Bats

Bat with large ears held in gloved hand
Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) captured in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

NPS / GRACE CARPENTER

 
Pale bat in gloved hand
Pallid bat

NPS / Taryn Preston

Glen Canyon Bat Inventory & Monitoring


From 2016-2019, GLCA staff and citizen scientists used a centralized monitoring method (North American Bat Monitoring Program [NABat]) to assess distribution, abundance, trends and threats of bat species susceptible to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). The project focused on assessing bat populations using NABat stationary and mobile acoustic surveys, WNS/Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) surveillance, and enhancing WNS and bat-related education and outreach. Data collected during these efforts contributed to a statistically robust dataset, which enabled researchers to make inferences about bat species distribution, abundance, and threats on local, regional, and continent-wide scales.

Because of concerns during the Covid 19 pandemic, monitoring stopped for several years but began again in 2022. Park staff working with Bat Conservation International (BCI), resumed WNS testing and acoustic surveys. BCI is currently developing a bat monitoring plan for the park. WNS has not been detected in any bats within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

 
Fuzzy bat with black wings in a gloved hand
Canyon Bat

NPS / Taryn Preston

Bats of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

17 species are known to occur within the park.

  1. Pallid bat, Antrozous pallidus

  2. Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii

  3. Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus

  4. Spotted bat, Euderma maculatum

  5. Allen's big-eared bat, Idionycteris phyllotis

  6. Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans

  7. Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus

  8. California myotis, Myotis californicus

  9. Western small-footed myotis, Myotis ciliolabrum

  10. Western long-eared bat, Myotis evotis

  11. Fringed myotis, Myotis thysanodes

  12. Long-legged myotis, Myotis volans

  13. Yuma myotis, Myotis yumanensis

  14. Canyon bat, Parastrellus hesperus

  15. Greater mastiff bat, Eumops perotis

  16. Big free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops macrotis

  17. Brazilian free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis

 
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Outside Science (inside parks) video

In this episode of Outside Science (inside parks), spend time with interns, volunteers, and staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to see how and why they study bats.

 

 

Last updated: October 17, 2023

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040

Phone:

928 608-6200
Receptionist available at Glen Canyon Headquarters from 7 am to 4 pm MST, Monday through Friday. The phone is not monitored when the building is closed. If you are having an emergency, call 911 or hail National Park Service on Marine Band 16.

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