Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Colorado's most common building-dwelling bat. Often found in attics, soffits, and outbuildings.
Bat Species in Colorado
Colorado is home to roughly fourteen native bat species. Below is a quick visual reference. If you have bats roosting in your home, attic, soffit, or outbuilding, Colorado Wildlife Specialists handles humane removal and exclusion.
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
Solitary tree-roosting bat. Migratory. Largest bat in Colorado.
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Tree-roosting and migratory. Occasionally found in buildings during migration.
Pallid Bat
Antrozous pallidus
Pale-colored desert bat. Roosts in rock crevices and buildings in lower elevations.
Townsend's Big-eared Bat
Corynorhinus townsendii
Distinctive long ears. Cave and mine dependent. State species of concern.
Spotted Bat
Euderma maculatum
Three large white spots on black fur. Among the most striking bats in North America.
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
Also called the Mexican free-tailed bat. Reaches Colorado in summer. Tail extends past the tail membrane.
Big Free-tailed Bat
Nyctinomops macrotis
Less common visitor. Long, narrow wings built for high-speed flight.
Western Small-footed Myotis
Myotis ciliolabrum
Rock-crevice and cliff specialist. Found in canyon country statewide.
Fringed Myotis
Myotis thysanodes
Distinctive fringe of stiff hairs on the tail membrane. Roosts in caves, mines, and buildings.
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
Associated with water. Roosts in buildings and under bridges along rivers.
California Myotis
Myotis californicus
Small woodland myotis. Roosts in tree cavities, rock crevices, and occasionally buildings.
Western Red Bat
Lasiurus blossevillii
Rusty-red fur and tree-roosting habit. Rare seasonal visitor to Colorado.
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
North America's smallest bat. Found in canyon country and rocky outcrops in western Colorado.
Bats in Colorado are protected
Native Colorado bat species are protected under state wildlife regulations. The only legal way to remove bats from a building is humane exclusion, performed outside of maternity season when possible. Colorado Wildlife Specialists follows Colorado Parks & Wildlife guidance on every job.