Several bats are silhouetted against a dusky sky with scattered clouds, flying in various directions at sunset.

Bat Activity Trends

A Woodland Park Zoo Community Science Program

EVENTS

Bat Activity Trends (BAT)

The Bat Activity Trends (BAT) program involves going out to observe bats, right in your own neighborhood. You can participate from a yard, patio, balcony or even a window with a clear view of the sky!

About the program

A brown bat clings to the rough bark of a tree, facing downward. The background is blurred with green and red hues, suggesting a natural outdoor setting.

Tukwila Bat Talk

When: Monday, June 8, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Where: Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168
Cost: Free (registration is required)

REGISTER

Join Bats Northwest and Green Tukwila for a wildly fun bat workshop (yes—Sky Puppies!) at the Tukwila Community Center!

Discover the secret lives of local bats—how they help our ecosystems, why they’re way cooler than you think, and simple ways you can support them right in your neighborhood. You’ll also get the chance to become a real-life bat steward by joining the Bat Activity Trends (BAT) community science program—helping track and protect these amazing night flyers.

Expect cool facts, a little myth-busting, and plenty of “wow, I didn’t know that!” moments.

A person holds a clipboard with a “Bat Activity Trends” data sheet, standing outdoors in a grassy area while a group of people, some seated and some standing, gather in the background at dusk.

Observing Bats! at Schafer State Park

When: Saturday, July 11, 2026, 8:15 – 9:45 p.m.
Where: Schafer State Park, 1365 W Schafer Park Rd, Elma, WA 98541
Cost: Free (No registration required)

No registration required, check the Friends of Sylvia Lake and Schafer State Parks event page for meeting location details. Please bring your own chairs, if you would like to sit during the event.

Join Woodland Park Zoo and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to collect bat data at Schafer State Park. Bats are a common wildlife species across Washington state, but their nocturnal habits mean that people often don’t notice them. Taking time to learn how to observe them can change that! Why are bats important? Where do they live? How do I observe bats flying in the evening sky? Learn the answers to these questions and how to collect data on bat activity to help us answer the question: When and where are bats active across the Pacific northwest? This is a fun event for adults and supervised children.

Aerial view of a city neighborhood with the zoo in the center, surrounded by residential and commercial buildings, and a lake visible in the background.

Green Lake Bat Talk

When: Dates and times below
Where: Green Lake, near the Seattle Public Theater, 7312 West Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98103
Cost: Free (No registration required)

Join Bats Northwest for their summer Bat Talks at Green Lake. Learn about our local bat species and find out how you can help protect bats. These programs are free and open to everyone.

Dates & times (start time shifts with the sunset):

  • Thursday, July 9, 8:30 p.m.
  • Friday, July 24, 8:15 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 6, 8:00 p.m.
  • Friday, August 21, 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, September 4, 7:15 p.m.
Aerial view of a city neighborhood with the zoo in the center, surrounded by residential and commercial buildings, and a lake visible in the background.

Green Lake BAT Program

When: Dates and times below
Where: Green Lake, near the Seattle Public Theater, 7312 West Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98103
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Join Bats Northwest and Woodland Park zoo to learn about Washington bat species and take part in a community science program to help with local bat conservation! These programs are free and open to everyone. Registration is required and opens 3 weeks prior to the event.

Dates & times (start time shifts with the sunset):

  • Thursday, July 16, 8:20 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 13, 7:45 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 27, 7:15 p.m.
Looking up at tall tree trunks and branches covered in textured bark with lush green leaves, set against a bright sky.

TimberFest BAT Programs

When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, 8:15 p.m.
Where: Tolt-MacDonald Park & Campground, 31020 NE 40th St, Carnation, WA 98014
Cost: You must pay to attend Timberfest to attend this event.

If you’re going to be at Timberfest this year, why not join Bats Northwest for an evening under the stars learning about bats and helping with bat conservation?

A forest with tall evergreen trees surrounds a flowing river. In the background, distant mountains are visible under a partly cloudy sky. A tent is partially visible among the trees to the left.

Juanita Bay Beavers & Bats

When: Tuesday, July 28, 2026, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Juanita Bay Park, 2201 Market St, Kirkland, WA 98033
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Join Beavers Northwest, Bats Northwest, and Woodland Park Zoo for an evening learning about two of your neatest nature neighbors – beavers and bats! Beavers Northwest will teach us about beaver biology and lead us on a leisurely walk by the wetlands in hopes of seeing a beaver. As the sun goes down, we’ll learn about the beavers’ amazing nighttime neighbors – bats! You will also get to participate in a bat community science program, scanning the night sky for bats flying overhead.

A forest with tall evergreen trees surrounds a flowing river. In the background, distant mountains are visible under a partly cloudy sky. A tent is partially visible among the trees to the left.

Mercer Island Beavers & Bats

When: Thursday, August 6, 2026, 7:15 PM – 9:30 p.m.
Where: Luther Burbank Park, 2040 84th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Join Beavers Northwest, Bats Northwest, and Woodland Park Zoo for an evening learning about two of your neatest nature neighbors – beavers and bats! Beavers Northwest will teach us about beaver biology and lead us on a leisurely walk by the wetlands in hopes of seeing a beaver. As the sun goes down, we’ll learn about the beavers’ amazing nighttime neighbors – bats! You will also get to participate in a bat community science program, scanning the night sky for bats flying overhead.

A forest with tall evergreen trees surrounds a flowing river. In the background, distant mountains are visible under a partly cloudy sky. A tent is partially visible among the trees to the left.

Carkeek Park Beavers & Bats

When: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 6:45 – 8:45 p.m.
Where: Carkeek Park, NW Carkeek Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98177
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Meet at the information kiosk by the walkway that leads to the beach.

Join Beavers Northwest, Bats Northwest, and Woodland Park Zoo for an evening learning about two of your neatest nature neighbors – beavers and bats! Beavers Northwest will teach us about beaver biology and lead us on a leisurely walk by the wetlands in hopes of seeing a beaver. As the sun goes down, we’ll learn about the beavers’ amazing nighttime neighbors – bats! You will also get to participate in a bat community science program, scanning the night sky for bats flying overhead.

Snow-dusted mountains rise above a dense evergreen forest, with a winding road cutting through the valley below under a cloudy sky. Sunlight highlights sections of the landscape.

Pigeon Point Park BAT Night

When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 7:15 – 8:45 p.m.
Where: 4418 21st Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Join Delridge Neighborhood Development Association and Woodland Park Zoo for an evening of bat fun! We will start with a bat talk to learn more about these amazing mammals and then spend 30 minutes watching the night sky in hopes of seeing our nocturnal friends.

Six bats are flying against a pitch-black night sky. Their wings are spread wide and semi-transparent, and their bodies appear faintly illuminated.

Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands BAT Night

When: Friday, September 11, 2026, 6:00 – 8:15 p.m.
Where: Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, 5513 S Cloverdale St, Seattle, WA 98118
Cost: Free! Registration coming soon!

Join Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands, Bats Northwest, and Woodland Park Zoo for an evening of bat fun for the whole family! There will be bat-themed snacks, time to learn about these amazing nighttime animals, and a chance to help with local bat conservation through the Bat Activity Trends program.

This event will have American Sign Language interpretation.