Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

The Indiana Bat

The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), sometimes called the social bat, is currently listed as endangered, primarily due to the destruction of the caves they live in. All bats belong to the Chiroptera order, which literally translates to "hand-wing" in its native Greek. Bats are the only mammal that is able to fly, and there are so many different varieties that over one quarter of all known mammals are bats.

The Indiana Bat is found in the United States in the Midwestern and eastern regions. They are found most often in limestone caves while hibernating in the winter, and they most often return to the same caves year after year. In the summer, they are found near open water, hunting and breeding in the trees nearby.

The Indiana Bat is covered with brownish-gray fur, which verges to reddish-brown or pink on the underbelly. Its nose, lips, and forearms are also a pinkish color, and the wings are brown. They usually only grow to about 3 inches (7.5 cm) and have a wingspan of about 9-10 inches (22-25 cm). The wing membrane connects to the back of the foot, and there are hairs on the feet that don’t completely cover the clawed toes. Bat wings are basically a very large outstretched hand that is covered in membranous skin. The thumb is clawed and free at the top of the wing,

Indiana bats are insect eaters. In the summer, when they are breeding and stocking up for hibernation, they hunt flying insects at night, using their echolocation, or sonar, to help in their hunting. They appear to eat flies, mosquitoes, moths and other insects. In the fall, they begin fat storage in earnest and will begin to gather in caves to hibernate. They still will hunt as long as insects are still active, but they will retreat to their caves to sleep before true winter sets in. . During this hibernation state, the bat’s metabolism slows down so much that, if they are roused before the winter is over, they can waste up to 30 days of their stored up fat. They will, however, rouse themselves for short periods of time to fly and join other groups of bats that are awake.

Reproduction in bats usually starts in October when the bats mate, usually on the roof of their hibernation cave. Sometimes bats will also mate before they travel to their summer homes. The female bats will make maternity colonies close to a water source, usually in a tree, living or dead, beneath loose bark. The females will stay in these colonies until the babies are ready to fly and hunt on their own, which usually takes approximately 30 days. The babies will nurse during this time, clinging to their mother and hanging upside down. They are born completely blind, hairless, and defenseless.

The biggest threat to the Indiana Bat is destruction of caves. Since they return to the same caves every year to hibernate, coming back from summer feeding and breeding grounds to find the cave destroyed leaves the bats homeless. Steps are being taken, especially in Tennessee and Kentucky, where several caves have been listed as a critical habitat.

Further Information on the Indiana Bat:

E-mail info@unitedstatesfauna.com to add your Indiana Bat related website.

Bibliography:
Bats. Encarta Encyclopedia, © 2000.
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. WV DNR - Indiana Myotis Bats, © 1998. Accessed on 08/06/04 at http://www.dnr.state.wv.us/wvwildlife/myotis.htm
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Indiana Bat. Accessed on 08/06/04 at http://endangered.fws.gov/i/a/saa08.html
National Wildlife Federation. Indiana Bat, © 2004. Accessed on 08/06/04 at http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/indianabat/
Missouri Department of Conservation. Indiana Bat, © 2004. Accessed on 08/06/04 at http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/endangered/endanger/bat/