Pallid bats use California’s dry country but also follow sheltered roosts and feeding grounds beyond the desert. Reports around the Salton Sea fit warm, open landscapes, while records reaching the Klamath Basin and San Francisco Bay show that the state’s footprint isn’t confined to its hottest southeast corner.
Observations rise sharply in April, remain high through summer, and peak in August. January, February, and December have far fewer reports, consistent with colder nights reducing activity and detection. The curve also reflects when people conduct bat surveys, so it shouldn’t be read as a direct count of bats on the landscape.
Full species profile
