Bat Week 2026: Oregon wins fourth straight title for bat ‘Ryan GosWING’
A Portland pallid bat named Ryan GosWING won the Bureau of Land Management’s 2026 Bat Beauty Contest on…
A Portland pallid bat named Ryan GosWING won the Bureau of Land Management’s 2026 Bat Beauty Contest on Halloween, giving Oregon its fourth win in a row.
The bat, named after actor Ryan Gosling, beat a hairy-legged vampire bat named Batty White in the final round.
The BLM received more than 3,300 votes across the contest, which began Oct. 24 as part of Bat Week. The agency partnered with Bat Conservation International and invited the public to vote in head-to-head matchups throughout the week.
This year’s lineup featured photos of bats in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Mexico, South America, and the Montana-Dakotas office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Photo by Emma Busk/Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington
Which bats competed in the 2026 Bat Beauty Contest?
This year’s lineup included eight entries, one of them a trio. Here’s who competed:
Ryan GosWING. The Oregon winner is a pallid bat. Its large ears help it hear prey moving on the ground.
Batty White. The runner-up is a hairy-legged vampire bat, a species that feeds mainly on bird blood.
ChewBATca. This big brown bat takes its name from the Star Wars character Chewbacca.
Count Frostula. This hoary bat gets its frosted look from pale-tipped fur. Hoary bats typically roost alone in trees.
Chappell Flown. This Mexican greater funnel-eared bat has reddish fur and ears shaped like funnels.
Dolly BATton. This western small-footed bat hunts insects such as moths, flies, and beetles after dark.
The Three MusketEARs. Three Townsend’s big-eared bats entered together. In their photo, they’re huddled against a cave ceiling.
Guano Reeves. Another Townsend’s big-eared bat, this one named after actor Keanu Reeves.
See photos of all the bat contestants here.
Photo courtesy of Jose G. Martinez-Fonseca, wildlife photographer
Why does the BLM hold a bat beauty contest?
The contest introduces people to bats that live on public lands. Many eat insects, and some species pollinate plants or spread seeds. Bats use places such as caves, abandoned mines, and forests for shelter.
The BLM recommends planting native flowers, using fewer pesticides, and keeping noise down near bat roosts. If you come across bats resting, give them space.
