Oregon Pallid Bat Competes for Beauty Contest Title
Local finalist Ryan Goswing aims to secure a fourth consecutive win for Oregon in the national bat competition.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Wildlife
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The Bureau of Land Management has named an Oregon pallid bat, Ryan Goswing, as a finalist in its annual Bat Beauty Contest. If successful, this would mark the fourth consecutive year an Oregon bat has taken the title.
Why it matters
The contest highlights local biodiversity and the unique role of native species like the pallid bat in the regional ecosystem. These bats are known for hunting by gleaning insects from the ground using their large ears.
Ryan Goswing is competing for the 2026 title following a series of eliminations that removed other contestants including Chappell Flown and Dolly Batton. Oregon bats have secured the top prize in each of the last three annual events.
The players
Bureau of Land Management
A federal agency that manages public lands and oversees wildlife conservation initiatives like this beauty contest.
The details
The contest operates through a head-to-head competition format where specific candidates are evaluated against one another. After narrowing the field, the Bureau of Land Management placed Ryan Goswing in the final round to face off against another bat, Batty White. Pallid bats are widely distributed throughout North America, ranging from western Canada down to central Mexico, and are distinguished by their ground-gleaning hunting habits.
Timeline
2022: An Oregon bat won the competition.
2023: An Oregon bat won the competition.
2024: An Oregon bat won the competition.
October 2026: Ryan Goswing competes in the contest final.
The Home Front
The contest is a lighthearted engagement initiative managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It sits alongside other public-interest outreach efforts designed to foster regional appreciation for native wildlife species.
Residents can follow the Bureau of Land Management to see the final contest results as they are announced. You might consider checking your own backyard for native bats, which act as natural pest control by managing local insect populations.
The takeaway
The competition serves as a reminder of the unique wildlife present in the Pacific Northwest. You can track future conservation updates by following the official Bureau of Land Management outreach channels.
Further reading
Learn more about the native species in your area in our Wildlife section.
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Do you support the use of online beauty contests to raise public awareness for local wildlife?
