats you are most likely to see

  • Big Brown Bat351 records
  • Eastern Red Bat339 records
  • Tri-coloured Bat154 records
  • Silver-haired Bat141 records
  • Eastern Small-footed Myotis97 records
  • Evening Bat63 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bat trip in Virginia

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 Virginia in April?+

Yes. April accounts for 191 of the 1,613 verified bats sightings logged in Virginia across the year, which is 11.8% of the annual total.

Is April a good time to see bats in Virginia?+

April is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, June and April.

What month is best for bats in Virginia?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and April, based on 1,613 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Virginia are Big Brown Bat, Eastern Red Bat and Tri-coloured Bat, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.