Rare Bat's Range Expands Through DNA Surveillance and Agave Planting

Citizen scientists in New Mexico help detect endangered Mexican long-nosed bat far north of its known roost

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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An endangered species of bat, the Mexican long-nosed bat, has been detected far north of its only known roost in New Mexico, thanks in part to citizen scientists in Grant County. Volunteers swabbed area hummingbird feeders to collect environmental DNA samples, which detected the bat's presence as far north as the Double E Wildlife Management Area, about 100 miles from its known roost. This discovery came after a 2020 finding of Palmer's agave, a key food source for the bats, at its northernmost location in the Double E. Bat Conservation International has partnered with local groups to plant both Palmer's and Parry's agave throughout the region to create a corridor for the bats as their range expands due to climate change.

Why it matters

The detection of the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat far north of its known range is significant, as it highlights the impact of climate change on species' habitats and the importance of citizen science efforts in monitoring and protecting vulnerable wildlife. The bat's survival is crucial not only for the intrinsic value of biodiversity, but also for economic reasons, as the bats are key pollinators of agave plants, which are used to produce important products like tequila and mescal.

The details

Citizen scientists, many of them from the Gila Native Plant Society, have been swabbing hummingbird feeders in the area over the last couple of years to collect environmental DNA samples that would be tested for the presence of nectar-feeding bat species. The eDNA collected from the feeders, as well as from Palmer's agave blooms, detected the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat as far north as the Double E Wildlife Management Area, about 100 miles from the species' known roost in the Hidalgo County bootheel. This discovery came after a 2020 finding of Palmer's agave at its northernmost location in the Double E, also with the help of citizen scientists. Bat Conservation International has partnered with local groups to plant both Palmer's and Parry's agave throughout the region, with the goal of creating a corridor for the bats as their range expands due to climate change.

  • In 2020, Palmer's agave was found at its northernmost location in the Double E Wildlife Management Area.
  • Over the last couple of years, citizen scientists have been swabbing hummingbird feeders to collect environmental DNA samples.

The players

Bat Conservation International

A nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of bats and their habitats.

Gila Native Plant Society

A local group of volunteers who have been involved in the citizen science efforts to detect the Mexican long-nosed bat and plant agave species.

Cara Staab

Vice president of the Gila Native Plant Society and a retired biologist who has been collecting eDNA samples from her home in Silver City.

Linda Moore

A citizen scientist from Cliff, New Mexico, who has detected three different species of nectar-feeding bats, including the Mexican long-nosed bat, in her eDNA samples.

Don Graves

The former president of the Native Plant Society of New Mexico, who has been involved in the agave planting efforts.

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What they’re saying

“With climate change, with shifting flowering seasons, we want to make sure we are providing the whole window of blooming time when bats are present.”

— Kristen Lear, Director of BCI's agave restoration initiative

“Everything that I've mostly worked on was a little bit more formal, and now being retired and being able to participate in citizen science and get a range expansion on a species or a new location, it's pretty cool.”

— Cara Staab, Vice president of the Gila Native Plant Society

What’s next

Bat Conservation International plans to continue conducting eDNA surveys in even further north and west areas of Arizona to see if they can detect the Mexican long-nosed bat even farther outside of its current known range.

The takeaway

The discovery of the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat far north of its known roost highlights the power of citizen science efforts and the importance of habitat restoration in the face of climate change. By planting key food sources like agave, local groups are helping to create a corridor for the bats as they expand their range, ensuring the survival of this ecologically and economically important species.