The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) is a federally endangered species found mostly in Indiana and the surrounding states. It spends winters in Indiana hibernating in caves and mines where it can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because it has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio. Indiana is their only known wintering ground.
- Status: Endangered
- Known as: Indiana Bat.
- Estimated numbers left in the wild: 244,000.
The bat population is estimated at 244,000. Most are spread out across Indiana, with some found as far north as Ohio and Pennsylvania during the summer months.
Though not much research has been done on the specific reasons for this decline, many factors could be contributing to its endangerment, including habitat loss due to agriculture, old-growth forest logging, and mining; disturbance of hibernation sites; White-Nose Syndrome (WNS); and wind energy development.
The bat was first listed as federally endangered in 1967. The hibernating bats are one of four species living in Indiana.
Description

A tiny winged insectivore from the central United States, the bat is about 5 centimeters long, has a wingspan of around 25 centimeters, and weighs 4 to 10 grams. The fur of this bat is dark brown to black, sometimes with a grey tinge. It is otherwise a typical bat in outward appearance.
Bats mate in the fall, usually in October and November. The bats form mating colonies of 50 to 100 individuals. Females give birth to a single pup in June or July and nurse it until it can fly independently, which takes about six weeks.
In Indiana, the bat is considered endangered. The main reason for this is its declining population. In the 1970s, it was estimated to have a population of around 1 million. However, by the early 2000s, that number had decreased to 300,000. There are several reasons for this decline.
Location
Bats are found throughout the eastern and central United States, though, as their name suggests, a large concentration is found in Indiana. Other major populations are New York, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri.
In summer, bats live in forested areas near watercourses where many insects are available. In winter, they hibernate in caves and sometimes abandoned mine-shafts.
Anatomy and Appearance

The Indiana bat is small, measuring only 3 to 5 inches long, with a wingspan of 8 to 9 inches. It has reddish-brown fur on its back and is lighter underneath.
The Indiana bat’s most distinguishing feature is the black membrane that stretches from its nose across the eyes and covers the entire ear. This membrane called the “myotis” or “mouse-eared” membrane, gives the Indiana bats its common name.
The bat is the only species of bat found in Indiana. It is also found in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
The Indiana bat is a migratory species that spends winters in Indiana, hibernating in caves and mines. Because of its larger surface area, the Indiana bat can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats.
Habitat

Indiana bats live in Indiana as well as a few other southern states. Indiana is an important habitat for bats because they spend their winters there. Indiana is the only known wintering ground for bats.
Indiana is the only known wintering ground for the bat species, and it’s critical to preserve its caves and mines, which provide protected upland habitats during the winter.
Human development has lost or altered some of Indiana’s caves and mines. Still, some have been preserved by state parks, nature preserves, and private landowners who create artificial hibernacula from unused buildings.
Those sites are monitored periodically to see if the Indiana bat population is healthy enough to return to those sites for hibernation.
In winter, Indiana bats retreat to caves in huge numbers. They will only live in caves with particular internal conditions, including temperatures below 10 C but above 0 C. This limits their hibernation habitat to a minimal selection of caves and old mines.
They hibernate for roughly half the year, living off their fat reserves. Young bats are raised during the summer months under the bark of dead trees, whereas many as 100 females may gather in a maternity colony to raise their young. Bats may live up to 20 years in the wild, but a lifespan of 14 years is more typical.
Indiana Bat Diet and Nutrition
Indiana bats’ diet includes insects, such as moths and beetles. The bat is not a picky eater and will eat what it can find.
The species is a great advantage for humans because Indiana bats can eat bugs that we cannot. This bat prefers to eat flying insects while they are still in flight, but it will also eat insects on plants and the ground.
During the summer, the bats consume huge numbers of insects at night, hunting their quarry with the help of echolocation and eating up to half their weight every night. Mosquitoes, moths, midges, beetles, and other night-flying insects are all consumed by this bat.
When daylight comes, the bat retreats beneath the loose bark of dead or dying trees and sleeps. These bats consume many insects that are harmful to humans or their crops and perform a valuable role in controlling insects for the overall ecological balance.
Indiana Bat Mating Habits

The bat is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning the males and females look different. The male Indiana bat is significantly larger than the female and has a dark brown to black coat. The female bat is smaller and has a light-colored coat. Indiana bat babies are the color of the female Indiana bat.
People who study bats saw that Indiana bats hibernated in caves and mines where they could tolerate low temperatures better than other species because they have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.
Scientists studying bats noticed hibernating bats were disappearing from hibernation sites during the winter. This disappearance was abnormal, so they studied the bat hibernation habits.
Mating season for bats is typically in late winter or early spring, right before they migrate to their summer roosting sites. Bats mate in groups, and the males compete with each other for the opportunity to mate with the females.
After mating, the males will leave, and the females will give birth to one or two young bats. The young bats stay with their mother until they can fly and fend for themselves, which is usually a few weeks. Indiana bats rely on their mothers for warmth and protection; without them, the bat babies will not survive long.
Maternity Colonies
Protecting their maternity colonies is one of the most important aspects of bat conservation. A maternity colony is a group of female bats that give birth to their young in one location. They typically give birth in the late spring or early summer, so bat surveys occur from May through July.
They like making maternity colonies in large, open-ceiling areas in caves and mines. They choose these spaces because they are the most protected from the elements and predators. Bats raise their young for about 45 days before hunting at night, then return to the colony to rest before sunrise.
Indiana bats are extremely important for the health of our environment. Bats consume large quantities of insects, including many pests that can damage crops. A single bat can eat up to 3,000 mosquitoes in one night! Indiana bats also play an important role in pollinating flowers and trees.
Indiana Bat Group Structure

The Bat is a monophyletic Group. It is monophyletic because it has traits that are different from other groups.
For example, bats cannot fly well and are not very agile in the air like other bats. Indiana is home to four different species of bats.
Indiana’s state bat is a federally endangered species found mostly in Indiana and surrounding states in summer and autumn. During winter, it hibernates in caves and mines in Indiana, where it can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because it has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.
This makes Indiana its only known wintering ground.
Indiana Bat Role in the Ecosystems
The Indiana bat plays a very important role in Indiana and the surrounding areas and is important for Indiana’s ecosystem.
Thanks to its four different species of bats, Indiana has a very high biodiversity and is home to the bat, one of the most endangered animals in Indiana. The Bat is also ecologically efficient, eating up to 600 grams of insects every night.
Bats are ecologically efficient because they can better adapt to changes in their habitat. Due to their low body weight, they can recolonize new habitats.
Indiana also has many caves with large numbers of these big brown bats, which benefit Indiana’s ecosystem because they eat up to 600 grams of insects.
Indiana Bat and Human Relationship
The bat has had a long and complicated relationship with humans. They were once one of the most common bats in Indiana, but their population has declined significantly in recent years. There are several reasons for this decline, including habitat loss, white-nose syndrome, and wind turbines.
Wind turbines have been a particularly controversial issue for bats. Indiana bats are attracted to turbines because they look like tall trees, and the blades have killed many bats.
Some companies have started building “bat houses” near the turbines to protect the bats. While this is a step in the right direction, more must be done to protect Indiana’s state bat.
Indiana Bats vs Other Bat Species
The bat is one of four distinct bat species found in Indiana. It is a federally protected species, indicating that it faces an imminent risk of extinction.
The three additional bat species in Indiana are not under any conservation threat. They hibernate in caves and mines during the cold winter, which is why they can survive in colder climates than other bats. Indiana is the only state where bats sleep throughout the winter.
There are many reasons that Indiana bats are endangered. First, Indiana is one of the only places where bats hibernate during the winter. Bats live largely in Indiana and surrounding states, but Indiana is the only state where they are known to hibernate over winter.
If bat populations were lost in Indiana, it would be very difficult for them to repopulate because Indiana is the only place where bats like to hibernate.
Second, Indiana bats are endangered because they need safe, well-protected roosting places from people and other animals. Bats have a very specific habitat preference, so they will not move into a cave or mine without the right conditions.
They hibernate in caves and mines where the temperature is stable, and they are well protected from people and other animals. If Indiana bats cannot find a safe place to roost, they will not survive.
Third, Indiana bats are also endangered because of their low population size. Bats have a low population size because they only mate once a year, and the female Indiana bat only gives birth to one baby bat per year.
Indiana bats are also killed by people and other animals when they are outside of their hibernation caves.
Fourth, Indiana bats are endangered because they are susceptible to many diseases. They can catch diseases from other animals that they interact with, like birds, raccoons, and skunks. Indiana bats are also susceptible to the disease White-nose syndrome, which kills many other bat species in Indiana and the surrounding states.
Indiana Bat Facts
Here are the interesting facts about Indiana bats
- The Indiana bat is a state bat.
- Indiana is home to four different species of bats, and the Indiana Bat is one of them.
- They are federally endangered and it primarily inhabits Indiana and other surrounding states.
- These species are federally endangered
- These species spend their winters hibernating in caves and mines
- Indiana bats have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio that makes them able to tolerate low temperatures better than other species
- Indiana is the species only known as wintering ground
- This tiny species of bat has a wingspan of 9 – 12 inches and weighs about 3/4 of an ounce.
- Indiana bats roost in trees and in the leaves of other bats, such as Indiana’s state tree, sugar maples, Indiana’s state animal, Indiana’s state insect, and more.
Conservation Status

The Indiana bat is on the verge of extinction as an endangered species. Four species of bats live in Indiana. The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a federally endangered species that hibernates in Indiana mines and caves. Their high surface-area-to-volume ratio allows them to survive colder temperatures than other bats.
The Indiana bat was once common throughout Indiana and the eastern United States, but its populations have declined drastically in recent years. It is threatened by loss of habitat, disturbance while hibernating, and White-nose Syndrome.
The Indiana bat is listed as a federally endangered species, and several programs are in place to help protect it. It is also protected under the Indiana Endangered Species Act. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is working with landowners to create conservation areas and restore habitat for the Indiana bat.
See Related: Fascinating Facts About Conservation
Threats
The Indiana Bat has only reproduced in the Indiana area for the past 20 years. This winter, there are fears that this species will not be able to survive because many of Indiana’s mines have been closed over the past years.
Four different species of bats live in Indiana, and during hibernation, they need either caves or mines to live in.
Alternative habitats have been built for these other three species. Still, no work has been done on building an alternative habitat for the Indiana bat because they reproduce mainly through mating with close relatives- something very rare among mammals.
It is time for work to start being done to help protect this fragile species of bat found mostly in Indiana.
Habitat Loss
Habitat loss and fragmentation are natural threats to bats. These bats require forested land, and logging or other land “improvement” projects can seriously affect the local availability of suitable living spaces.
Furthermore, insecticides and pesticides likely poison many of these bats, in addition to reducing the number of insects available in certain areas during the summer.
Human activity also directly threatens these bats. Cave tours to view bats can be highly destructive despite the essentially benign intentions of those on them.
Indiana bats dislike disturbances while hibernating and move to another spot, putting large numbers at serious risk during a cold season when their food is lacking.
Attempts to shield the bats by building gates in the cave mouths can also be harmful if built improperly – dangerously changing conditions inside the cave or accidentally excluding the bats they are meant to protect.
White-nose Syndrome
White-nose Syndrome is a fungal infection that has killed millions of bats since it was first discovered. White-nose syndrome is a disease associated with bats in Indiana. It is caused by the destruction of the fungus Geomyces.
Indiana bat populations have been affected by the growth of white-nose syndrome. These species hibernation sites are also at risk for degradation because of Indiana bat white-nose syndrome.
See Related: Endangered Species in California
Conservation efforts
Indiana bats are fully protected by law, harming, harassing, or killing the animals being specifically illegal. Gates are built in some critical cave mouths to keep people from entering and disturbing the hibernating bats.
The Conservation Fund and other organizations are also working to extend fully protected areas where the bats can live undisturbed. At the same time, educational outreach programs acquaint people with the beneficial behavior of these bats and the reasons why they are an important natural heritage that should be preserved.
Organizations
Organizations that help conserve Indiana bats include the Indiana Natural Heritage Database, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bat Cave Preserve Commission, Indiana Biodiversity Knowledgebase, and Bat Working Group.
Indiana Natural Heritage Database
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Indiana Bat Conservation Program conserves hibernating Indiana bats. Indiana has two main strategies to conserve the bats:
- Gather information about the bats so that Indiana can better protect them.
- Reduce or eliminate human-caused mortalities of these bats.
The Bat Conservation Program examines Indiana bat populations, monitors their status, and documents bat activities. The INDNR collaborates with other agencies to protect endangered species, develop critical habitats, and conduct research on Indiana bats’ biology and ecology.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is also funding I conservation. The Indiana Bat is the only Indiana mammal on the Indiana Threatened Species List. The Indiana Bat is Indiana’s state bat. Indiana is home to four different species of bats.
They are Indiana’s only native land mammal. Their populations have declined by about 97% since 1960 because people living near caves where Indiana bats hibernate started spraying household insecticides, especially in the 1950s and early 1960s when DDT use was high.
It spends winters in Indiana hibernating in only a few caves and mines, where it can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because it has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.
Indiana Bat Cave Preserve Commission
The Indiana Bat Cave Preserve Commission is a government entity created to protect Indiana bats. The commission is responsible for managing and administering the Indiana bats cave preserve, dedicated to conserving the endangered Indiana bat.
The commission is also responsible for working with landowners to protect the brown bat’s habitat. Do you know of or are you a part of an organization that works to conserve the Indiana Bats? Then please contact us to have it featured on Our Endangered World.
Final Thoughts

Indiana bats are the state bat. Indiana is home to four different species of bats. Indiana bats spend winters in Indiana hibernating in caves and mines, where they can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because they have a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.
Indiana desperately needs its bats back, so the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is also funding bat conservation.
Indiana is their only known wintering ground. They spend winters in Indiana hibernating in caves and mines, where they can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because they have a higher surface-area to volume ratio.
The Indiana Bat is Indiana’s state bat and is Indiana’s only native land mammal. Their populations have declined by about 97% since 1960 because people living near caves where they hibernate started spraying household insects.
Indiana bats are an important part of Indiana’s ecosystem, and the state desperately needs their return. The Indiana Bat Cave Preserve Commission was created to protect the Indiana bat habitat.
The Indiana Bat Conservation Program involves examining bat populations, monitoring their status, and documenting Indiana bats’ activities by collaborating with other agencies to provide endangered species protection, develop critical habitats, and conduct research on Indiana bats’ biology and ecology.
FAQ
Indiana Bat, why are they endangered?
Indiana is home to four different species of bats. The bat, or Myotis sodalis, is a federally endangered species found mostly in Indiana and the surrounding states.
The bat Conservation Program involves the examination of Indiana bat populations, monitoring their status, and documenting Indiana bat activities by collaborating with other agencies to provide endangered species protection, develop critical habitats, and conduct research on the bats’ biology and ecology.
How do you identify an Indiana bat?
You can identify Indiana bats by the following description: They are a species of free-tailed bat that is endemic to Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee forested areas.
You can typically find a bat near a cave or mine where they feed over the summer months and in their summer habitat. They remain inactive throughout winter hibernation until they return each year in late March or early April.
What do we know about where they live?
The bat spends winters in Illinois hibernating in caves and mines where it can tolerate low temperatures better than other bats because it has a higher surface area to volume ratio.
Are there any Indiana bat preserves?
Yes, the Indiana Bat Cave Preserve Commission is a government entity created to protect bats.
The commission is responsible for managing and administering the Indiana bat cave preserve, which is dedicated to bat conservation. The commission is also responsible for working with landowners to protect the bat’s habitat.
What can I do to help the Indiana bat?
You can contact your local bat conservation group or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to see how you can get involved. You can help in many ways, such as volunteering, donating money, or spreading awareness about the bat.
Indiana Bat Cave Preserve Commission was created to protect brown bat habitat. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is also funding bat conservation.
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