Endangered mexican long-nosed bats push farther north as drought threatens critical agave food sources

Mexican long-nosed bats are venturing into uncharted territory, traveling roughly 100 miles beyond their known northern range as climate pressures force them to seek new sources of survival. These endangered mammals, equipped with specially designed tongues for extracting nectar, depend entirely on agave plants to fuel their grueling summer migration from Mexico into the southwestern United States.

New DNA evidence collected by Bat Conservation International has confirmed the species’ presence in Arizona and now reveals they’ve reached the edges of New Mexico’s Gila National Forest—farther north than ever documented. This expansion represents a significant shift in behavior for bats that traditionally found sufficient resources in established locations like Big Bend National Park in Texas and New Mexico’s Bootheel region.

The driving force behind this northward push appears to be severe drought conditions devastating the Bootheel area, where agave plants are flowering far less frequently than in previous years. “We think these bats are trying to look for healthy agave food sources elsewhere,” explains Kristen Lear, director of the Agave Restoration Initiative. “So that’s kind of driving them farther north, where the agaves are a little bit less hit by drought.”

The consequences of this range expansion are significant—each additional 30 miles of travel can add another night to an already exhausting journey. Researchers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border emphasize that desert restoration efforts will be crucial for maintaining the nectar corridors these vulnerable bats desperately need to survive their annual migration.