Wildlife Program Highlights

Little brown bat being held by a hand in a blue medical glove

Friday, January 30, 2026

BLM, Bat Conservation International Monitor Bat Species on Lake Vermilion Islands

In 2025, the Northeastern States District Office teamed up with Bat Conservation International to acoustically monitor for threatened and endangered bat species in Lake Vermilion, Minnesota.

A manatee glides just below the surface of shallow, clear water, with its snout visible above the rippling water.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Manatee Awareness Month: Protecting Gentle Giants at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area

Every November, Manatee Awareness Month celebrates one of Florida’s most beloved residents: the West Indian manatee.

Close-up of a bat's face with large ears and detailed fur against a black background, adorned with a digital golden crown.

Monday, November 2, 2026

Ryan GosWING Wins BLM’s 2026 Bat Beauty Contest

From oversized ears to frosted fur to memorable names, this year’s Bat Beauty Contest, held during Bat Week, featured a variety of bat species, showcasing incredible diversity of bats that inhabit America's public lands.

Close-up of a Mexican free-tailed bat flying inside a cave. The bat's wings are spread wide, showing the thin flight membranes, while the rocky cave wall appears softly blurred in the background. A dark shadow of the bat is visible below it.

Friday, October 30, 2026

Celebrate Halloween with Bat Trivia on BLM-Managed Lands

From pollinating cacti to controlling insects, discover amazing facts about bats and their importance to BLM-managed landscapes.

Wide view of a grassy, sagebrush-covered landscape beneath a partly cloudy blue sky. A slender Motus antenna tower stands on a distant ridge near several people, equipment and parked vehicles, with rugged river-breaks terrain stretching across the background.

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Tracking Bats Across Big Skies: BLM Lands Help Expand Montana’s Motus Network

On Bureau of Land Management public lands in central Montana, two newly installed wildlife-tracking towers are already helping researchers uncover the hidden movements of bats across the continent.

A close-up photograph of a bat in flight at dusk, illuminated by a camera flash against a dark background. The bat’s pale fur and translucent wings are clearly visible, with delicate veins and pinkish wing bones highlighted by the light. The bat is captured mid-flight with its wings fully extended, while blurred cliffs and distant mountains form a faint backdrop beneath the evening sky.

Monday, October 26, 2026

Rose Guano Cave Important Stop for Migrating Bats on BLM-Managed Public Lands in Nevada

While the Rose Guano Cave may appear to be just another rocky feature from the highway, it plays a vital role in the health of Nevada's ecosystems and agricultural communities thanks to bats.