Brazilian Free-tail Migration

Also known as Mexican Free-tail Bats, some 250,000 roost in the historic Orient Mine every summer. This mostly male migration starts as far south as South America, gathering numbers as it flies north with small wings, no more than __ inchs long. 

Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats from Colorado Parks & Wildlife on Vimeo.

Resident Bats

Several much smaller colonies live in the Valley year-round, many hibernating in the Orient Mine and visiting Valley View well before the larger migration arrives. Species include...

Corynorhinus Townsendii Townsend's Big-Eared Bat

Eptesicus Fuscus Big Brown Bat

Lasionycteris Noctivagans Silver Haired Bat

Lasiurus Cinereus Hoary Bat

Myotis Ciliolabrum Western Small Footed Myotis

Myotis Evotis Long-eared Myotis

Myotis Lucifugus Little Brown Bat

Myotis Thysanodes Fringed Myotis

Myotis Volans Long-Legged Myotis

Nyctinomops Macrotis Big Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida Brasiliensis Mexican Free-tailed Bat

White Nose Syndrome

[[Introduce WNS]]

This fungus is not yet been discovered among our bats.

Monitoring and Research

The CDOW is actively monitoring our bats’ behavior and numbers using several “bat detectors” located around the Orient Mine.