Bats in Colorado

There are 19 species of bats native to Colorado. The Big Brown Bat is the most common and largest, with a wingspan of 16 inches. It shares this position with the Hoary Bat, which also has a wingspan of around 13-16 inches. On the other hand, the Canyon Bat is the smallest in the state, with a wingspan of 8 inches.

Different Types of Bats in Colorado

Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae)

Big Free-tailed Bat
Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Vesper Bats (Vespertilionidae)

Allen’s Big-eared Bat
Big Brown Bat
California Myotis
Canyon Bat
Eastern Red Bat
Fringed Myotis
Hoary Bat
Little Brown Bat
Long-eared Myotis
Long-legged Myotis
Pallid Bat
Silver-haired Bat
Spotted Bat
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
Tricolored Bat
Western Small-footed Myotis
Yuma Myotis

Places To Go Bat Watching in Colorado

Colorado has several amazing places to go bat-watching. The Orient Mine is home to a colony of 250,000 Mexican Free-tailed Bats, while there have been sightings of several bats in Rocky Mountain National Park, like the Big Brown Bat, the Silver-haired Bat, and the Western Small-footed Myotis.

FAQ

1. Are bats protected in Colorado?

Bats are protected under federal and state law. The endangered Little Brown Bat can be found in Colorado.

2. Can you own a bat in Colorado?

No, it is illegal to own wildlife like bats in Colorado.

3. Do bats hibernate in Colorado?

Some bats stay in one place in Colorado throughout the year and hibernate, while others migrate to different parts in the winter or leave the state when it starts to get cold.

4. When do bats return to Colorado?

Bats that leave the state during the winter return around April and May.

5. When do bats migrate in Colorado?

They begin to migrate at the end of summer or early fall, i.e., around September or October.