The votes are in, and the final semifinalist has been revealed… it’s ChewBATca! 🚀🦇 In a true wookiee-take-all showdown, ChewBATca the big brown bat soared past Count Frostula by a wingspan to secure the last spot in our Bat Beauty Contest semifinals! What a nail-biter! A huge round of applause for all our incredible semifinalists—this competition is getting fiercer by the day, and the crown is still up for grabs! 👑 The semifinals kick off tomorrow morning! Who will fly into the finals? It’s up to YOU! Get ready to cast your vote and help decide which two bats will battle for the title of Bat Beauty Champion 2026! Who are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to vote tomorrow! 🦇✨ 📸: ChewBATca, by Hannah Cowan, BLM Utah

Ready for an adventure? 🎉 In honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, today is a fee-free day at participating Bureau of Land Management recreation sites! That means more ways to get outside and enjoy the beauty of your public lands, no entrance fees required. Whether you’re hiking a favorite trail, soaking in the fall colors, taking a scenic drive, or exploring somewhere new, it’s the perfect time to make memories in the great outdoors. 🍂🚶‍♂️ So, grab your jacket, rally your friends and family, and discover all that your public lands have to offer! Before you head out, be sure to check with your local BLM recreation site for details on fee-free access. Let’s celebrate the legacy of conservation and enjoy the places that connect us all. See you out there! 🌄 📸: Hyatt Lake photo by Kyle Sullivan, BLM OR/WA

Thanks for your incredible enthusiasm and for continuing to support these little bats! We are rolling into day of 4 of our #BatBeautyContest! Today is the last day of before our semi-finals featuring match-ups from the winners of the first 4 rounds. Today, we have a fang-tastic face-off! Count Frostula, the pallid bat, takes to the skies against ChewBATca, the big brown bat, in a match-up that’s sure to be a real bite! Count Frostula has been frosting his tips since before it was cool. And it looks great on him. Really. Truly. Great. “Hoary” means grayish white, and that silver-tipped fur gives the Count a vibe best described as “vampire who peaked in a 2003 mall photo booth.” He skips the castle and roosts alone in tree foliage, wrapped in his furry tail membrane like a cape. He did not buy the cape. He grew the cape. Please stop asking about the cape. The best co-pilot any scoundrel could ask for, ChewBATca is the most adorable little fuzzball, and no one is going to move this flying carpet out of the way. The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is one of the most widespread bats in North America, found from Canada through the United States and into Central and northern South America. They are mainly found in forests, cities, farmland, and suburban areas and are known to roost in tree hollows, caves, rock crevices, barns, attics, and other structures. You may think the other bats are cool, but we suggest a new strategy: let the fluffy bat win. A single big brown bat may consume 1,000+ insects per night, but don’t worry, he doesn’t pull people’s arms outta their sockets when he loses. Cast your vote for this round of cutest bat! Fangs in advance. 🦇 ow.ly/lnvj5100ZQY 📸Photo one: Count Frostula, by Cameron McQuivey, BLM Utah 📸Photo Two: Chewbatca, by Hannah Cowan, BLM Utah @Bat_Week @BatConIntl @USFWS @Interior

Round Three Winner: Batty White! 🦇✨ Batty White just took a big bite out of the competition and soared into the next round! This hairy-legged vampire bat charmed her way past Chappell Flown, the Mexican greater funnel-eared bat, and claimed her spot in the semifinals. The stakes are rising, and Batty White is showing she’s got both the looks and the bite to win it all! Who’s ready for the next matchup? The Bat Beauty Contest is getting spookier by the day, and the road to the crown is wide open. Stay tuned for more fang-tastic fun and cast your vote for your favorite furry flyer in the final round before the semifinals tomorrow morning!! 🦇👑 📸: Photo courtesy of Jose G. Martinez-Fonseca, Wildlife Photographer @Bat_Week @BatConIntl @USFWS @Interior

It's Day 3 of our Bat Beauty Contest! Today, we have Batty White, a hairy-legged vampire bat, vs Chappell Flown, a Mexican greater funnel-eared bat. She's hairy. She's leggy. Meet Batty White! Named for an icon who proved that staying fabulous forever is always in style. Batty is a hairy-legged vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata), one of only three vampire bat species on the planet. That’s an exclusive club! This nocturnal golden girl spends her nights roosting in cozy hideaways and sipping on her preferred vintage: bird blood. Forget the cheesecake, darling. That signature leg fuzz isn't just a beauty statement. Scientists think it may help her sense vibrations and navigate while climbing around in the dark to find her next meal. Beauty, brains, and built-in night vision vibes? That’s one multi-talented queen. Thank you for being a bat, Ms. White🎵 Make this legend’s dreams come true and vote Batty White for Bat Beauty Queen 2026. It’s your favorite bat’s favorite bat! Introducing CHAPPELL FLOWN 💖 This feminomenon is a Mexican greater funnel-eared bat (Natalus mexicanus), named for its uniquely shaped ears. These insect-eating, vibrant-haired icons form colonies of up to 300 bats, creating real Pink Batty Clubs in caves across the Americas. Next time you see a bat After Midnight, remember: She’s not just serving looks wearing glitter and lashes, she’s serving the ecosystem. Bats are unsung pop stars devouring pests, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. She gets the job done! Good luck, babe! Help Chappell Flown ascend to stardom in the Bat Beauty Contest. Cast your vote for your favorite Round 3 contestant ➡️ ow.ly/jBl35100NXy 📸: Photos courtesy of Jose G. Martinez-Fonseca, Wildlife Photographer @Bat_Week @BatConIntl @USFWS @Interior

Round Two winner: Ryan GosWING! 🦇✨ Ryan GosWING is soaring into the semifinals! This dashing pallid bat outflew Dolly BATton, our western small-footed superstar, to secure his spot alongside Guano Reeves. The competition is getting fierce! These bats are showing off more than just their good looks, they’re truly bat-tling for the crown! 👑 Who will be crowned the ultimate bat beauty? The semifinals are just around the corner, and your votes make all the difference! We still have four fabulous bats waiting in the wings, so don’t miss tomorrow morning’s matchup for round 3. Keep cheering for your favorites and stay tuned for more batty excitement! 🏆🦇 📸: Pallid Bat, BLM OR-WA, Emma Busk

Welcome to Day 2 of our Bat beauty Contest! Today, we introduce Dolly BATton, a western small footed bat, and Ryan GosWING, a Pallid Bat! Let’s get it going..... Ya’ll, put your paws together for Dolly BATton, our western small-footed bat with a voice for the ages and wings made for stardom! Working 9-5? Dolly’s working dusk to dawn! This tiny night flyer takes to the skies to hunt insects like moths, flies and beetles. She may have small feet, but she’s got some big-time talent, using echolocation to navigate and find her next meal. Talk about a little lady with a whole lot of range! Ryan Goswing knows he’s more than Kenough to win this contest. Pallid bats like Ryan aren’t just pretty faces, they’re also talented pollinators of cacti and agave. They hunt primarily by sound, using their large ears to listen for prey moving on the ground. To support pallid bats and ensure they never need to throw a Hail Mary, please be aware of your noise pollution levels when recreating on public lands where this special species is known to live. Can you feel the Kenergy? Cast your vote here blm.gov/programs/wildlife/ba… Who will join Guano Reeves and move on to the semi-finals? Photo one: Western small-footed bat, BLM MT-DAKs photo Photo Two: Pallid Bat, BLM OR-WA, Emma Busk @Bat_Week @BatConIntl @USFWS @Interior

And the winner is… GUANO REEVES! 🦇✨ Our Bat Beauty Contest has its first champion, and Guano Reeves is soaring to new heights! This Townsend’s big-eared bat outflew the Three MusketEARs, claiming victory and moving on to the next round. The MusketEARs gave it their all, but Guano was destined for Bat-Stardom! Can you handle the suspense? Stay tuned for the next matchup and keep cheering for your favorite furry flyers! Next round begins at 8 a.m. MST, Sunday, October 25! Who will join Guano Reeves in the semi-finals? 🏆 Remember, bats are more than just adorable faces. These winged wonders help control insect populations, keeping our public lands healthy and thriving.

Happy Bat Week! 🦇 Celebrate with us by voting for the cutest bats of 2026 in our annual Bat Beauty Contest! Check in each day for new matchups and cast your vote for your favorite bat contestants. The excitement builds all week, and the winner will be revealed on Halloween! Voting starts now, so get ready to join the fun and help us crown this year’s bat champion! First up, we have a standoff of the Townsend’s big-eared bats, The Three MusketEARs vs. Guano Reeves. All for one, and one for all! Today we introduce the Three MusketEARs, a trio of Townsends’ big-eared bats ready to swoop in and steal your hearts! En Garde! These bats are ready to duel for the crown! Who needs swords? Guano Reeves knows kung fu. Jiu jitsu. He is a bat of focus, commitment, sheer will. Will you take the blue pill and remain the same, or take the red pill and wake up to the reality that this little guy is your favorite? With their signature oversized ears and agile flight, Townsend’s big-eared bat are true icons of the western night skies. 🦇 From the arid desert scrub to the cool pine forests, they quietly emerge after sunset, using expert echolocation to track down moths and other insects. During winter, Townsend’s big-eared bats hunker down in caves and abandoned mines, relying on undisturbed roosts to safely hibernate. Sadly, their populations have declined in many areas due to habitat disturbance. Protecting their roosting sites is key to ensuring these unique bats continue to thrive. With their impressive ears and nighttime navigation skills, Townsend’s big-eared bats are always ready to impress, especially in any bat beauty contest! These bats have one mission: to win your vote! Will you stand with the Three MusketEARs, or will Guano Reeves capture your heart? Voting will be done on our website this year! Click the vote now button and cast your vote! ➡️blm.gov/programs/wildlife/ba… Photo one: Three Townsend’s big-eared bats, BLM Nevada, Rebecca Urbanczyk Photo two: Townsend’s big-eared bat, BLM Utah, John Larsen @BatConIntl @Bat_Week @USFWS @USInterior

The wait is almost over, Bat Week is about to take flight! 🦇✨ Our Bat Beauty Contest kicks off tomorrow morning, and the contestants are ready to wow you with their fabulous fur, show-stopping ears, and unique personalities. But remember, these winged wonders are more than just adorable faces! Bats are true ecosystem heroes, devouring insects, protecting crops, pollinating plants, and spreading seeds. They work hard behind the scenes to keep our landscapes healthy and thriving. 🌱 Now it’s their time to shine! Meet the contestants and get to know the bats before the first round of voting opens Saturday morning. Who will win your heart (and your vote)? May the best bat win! 🏆 Meet the contestants here: ow.ly/NpcG5100BEM Get ready to cast your vote, bat fans! 🦇💫 📸: Corynorhinus bat, Courtesy of Jason Corbett, Bat Conservation International. @BatConIntl @Bat_Week @USFWS @Interior

More trails, more ways to explore! 🚴‍♂️🌄 We’re thrilled to announce the completion of the North Fruita Desert Trails Master Plan, with the grand opening of K2-Play, a brand new, 3-mile mountain biking trail along the stunning Book Cliffs. This milestone marks the final phase in a nearly 30-mile expansion of the 18 Road trail system, made possible by years of teamwork among public land managers, local partners, trail builders, and dedicated volunteers. This project is a shining example of how partnerships can create new recreation opportunities, boost local communities, and ensure our public lands remain accessible and vibrant for generations to come. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just starting out, there’s something for everyone to discover! Ready to hit the trails? Learn more about this exciting project and plan your next adventure ➡️ow.ly/lky450ZZTuI

Get ready, Bat Week is almost here! 🦇✨ That means it’s nearly time for our annual Bat Beauty Contest, where YOU get to vote for the cutest bat of 2026. Hoary Potter, our charming 2024 Bat Beauty Contest winner, is ready to hand off the crown to this year’s champion—who will it be? The contest kicks off October 24, so stay tuned and prepare to cast your vote for your favorite bat! Bat Week is an international celebration dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of bat conservation. Bats play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy, from eating insects to pollinating plants. Let’s show some love for these amazing creatures and help spread the word! Don’t miss your chance to participate, mark your calendars and join the fun! Learn more about Bat Week and how you can get involved ➡️ batweek.org @BatConIntl

Celebrating 80 years of the Bureau of Land Management and 50 years of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)! 🎉 Did you know BLM’s roots stretch all the way back to 1812? Over the decades, our mission has evolved to manage public lands for multiple use and sustained yield, balancing energy production, grazing, recreation, and local economies while caring for America’s landscapes. As we honor America’s 250th anniversary, we celebrate the people, history, and public lands that help define our nation. Together, we’re committed to sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of these landscapes for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Thank you for being part of this journey! 🌄 youtu.be/wtN2FzJP9n4?si=u-47…

Everyone deserves a chance to explore, connect, and find adventure on America’s public lands! 🌄 The All Americans Outside Initiative is working to expand access by pinpointing where new recreation opportunities and accessibility improvements can make a real difference for underserved communities. Ready to plan your next outdoor adventure? Discover accessible trails, scenic spots, and more using our interactive map! Whether you’re hiking, biking, camping, or simply soaking in the views, there’s a place for everyone. Let’s break down barriers and ensure our public lands are welcoming for all. Explore, enjoy, and help us build a more inclusive outdoors! 🏞️ Find your next opportunity here: blm.gov/programs/recreation/…

What a day in California’s Imperial Valley! 🎣 Over 100 community members joined @BLMca for the second annual Fishing Derby Cast and Clean-up, blending outdoor fun with hands-on stewardship. Families and first-time anglers cast their lines, reeled in memories, and helped keep our public lands clean for all to enjoy. 🌱 Events like this highlight the power of partnerships and community spirit—opening doors for more Americans to get outside, discover new recreational opportunities, and become stewards of the landscapes we all cherish. Together, we’re making a difference one cast and one clean-up at a time! Read the full story ➡️ blm.gov/blog/2026-10-13/blm-…

On National Public Lands Day this year, BLM Wyoming staff, dedicated volunteers, and local partners joined forces to enhance access and preserve history at the Three Corners Monument and the Tri-Territory Marker near Farson. 🏞️ From repairing fencing and turnstiles to improving roads and entryways, these hands-on projects highlight the power of teamwork in caring for America’s public lands. Together, we’re protecting the special places that connect us to our shared heritage and inspire future generations. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed their time and expertise! Your efforts make a lasting impact on the landscapes we all cherish. 💚 Discover more about these inspiring projects: ow.ly/uZ8s50ZYuam

Who will be crowned the “Bat-tiest of Them All”? 🦇 Our Bat Beauty Contest is almost here, and the contestants are hanging out, prepping their best wing styles and fang-tastic looks! Get ready to swoop in and vote for your favorite bat starting October 24th. Will it be a dazzling fruit bat or a mysterious night flyer that wins your heart? The winner will be revealed on Halloween Day—so don’t miss out on the fun! 🦇✨ Stay tuned for profiles, photos, and plenty of batty puns. Let’s celebrate the charm, diversity, and importance of these incredible creatures together! Your vote could help decide which bat takes home the title. 🏆 Ready to go batty for beauty? Mark your calendars and join the fun! 📸: Myotis Thysanodes Cluster by Shawn Thomas, @BatConIntl

Celebrating 50 years of stewardship! 🌟 On October 21, we mark the golden anniversary of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the cornerstone of how we care for America’s public lands. Since 1976, FLPMA has shaped our approach to balancing outdoor recreation, energy development, livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and cultural heritage. Thanks to this landmark law, we continue to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of our landscapes for all. As we honor FLPMA’s legacy, we’re also looking forward to embracing new opportunities and challenges in the next 50 years of public land management. Together, we can ensure these treasured places remain vibrant and accessible for generations to come. Join us in celebrating at the BLM/Utah State University FLPMA 50 Symposium on October 21! ow.ly/Q8Jf50ZXKfq Let’s reflect, connect, and inspire the future of our public lands. 😊 📸: San Rafael Swell, @BLMUtah photo