The Northwestern Bat Hub

Species 5: Western Red Bat
🦇Lasiurus frantzii🦇

The western red bat has not been documented in Oregon until recently! Thanks to acoustic detections at Crater Lake National Park, we now know this vibrant species is fluttering into new territory.

Western red bats are also super moms, often giving birth to multiple pups- as many as four at a time!

Unlike bats that hibernate in caves, red bats are migratory, flying long distances to find warmer climates and better foraging grounds. Like the hoary bat, western red bats roost solo in the foliage of trees, blending in with its reddish fur.

Their presence in Oregon suggests they may be expanding their range. Discoveries like this highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and research.

Every bat call recorded helps us better understand species ranges, behaviors, and conservation needs. There is always more to learn!

The Bat Hub has a wonderful relationship with ODFW and our Audible Bats Project would not be possible without them.

Species 4: Little Brown Bat
🦇Myotis lucifugus🦇

Don’t let the size fool you! Little brown bats are insect eating machines! These tiny bats can consume half their body weight in bugs each night, making them powerful allies in pest control. Plus, they have sweet, adorable, tiny faces we just can't get enough of.

Little browns are found across much of Oregon, especially near wetlands, rivers, lakes, and forested areas. These bats love to snuggle and often gather in large colonies, especially in summer when females form maternity roosts to raise their pups. You might find them tucked into tree cavities, under bridges, or, more often, in old buildings and bat boxes.

A disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated bat populations across North America, including the iconic . Caused by a fungus, WNS disrupts hibernation, leading to dehydration, starvation, and often death. In Oregon, the fungus was first detected in Clatsop County in 2025, marking a concerning milestone for the Pacific Northwest.
**Yes, we're all very concerned, though not super surprised**

While no bats in Oregon have yet shown symptoms, the presence of the fungus signals a
serious threat to local bat species. Ongoing surveillance by ODFW, the Bat Hub, and federal partners is critical to understanding and responding to this emerging challenge.

The Little Brown Bat is currently under federal review for potential listing as an due to steep population declines from threats like white-nose syndrome.
This review process relies on good science and regional data, which is why collaboration among federal and state agencies, nonprofits, tribal partners, and universities (like us at the Bat Hub!) is essential.

Together, we’re helping guide high-level conservation decisions that could shape the future of this species.

Species 3: Fringed Myotis
🦇Myotis thysanodes🦇

This bat isn’t just fashionable with its fringed tail membrane, it’s a skilled insect hunter, cruising through Oregon forests and grasslands feeding on beetles, spiders, and moths.
📷 First photo by Emma Busk

This species gets its name thanks to its set of small stiff hairs, or subtle fringe, along the tail membrane (from the Greek word thysanos, meaning “fringe”). Fringed myotis is fairly uncommon across its range despite being present in a broad range of habitats. Details on its distribution are not well understood.

Long-term monitoring shows that some bat species, including the Fringed Myotis, may be declining in the Pacific Northwest.
Tracking these trends helps scientists understand threats like habitat loss, climate change, and disease.

The North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) helps researchers like us at the NW Bat Hub track bat populations across the Pacific Northwest.

By working with regional partners like the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, we’re building a clearer picture of how bats are doing and how to protect them.

Species 2: Hoary Bat
🦇Lasiurus cinereus🦇

With fur that looks like it’s been dipped in frost, this bat is bold and beautiful. Its name comes from the word hoar, meaning “grayish-white,” and it is one of the larger and more widespread bats in North America.
First photo by Emma Busk

Hoary bats are a migratory species meaning that they do not hibernate in caves like many of their fellow bat species. They prefer to fly long distances in search of warmer weather and ample foraging opportunities. Recent studies show that hoary bats migrate with a “pell-mell” migration strategy, meaning they do not make standard north to south migrations in the autumn. Rather, they bounce around to higher and lower latitudes in unpredictable patterns.

They are also relatively solitary creatures, preferring to roost alone in dense foliage of mature deciduous and coniferous trees.
Migration isn’t easy, especially when wind turbines are located in your path. Hoary bats are one of the species most impacted by wind energy development, often colliding with turbines during their long-distance flights. Researchers are working hard to find solutions that protect both bats and clean energy goals in North America.

With the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, researchers can track hoary bats across vast landscapes using tiny radio transmitters. This helps us learn more about their mysterious migration patterns and how to better protect them. Follow the path of this hoary bat as it was detected at Motus stations throughout the Pacific Northwest!

Video adapted from Motus.org

Species 1: Spotted Bat
🦇Euderma maculatum🦇

The spotted bat is a striking bat with bold white spots on black fur and enormous pink ears.
They are one of the most visually distinctive bats in North America. They are also elusive. ODFW
lists them as an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species meaning they are a sensitive species that requires special management consideration.

Spotted bats are found in Oregon’s dry forested canyons and cliffs east of the Cascades. They
prefer rugged terrain with ample opportunities for roosting in rock crevices high up on a canyon
wall. Spotted bats are moth specialists meaning they primarily capture and consume moths for
dinner. They are known to travel up to 52 miles in a single night in search of prey, water resources, and a comfortable alpine meadow. They are relatively solitary creatures, preferring to roost alone up in their rock crevice.

Spotted bats have enormous ears which help regulate temperature in a hotter, high desert
climate, as well as assist in detecting prey using low frequency echolocation calls.

Thanks in part to ODFW’s Oregon Conservation & Recreation Fund, the Northwest Bat Hub works with citizen scientists and volunteers to collect valuable data on these rare bats by listening for their echolocation calls. Spotted bats emit a low frequency call that is audible to the human ear. Sign up to join the Northwest Bat Hub for one of our group outings in Summer 2026.

Follow the link in the Northwest Bat Hub bio to join the list!

Welcome to ! 🦇

We’re the Northwest Bat Hub, and we’re taking over the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Instagram this week to celebrate the incredible bats of Oregon!

Get ready for a week full of fun bat facts, species spotlights, and how bats inspire collaboration across the Pacific Northwest.

We’re a research group based at the HERS Lab at OSU-Cascades in Bend, Oregon. Our mission? To study and protect bats across the Pacific Northwest by working with amazing partners like state agencies, tribal nations, nonprofits, and community scientists.

We’re proud to be a catalyst for regional collaboration because protecting bats takes
teamwork!

Why do we care so much about bats?
Because bats are unsung heroes of our ecosystems! They eat tons of insects, helping farmers and reducing the need for pesticides.
Globally, they pollinate plants and disperse seeds, supporting healthy forests and gardens.

Their guano (p**p!) is a powerful fertilizer.
Without bats, our ecosystems and even our food systems would look very different. Let’s give bats the love they deserve!

Ready to meet some of Oregon’s coolest bats?
This week, we’ll introduce you to a few of our favorite species- from the mysterious spotted bat to the speedy hoary bat. Each one has a unique story, special adaptations, and a role to play in keeping our ecosystems balanced.

Swipe through each day to get to know them better and maybe even find a new favorite!

Stay tuned and let’s get batty together!

Bat walk, this Saturday

North Dry Canyon Natural Area, Redmond, Oregon

6:30pm

Who's ready to get to know the bats of Hart Mountain? Come camp out, maybe take a dip in the hot spring, and listen for bats with us!

Friday, July 25. Details on our website.

Have you gotten out and done an Audible Bats survey yet this year? Well, why on earth not?

Our citizen science initiative is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the dry side of the PNW.

Surveys can take place almost anywhere on the east side of the Cascades in Oregon or Washington, or in southern Idaho. Check out our website for more information about how to get involved and help us find some rare desert bats.

Bat season has officially begun! We'll kick things off with our annual training at Smith Rock State Park, but there will be many other opportunities to get involved in bat research.

Check out our website to learn how to get involved