Indiana Bat

Indiana bat

 		 There are many things that distinguish bats in the animal world. Bats are the only mammals capable of flight. For mammals, they are an evolutionarily old group with fossil records dating back 50 million years.

The Indiana bat is one of 13 bat species recorded in Ohio. It is a rare species, and is listed on both the state and federal endangered species list. It was not until 1974 that the first maternity colony was discovered in Indiana. Like little brown bats (to which they bear a close resemblance), Indiana bats migrate to caves south of Ohio to hibernate.
 

Indiana Bat
Myotis sodalis

At-a-Glance

• Mating: Polygamous

• Peak Breeding Activity: September and October

• Gestation Period: Approximately 49-56 days

• Migration Patterns: Seasonal resident. Indiana bats live in small summer colonies in the state. They home in on site-specific locations to roost. Little is known about the dispersal of young. The bats migrate south to caves for the winter.

• Feeding Periods: One hour or two after sunset and before sunrise.

• Typical Foods: Insects, especially small soft-bodied moths, beetles, flies, and caddis flies that are trapped under closed tree canopies over small streams.

• Ohio Status: Endangered
Description
The back of the Indiana bat appears uniformly dark brown, often with a distinctive pinkish or chestnut color. However, individual hairs are actually tri-colored, which helps differentiate them from the little brown bat that they closely resemble. The wing membranes are dark brown. This similarity in appearance to the little brown bat can make the two species difficult to distinguish.

Habitat and Habits
In winter, Indiana bats live in caves and abandoned mines which provide and maintain a cool and stable temperature. Male and female Indiana bats then segregate in the summer. It is assumed that male bats roost alone or live in small bachelor colonies. Females nest under loose bark of exfoliating trees or in tree hollows.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Although sperm is transferred to the female during copulation that occurs in the fall, ovulation and fertilization of the egg are delayed until the females arouse from hibernation the following spring. During the summer, females form maternity colonies, almost always under the loose bark of trees or in tree cavities. Maternity colonies usually consist of fewer than 100 females.