Bats in New Mexico

There are 29 species of bats native to New Mexico. They can be found everywhere throughout the state except for the parts of the desert without cover. The most common of them, i.e., the ones people are most likely to run into, include the Mexican Free-tailed Bat, the Hoary Bat, and the Big Brown Bat.

The Western Mastiff Bat is the largest bat in New Mexico, while the Canyon Bat is the tiniest among them.

Different Types of Bats in New Mexico

Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae)

Big Free-tailed Bat
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Pocketed Free-tailed Bat
Western Mastiff Bat

New World Leaf-nosed Bats (Phyllostomidae)

Mexican Long-nosed Bat
Mexican Long-tongued Bat
Southern Long-nosed Bat

Vesper Bats (Vespertilionidae)

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

Places To Go Bat Watching in New Mexico

Carlsbad Caverns is home to over 17 different species of bats in New Mexico, with a large colony of Mexican Free-tailed Bats being a huge attraction. Other notable bats living here include the Cave Myotis and the Fringed Myotis.

The Mexican Free-tailed bat can also be seen in Jornada Bat Caves and the lava tube caves of El Malpais.

FAQ

1. Are there any endangered bats in New Mexico?

While not classified as endangered, the Southern Long-nosed Bat and the Mexican Long-nosed Bat are protected under federal and state statutes. This is because they can only be found in the southwest corner of New Mexico.

2. Do bats living in New Mexico hibernate or migrate in the winter?

More than half of all the bats living in New Mexico are known to hibernate when winter arrives. But some, like the Hoary Bat and the Eastern Red Bat, tend to migrate south when it gets colder.