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Big free-tailed bat coming in from the right

Big free-tailed bat

Learn About Bats

Bats are beneficial to humans and ecosystems.

When we protect bats, we are protecting the health of our communities, our ecosystems, and our crops. Bats eat insects and control pests that harm crops, damage forests, and transmit diseases. Bat conservation is also vital for agriculture because bats pollinate or disperse seeds of more than 1,000 species of plants globally, including many that we rely on for food such as bananas, mangos, and cocoa. 

What kind of bat are you?

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Meet Our Bats

Colorado is home to 19 bat species. Bats can be found in any part of Colorado, from eastern prairies to mountain forests to western canyons, and from small towns to downtown Denver. Unfortunately, relatively little is currently known about the population status of most species of bats in Colorado. That’s where you come in! Get involved and help us generate knowledge about bats.

Click on a species name below to learn more about that Colorado bat species.

The species profiles below have been adapted from the detailed species accounts developed by the Colorado Bat Working Group and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Allen’s big-eared bat

Big brown bat

Big free-tailed bat

Brazilian free-tailed 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

Tri-colored bat

Western small-footed myotis

Yuma myotis

Bats in the U.S. face many threats and need our help.

Bats face numerous threats in Colorado, including habitat loss, energy development, and pesticides. In addition, hibernating bats in Colorado may be impacted by white-nose syndrome (WNS), a pathogen that has killed millions of bats in the eastern and midwestern U.S. since 2006. The fungus that causes WNS was detected in Colorado for the first time in July of 2022. 

White-Nose Syndrome

Habitat Loss

Energy Development

Pesticides

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should we protect bats?

What can I do to help bats?

When will Colorado Bat Watch have opportunities for volunteers to monitor bat colonies?

I found an injured, displaced, sick, or dead bat. What should I do?

I see a bat out during winter. Is this normal? What should I do?

Do bats carry rabies?

A person or domestic animal has been exposed to a bite, scratch or saliva from a live or dead bat. What should the person or pet owner do?

I want to remove bats from my home or property. How can I do this humanely?

What do we know about bats and COVID-19?

Should I worry about bats flying close to me?

Are bats mammals?

Resources for Learning More

Community science projects, organizations, and media