The big free-tailed bat is built for speed, a large, long-winged flier that hunts high over open air above cliffs and canyons rather than fluttering through brush. New Mexico sits near the northern edge of its US range, and the state’s 93 records are modest, clustering loosely around Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Fe National Forest, and Gila National Forest, places with the rugged terrain this bat needs for roosting.
Most reports fall between June and August, but a smaller cluster in January stands out, likely a handful of winter records rather than a resident presence, since this species is known to turn up as a cold season stray outside its usual season. NatureServe rates it S3, Vulnerable, in New Mexico.
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