Indiana+Bat

Conner Shaw Indiana Bat- Myotis Sodalis Nickname- "social" myotis Description: The Indiana Bat is a mammal. This species is roughly 2 inches (51 mm) in length and weighs about .2 -.3 ounce (6-9 gm). The Indiana bat is uniformly grayish-brown to dark gray in color and often has a pinkish colored nose. The little brown bat has brown fur. Its ears are slightly darker. An Indiana Bat's feet are about 1/3 of an inch in length, with few, if any, hairs. Indiana Bats are usually found in tightly packed clusters. Indiana Bat's live on average for about 10 years. Indiana bats usually have a strict diet of terrestrial and aquatic flying insects (moths, mosquitoes, beetles, etc.). The variation of their habitat determines the variation of their diet. Indiana bats swarm at the entrance of selected caves or mines, in August or early September. This is when mating takes place. Sperm is stored in the female's body and eggs are fertilized in the spring. One young is born to each female.The Indiana Bat give live birth and produces milk for their offspring. Habitat: Indiana Bats are found over most of the eastern half of the U.S. Most Indiana Bats hibernate in places such as Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky. Indiana Bats generally live on the edges of hardwood forests. Males roost in singles or small groups while females roost in groups of up to 100 bats. Indiana Bats migrate to summer roosts after hibernation. This species hibernates in abandoned mines and caves during the winter (300-484 bats per square foot). To hibernate, the bats must find a place that is draft-free and that has a constant winter temperature. Indiana Bats hibernate above ground. Indiana Bats are susceptible to predation to owls, northern raccoons and black rat snakes and disturbance from woodpeckers. Problems: Reasons why the Indiana Bat is endangered include the disturbance of the bat's colonies by humans, loss of summer habitat from the clearing of forest cover, and pesticide use. This causes the number of predators to decrease. As a result, prey of the Indians Bats are increasing. Indiana Bats are not hunted for value or for food. People in New England and New York are becoming susceptible to the spread of white nose syndrome. Solutions: Some steps have been achieved to attempt to save this species from dying off,like HCPs (Habitat Conservation Plans). This includes a development of a multi-species habitat conservation plan for wind energy development in the Midwest (conservation benefits to the Indiana Bats while accommodation wind development). Many plans have been made to conserve this now delicate species, such as the Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment. This plan is attempting to reduce the loss of Indiana Bats during the construction for I-70 Interchange in Indiana. Another plan in place to help the Indiana Bats is the Five Year Review. There are no current breeding programs to increase the Indiana Bat population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is an organization that assists in improving the environment for the Indiana Bat. References: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation- R.W. Barbour, W.H. Davis- http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6972.html [] Wikipedia- Indiana Bat- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_bat Indiana Bat- U.S. Forest Service- http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/wildlife/tes/indianabat.htm Endangered Species- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/index.html