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How Well Do You Know The Indiana Bat?

Myotis Sodalis

What is the Indiana Bat's scientific name?

The Indiana Bat is a small to medium sized bat with grey or brown fur. It has pink underparts and small feet. The Indiana Bat has about a 10 inch wingspan and weighs around 1/4 of an ounce. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 2017) They also have short hairs on their feet as well as small bones that extend outwards from their ankles. (Kentucky Bat Working Group, 2017)

Small to Medium size, dark grey or brown fur, and pink underparts

Do you know what the Indiana Bat looks like?

The Indiana Bat is native to many states in the U.S., including: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia. (USFWS, 2017) Even though Indiana Bat populations are very spread out, estimates have shown that their populations have decreased by nearly half since1967. (USFWS, 2017)

The American Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast

Where does the Indiana Bat live?

The Indiana Bat was first put on the endangered species list on March 11, 1967. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service currently lists the Indiana Bat as endangered. (USFWS, 2017) However, the IUCN Red List has the Indiana Bat as classified as "near threatened" (IUCN, 2017)

1967

When was the Indiana Bat put on the endangered species list?

The Indiana Bat currently lives throughout the midwest and northeast United States. In the winter, Indiana Bat populations in the North migrate to hibernate in caves in the south. As of now, half of the total Indiana Bat population lives in Southern India

What is the Indiana Bat's suspected current location?

During their winter hibernation season, the Indiana Bat needs a cold and moist cave with very specific temperature and humidity conditions. Very few caves meet these requirements, so the Indiana Bat populations are concentrated in a small number of caves. In the summer, the Indiana Bats inhabit a variety of environments, such as forests, where they sleep under tree bark during the day. (Kentucky Bat Working Group, 2017)

Summer: Forests
Winter: Caves

What type of habitat does the Indiana Bat prefer?

Over time, the Indiana Bat population has shrunk substantially due to human disturbances in their homes, habitat destruction, including cave commercialization, and diseases such as white nose syndrome, or "Geomyces destructans". (USFWS, 2017) When humans construct within caves or make changes to the natural characteristics of a cave, the Bats may no longer be able to live in that habitat. (USFWS, 2017) Also, deforestation eliminates the Bat's habitats in the summer, the time in which they reproduce.  
White Nose Syndrome is caused by a fungus found in caves where the Indiana Bats live. (IUCN, 2017) Bats with white nose syndrome may lose their fat during wintertime, fly during daytime, or leave the cave before their hibernation time is over. This disease has a 90-100% mortality rate for the bats that are affected. (WNS, 2017)  
No matter the cause, Indiana Bat populations are very susceptible because of how close together they hibernate. This habit along with the relatively small amount of caves that they live in leaves the Indiana Bat extremely vulnerable. (USFWS, 2017)

All of the above

What has caused the Indiana Bat population to decrease?

https://docs.google.com/a/stoneridgeschool.org/document/d/1w4jabjlpHH3upzmpdxByzb91S3eSlqjYjwLbzyo-i6s/edit?usp=sharing

Yes :)

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How Well Do You Know The Indiana Bat?

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