Fifteen types of bats in Oregon share the state’s deserts, old-growth forests, river canyons, and city attics, and no two species hunt, roost, or migrate in quite the same way. Some spend winter tucked into lava tube caves east of the Cascades, while others fly south to warmer climates the moment the first frost hits. A few have moved into barns and bridges alongside people; others are so tied to undisturbed cliffs and snags that biologists rarely see them at all.
This guide walks through each of Oregon’s native bat species, covering how to recognize them, where they roost, and why wildlife agencies are watching several of them closely. Understanding these different types of bats matters now more than ever, since a fungal disease new to the region has already reached two Oregon species.
| Species | Typical Range in Oregon | Typical Roost |
|---|---|---|
| Pallid Bat | Southwestern and eastern Oregon | Rock crevices, buildings |
| Big Brown Bat | Statewide | Buildings, caves, tree hollows |
| Spotted Bat | Eastern Oregon | Cliff crevices |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Statewide except Columbia Basin | Tree cavities |
| Hoary Bat | Statewide, mostly west of the Cascades | Open foliage, tree branches |
| California Myotis | Statewide except Columbia Basin | Loose bark, tree crevices, buildings |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Coniferous forests statewide | Trees, rock crevices, buildings |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | East of the Cascades | Caves, mines, cliffs |
| Little Brown Bat | Statewide | Buildings, tree hollows, caves |
| Fringed Myotis | Scattered, locally uncommon | Caves, mines, buildings |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Statewide, higher elevations | Tree bark, rock crevices |
| Yuma Myotis | Statewide, near water | Buildings, bridges, caves |
| Canyon Bat | Rocky canyons, mostly eastern Oregon | Rock crevices, rodent burrows |
| Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat | Statewide | Caves, mines, buildings |
| Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat | Scattered, mostly southern and eastern Oregon | Caves, heated buildings |
1. Pallid bat
The pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) is one of the more distinctive-looking species on this list. Oregon State University Extension describes it as
The Pallid Bat is a large pale bat with huge ears, and it has large eyes and a dog-like face. It emerges after full dark and hunts differently than almost any other Oregon species: it emerges late at night to feed primarily on the ground, eating large beetles, crickets, and even scorpions.
That ground-hunting habit comes with a built-in defense most bats never need. Pallid bats can walk on the ground and are immune to a scorpion’s sting. Their slower, more deliberate flight also sets them apart, since their wing beat is slower than most bats. Pallid bats are found in southwestern and eastern Oregon, where they hunt over open ground rather than gleaning insects from the air the way many bats do. Their diet overlaps with the same ground-dwelling arthropods found among Oregon’s spiders, another group that thrives in the same arid, rocky habitat.
Pro Tip: If you spot a bat moving on the ground rather than flying, keep pets and children away and never handle it directly. Ground movement can signal illness, and a pallid bat’s dog-like face is sometimes mistaken for injury when it is simply behaving normally.
2. Big brown bat
The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) ranks among Oregon’s most familiar species, and for good reason. It is a larger bat with around a 12-inch wingspan, brown fur with black ears, wings, and feet, and hairless wings. Look closely and you’ll find these bats inside caves, tunnels, or other human structures.
Diet-wise, big brown bats are picky in a useful way. Their preference is to eat beetles, and the cucumber beetle is their favorite, which benefits farmers because these insects are terrible pests for agriculture. That appetite has not gone unnoticed: many farmers in Oregon even use bat boxes to attract big brown bats to their property. The same beetles and moths this species targets overlap heavily with the insects found among Oregon’s flies, which make up a large share of the nightly buffet for insect-eating bats statewide.
Alongside the long-legged myotis, wildlife observers consider this one of the state’s most frequently encountered bats, since the most common bats in Oregon include the long-legged myotis and the big brown bat.
3. Spotted bat
Few Oregon bats are as rarely seen as the spotted bat (Euderma maculatum), despite its striking appearance. This is a medium-sized bat with large, long ears, and it is gray, brown, or black, generally active only after full darkness. Its calls are so low-pitched that people can sometimes hear them without special equipment, a rarity among echolocating bats.
Range is limited within the state. The spotted bat is found in eastern Oregon and is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Blue Mountains, Columbia Plateau, East Cascades, Klamath Mountains and Northern Basin and Range ecoregions. That patchy distribution mirrors other high-desert wildlife, including several bat species found in Montana’s similarly arid rangelands just across the border.
4. Silver-haired bat
The silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) gets its name from a simple visual cue: it is a medium-sized bat with black hair and silver tips. It lives statewide in Oregon, except for most of the Columbia Basin, and is most closely associated with coniferous or mixed coniferous and deciduous forest types, especially in areas of old growth.
Timing sets this species apart from many of its neighbors. Silver-haired bats emerge fifteen to forty-five minutes prior to full darkness, earlier than most Oregon bats. Once airborne, their diet varies widely but they feed chiefly on small, soft-bodied insects such as flies, midges, leafhoppers, moths, and mosquitoes.
Migration follows a predictable seasonal rhythm. During migrations in May and September, they inhabit rangelands where they forage along small streams, and they form maternity colonies almost exclusively in tree cavities or small hollows. Their reliance on old-growth conifers links their fate to broader forest health, much like the reptile populations tracked among Oregon’s native snakes.
5. Hoary bat
The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is Oregon’s biggest bat by a wide margin. As the largest bat in the region, hoary bats have a 16-inch wingspan and dark fur with white tips, a dark mask on its face, and a yellow-orange throat. Hoary bats are found at scattered localities over most of the region west of the Cascade Range and in coniferous forest east of the Cascade Range.
Unlike colony-forming species, hoary bats in Oregon typically roost on trees in woodland forests as solitary bats that roost in open foliage. They do form loose groups when migrating south in late summer, but they don’t associate with other bats normally. When hunting, they can be surprisingly wide-ranging: they’re known to travel up to 24 miles in a single night to gather food.
Their long-distance migration also carries a modern hazard. Though the hoary bat is not endangered, it does suffer a loss in numbers because of wind turbines. This species’ seasonal journey stretches well beyond state lines, following a range similar to bats tracked across Canada’s boreal forests each summer.
Key Insight: Oregon is home to 15 bat species, and as of March 2026, 13 of them are classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need under the state’s Wildlife Action Plan, reflecting how widespread population pressure has become across nearly the entire group.
6. California myotis
Small and agile, the California myotis (Myotis californicus) ranges far beyond its namesake state. This species ranges throughout western North America from southern Alaska south into Guatemala and is one of the most abundant bats in semi-arid habitats, though it also can be found in ponderosa pine woodlands. In Oregon specifically, it is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species found throughout the state except for the Columbia Basin.
Roosting habits shift with the seasons. Throughout its range, it roosts beneath loose bark and in crevices of old snags, as well as in tree crevices, and early in summer, it forms small maternity colonies in cliff crevices, buildings, and bridges.
On the wing, the California myotis is an acrobatic flyer, and its diet consists of a variety of insects including midges, flies, and craneflies. Anyone curious how this same species behaves further south can compare notes with the bats found throughout California, where it is one of the more widespread residents.
7. Long-eared myotis
The long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) is easy to identify once you know what to look for. It is pale brown to strawberry in color, and it is a slow flier that hovers around trees and rocks to catch flies, moths and wasps. That hovering flight style, closer to a large moth than a typical bat, helps it pick insects directly off bark and foliage.
This species favors conifer stands and is one of the more visible bats at popular viewing sites. Among the most common bats seen emerging from Oregon Caves National Monument at dusk are the Yuma myotis, Townsend’s big-eared bat, and the long-eared myotis. Its dependence on mature forest structure ties it to the same moist, shaded habitat favored by many of Oregon’s native salamanders.
8. Western small-footed myotis
True to its name, the western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) is one of the tinier bats sharing Oregon’s skies. It is among the smaller bats in Oregon and is brown to pale yellow with black ears and a black mask across its eyes and nose. It lives in dry climates, especially cliffs and rocks, and forages back and forth along the face of cliffs.
Its range within the state is notably restricted. In Oregon, the species only occurs east of the Cascade Range, and it keeps a predictable winter schedule: it hibernates in caves and mines from November through February. That cliff-and-crevice lifestyle overlaps with the rocky habitat favored by many of Oregon’s desert snake species east of the Cascades.
9. Little brown bat
The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is arguably the species most people picture when they think of a bat species Oregon residents are likely to encounter near water. It can be found throughout Oregon in a wide variety of habitats and is typically found around lakes, ponds or streams. Look for it roosting in sheltered places such as human structures, woodpiles, tree hollows, and occasionally caves.
Its appetite is remarkable for an animal that weighs only a few grams. A single little brown bat can eat more than 1,200 mosquitoes, or 50 percent to 100 percent of its body weight, in a single night. That kind of nightly feeding makes little brown bats a natural complement to the wetland food web shared with Oregon’s wading herons, which hunt the same pond edges after dawn.
Unfortunately, this species is now at the center of a serious new threat in the region. In March 2026, laboratory tests by the National Wildlife Health Center diagnosed white-nose syndrome disease in six Yuma myotis from Columbia County and one little brown myotis from Benton County, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Important Note: White-nose syndrome had never been confirmed in Oregon bats before the 2026 cases. If you find a sick, dead, or unusually active bat (flying in daylight or freezing weather), report it to ODFW rather than handling it, since disturbing sick bats can spread the fungus further.
10. Fringed myotis
The fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes) is one of the harder Oregon species to find in the field. It is a long-eared vesper bat, or “evening bat,” with long, dark ears, dark brown wings, and a dark muzzle, and its dorsal fur ranges from yellow to copper to dark brown and olive, with the base of the hairs being very dark. The species gets its name from a set of small, stiff hairs, or subtle “fringe,” along the tail membrane, a feature that distinguishes it from other long-eared myotis species.
Size and status set it apart too. Although large for its genus at 8 to 10 centimeters in length, it is a relatively small bat compared to other Oregon species, weighing approximately 7 grams. According to Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan, fringed myotis are patchily distributed and locally uncommon, and they are vulnerable to disturbance at roosts.
Complicating recovery efforts, white-nose syndrome has already been detected in this species in neighboring Washington State. Its rarity here mirrors the limited range of certain species documented among the bat species recorded in Arkansas, where several myotis species are similarly hard to detect.
11. Long-legged myotis
High-elevation forests are prime territory for the long-legged myotis (Myotis volans). This species is more commonly found at elevations of 4,000 to 9,000 feet, but it also lives in some desert and riparian habitats. Long-legged myotis forage over ponds, streams, and in forest clearings, most often in search of moths.
Roosting is flexible for this species. Maternity colonies are most often formed in tree cavities or under loose bark, though they also occur in rock crevices, cliffs, and buildings. Unlike some Oregon bats that fly south for winter, this species hibernates in winter instead of migrating southward. Its mountain-forest range echoes the terrain favored by high-elevation bats found across the bat species native to New Mexico, another state where elevation shapes which species you’ll find where.
12. Yuma myotis
Water defines nearly every part of the Yuma myotis’s (Myotis yumanensis) life cycle. It emerges when it is almost dark and forages for insects over streams and ponds, and this bat is gray, tan or brown and lives in a variety of habitats. Large numbers of female bats gather together in May or June to have their young, and in autumn, they migrate.
This species is also one of the easier bats to observe in person, since it is among the bats regularly seen at cave entrances around dusk, foraging low over the water alongside the frogs and other amphibians documented among Oregon’s native frog species that share the same pond-edge habitat.
As noted above, the Yuma myotis was one of the two species confirmed with white-nose syndrome in Oregon for the first time in March 2026, making ongoing monitoring of its riverside colonies a priority for state biologists.
13. Canyon bat (Western pipistrelle)
Oregon’s smallest bat lives up to its delicate reputation. The canyon bat, also called the western pipistrelle, is the smallest bat in Oregon, with a wingspan of around 7.5 to 8.5 inches, roughly half the wingspan of the state’s largest species. It is mainly found in Oregon in rocky areas near water, like canyons, cliffs, under loose rocks, and caves.
Its diminutive size shapes its whole lifestyle. Since this bat is small, its most common predators are owls, and even other bats occasionally prey on it. When shelter is scarce, the canyon bat has been known to occupy rodent burrows in the ground if its habitat doesn’t provide sufficient shelter. Being the smallest resident species puts it in interesting company with the diminutive bats catalogued among the bat species found in South Carolina, where size comparisons run in the opposite direction entirely.
14. Townsend’s big-eared bat
Easily recognized by its namesake feature, Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) is one of Oregon’s most closely monitored species. This is a large, pale bat with huge ears, large eyes and a dog-like face, and its wing beat is slower than most bats. Townsend’s big-eared bats are insectivorous, feeding primarily on moths.
Conservation status here is serious. According to Oregon Wild, although Townsend’s big-eared bat can be found throughout the state of Oregon, its numbers are declining in part because it is very vulnerable to human disturbance. In Oregon, it is classified as a State Sensitive Species. There is at least one piece of good news so far: the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome has been detected in Townsend’s big-eared bat populations, but luckily no signs of the disease have been detected at this time.
This species’ broader value extends well past Oregon’s borders. Insectivorous bats provide more than $3.7 billion worth of pest control each year in the U.S., according to Oregon Wild, underscoring why this species draws so much conservation attention despite its otherwise stable range. The Townsend’s big-eared bat is especially visible during winter at popular viewing spots like Oregon Caves National Monument.
Common Mistake: Not every Oregon bat hibernates through winter. Species like the hoary bat and silver-haired bat migrate south instead, while cave-dwellers like Townsend’s big-eared bat and the western small-footed myotis stay put and hibernate, which is exactly why cave closures during winter matter so much.
15. Brazilian free-tailed bat
Rounding out Oregon’s bat species, the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), sometimes called the Mexican free-tailed bat, is a rare but notable resident. Brazilian free-tailed bats roost primarily in caves, though they also roost in buildings of any type as long as they have access to openings and dark recesses in ceilings or walls. They are active from sunset to sunrise.
Their menu is broader than most Oregon bats. They eat moths, beetles, dragonflies, flies, true bugs, wasps, and ants. Most remarkably, this species has found an unusual workaround for Oregon’s cold winters. It survives the cold winters in Oregon by staying in heated buildings instead of hibernating or migrating, often sharing these quarters with other bat species. The same genus forms massive colonies elsewhere in the world, including populations tracked among the free-tailed bat species found in Australia, though Oregon’s population is far smaller and more localized.
Oregon’s 15 native bat species collectively represent one of the most functionally important, and least visible, parts of the state’s wildlife. Their echolocation lets them make high-pitched sounds and then listen to the echo of those sounds to locate objects, which helps them find even the smallest insect. That nightly insect control, combined with the arrival of white-nose syndrome in 2026, means Oregon native bats need more public attention now than at almost any point in recent memory.
Reporting sick or dead bats, respecting seasonal cave closures, and leaving roosts undisturbed all go a long way toward protecting a group of animals that, alongside Oregon’s native finches and other overlooked wildlife, quietly shapes the health of the state’s ecosystems every single night.