Accomplishing a summer vacation surrounding bat emergences can be very easy. Two routes are possible crossing the US. One route to consider is a northern tour and the other route would be on a southern tour. Either tour can begin on either coast. The majority of the stops along these tours will be at caverns where the temperature is considerably cooler. Visiting bats in the winter is virtually unheard of because the bats hibernate and the least little disturbance could cause them to come out of hibernation. If they were to come out of hibernation, the odds of them surviving through the winter are slim because they would loose too much of their stored energy.
The Southern Tour begins in California, Point Reyes National Seashore has 14 species of bats including yuma myotis, Mexican free-tailed bats, Townsend’s big-eared bats, California myotis. The best time to see these bats is at dusk from April to August. From California, the tour travels to Arizona. Arizona offers bat stops at Grand Canyon National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, University of Arizona Stadium, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Mile Hi/Ramsey Canyon Preserve. In Arizona, bat hunters can expect to find big brown bats (mature colony at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum), western pipistrelles, pallid bats, Mexican long-nosed bats and lesser long-nosed bats. The best time to see Arizona bats is in the summer into mid September. New Mexico is next on the tour. El Malpais National Monument, Bandolier National Monument, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico are the part time home to 16 species of bats, including big free-tailed bats, pallid bats, western pipistrelles, Mexican free-tailed bates, yuma myotis and 11 more. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is probably more widely known for its “evening flight of the bats”, which generally runs at dusk from Memorial Day weekend to the end of September. Carlsbad Caverns also allows visitors to witness the returning of the bats at pre-dawn. Texas has bats at Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area, Big Bend National Park, Congress Avenue Bridge and Eckert James River Bat Cave. In July and August over 3 million Mexican Free-tailed bats and 1,000 to 3,000 Cave Myotis leave the Old Tunnel anywhere from 1 hour before dusk to 1 hour after dusk. Big Bend has the largest maternity roost of Townsend’s big-eared bats in the United States. Also found in Big Bend are Yellow bats and Mexican long-nosed bats. Congress Avenue Bridge and Eckert James River Bat Cave both have Mexican free-tailed bats. After leaving Texas, the tour goes to Arkansas. In Arkansas, bats are located at Devil’s Den State Park. Devil’s Den State Park is home to 10 species, including the rare Ozark big-eared bats that hibernate here. The best time to see the bats is in the summer, but the park does offer a guided hike to the hibernaculum where entering is strictly prohibited. Tennessee bats are on the endangered list and are at Nickajack Cave. These endangered Gray bats take flight during spring and summer at dusk to feed, providing a rare opportunity for visitors to see them. Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky was once home to thousands of Indiana bats, but unfortunately, the population here has dwindled down to almost none. On the bright side, steps are being taken to improve the site and make it more bat friendly, which seems to be working, as more bats are moving back into the area. Indiana has at least 10 species of bats, including big brown bats, little brown bats, eastern pipistrelles, gray bats and Indiana bats. Chain O’Lakes State Park, Spring Mill State Park and Wyandotte Caves State Recreation Area are all excellent stops to witness hibernating bats without disturbing them or to witness an emergence. This southern tour will end in North Carolina. Linville Caverns is the hibernating destination for Eastern Pipistrelles and brown bats. These bats can be seen from the middle of October to early Spring.
The Northern route also begins in California, from California it travels to Idaho. Idaho is home to Farragut State Park, where big brown bats, little brown bats and yuma myotis are found. The best time to see these bats is May to September while they are feeding along the lakeshore. Next are Montana and the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. A maternity colony of Townsend’s big-eared bats is at home here. The young fly in late July to early August, making this the best time to visit. Now move on to South Dakota and Wind Cave National Park. Little brown Myotis bats are commonly found in this park. Minnesota also has little brown bats that are best seen in the summer afternoons at Itasca State Park. Wisconsin’s bats are seen at Milwaukee County Zoo. This zoo has straw-colored fruit bats, Egyptian fruit bats, mountain fruit bats and a vampire bat exhibit that contains many active common vampires. Michigan is home to the Great Lakes Bat Festival. This festival is the place for bat hunters to gather to increase their knowledge of the many aspects of bats. New York has big brown bats and little brown bats at Connetquot River State Park Preserve. These bats are best seen late spring to early fall. Wharton State Park in New Jersey will finish this northern tour. This park offers interpretive programs focused on the bats located in New Jersey.
