Indiana Bat
The Indiana Bat is a highly endangered mammal species. It is a medium sized bat that has a body length of 1-2 inches and weighs about 9 grams. It has a brownish color and a small pink nose. It also has sharp teeth and a fluffy coat of fur. On this page we will be covering its diet, habitat, reproduction, why they are endangered, what the government is doing about this, and what we can do to help (1,2).
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Wings
The Indiana Bat has a wingspan of about 7 inches. They have long bony wings that they use to flap around. These wings are easily broken or damaged (2).
REPRODUCTION
Indiana Bats mate in fall. The female bat only has one pup per year. Although they have wings, they are still mammals, so, they make milk for they’re babies. Bats also produce inter-sexually. They’re mating sites are disturbed often by humans, which highly effects the population (1).
HABBITAT
Indiana Bats live in dead tree branches (about 15 feet high) in the summer and dark caves in the winter. They mainly live in the eastern part of North America. They like to live by a body of water so, they can get water for their young quickly (2).
FOOD
Indiana Bats mainly eat flying insects that humans consider “pests” like, moths, mosquitos, horse flies, and flying beetles. With these bats endangered, the insect population is rising. (3)
WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Indiana Bats are important because they eat a lot of insects that could be harmful to other animal and humans. Also, they’re waste is good for soil, and helps plants grow. Without bats the world would be a lot different (1, 2).
WHY ARE THEY ENDANGERED?
Indiana Bats are endangered mainly because human disturb their hibernation site and cause them to wake up, which how they can starve and not get enough energy to live because they hibernate in winter, so it is too cold to get food. (1,3)
Another reason why these bats are endangered is because they are affected by a quick spreading disease called White Nose Syndrome. Although the name sounds mild, this disease is wiping out bats everywhere. White Nose Syndrome is a kind of fungus which drains the bats energy and makes them weak, and unable to get food (1, 2 ).
WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS?
Almost nothing. These bats have been on the endangered list since 1967 and the population is only declining. The only thing that they are doing is making sure that the bats are not killed, they are not doing such a good job with this because, they are unaware that even if humans do not physically kill the bats by weapon, the can still disturb their site and harm them in many ways (1).
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THIS CAUSE?
First off, we can spread the word that these bats are endangered and need help. Also we can help protect the forests by donating money to a trusted company.
You can help by building a bat house, go to this website for on how to do it.
www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx (1)
Bibliography
1. Brown Carla National wild life federations, Garden for wild life:Build a bat house, July ,28, 2014.
www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx (1)
2. Madison, mollie, saving the Indiana Bats, center for biological diversity, July 14th 2014 . http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/Indiana_bat/
3. Mcgregor, John, Indiana Bat (myotis Sodalis), Kentucky Bat Working Group, July 14th, 2014 .http://biology.eku.edu/bats/indianabat.htm