Bat World Mojave
 

Bat World-Mojave is located in the southern most part of California’s Mojave desert, in the fragile area between the Mojave and California desert ecosystems. Bat World-Mojave was established to provide assistance to the public, and has the complete support of the Joshua Tree National Park, the Mojave Preserve, the Marine Corps Air to Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), and local animal control agencies. 

The southern Mojave desert is famous for its mining activity, and abandoned mines and the desert’s unique geological terrain provide the perfect habitat for bats.  Being the desert, however, means limited water sources, and increased urbanization and environmental encroachment threaten these rare and valuable water supplies.  This in turn, affects the availability of the insects needed for a bat’s survival. 
Mark A. Lugo
The Mojave desert provides residence and travel for a diverse range of bat species, which include, but are not limited to the following*.  Due to its wide open space and conspicuous landmarks, the Mojave desert is a treasured migratory corridor. 

Big Free-Tailed Bat
Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat
California Desert Bat
California Leaf-nosed Bat
Desert Long-legged Bat
Desert Big Brown Bat
Hoary Bat
Ghost-Faced Bat
Long-tongued Bat
Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Mexican Long-Nosed Bat
Northern Fringed Bat

Pallid Bat
Pocketed Free-Tail Bat
Sanborn’s Long-Nosed Bat
Silver-Haired Bat
Southwestern Myotis
Spotted Bat
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat
Western Big-Eared Bat
Western Mastiff Bat
Western Pipistrelle
Western Red Bat
Yuma Myotis

*Listing courtesy of the National Park Service, 2004
Warning: While active and abandoned mines and building ruins add flare to the desert landscape, they also provide vital housing for desert bat colonies. However, please remember that all mines are considered unsafe. Shafts and their entries are composed of crumbling, unsupported rock. Even timber that appears solid may be rotting. Vertical mine shafts are especially dangerous, since most drop straight down for hundreds of feet. Also, explosives may have been left behind. Never handle anything may be appear to be an explosive. Minerals and decaying timer cause a build up of gases or a lack of oxygen. Lighting a match may cause flammable gases to explode, or you may become disoriented from lack of good air.

Keep yourself and the bats safe - stay out of mining areas!

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