The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in eastern and midwestern states and in parts of the south of the United States. The Indiana bat is gray, black, or chestnut in color and is 1.2–2 inches and weighs 4.5 - 9.5 grams (.16 - .34 oz.). It is similar in appearance to the more common little brown bat but is distinguished by its feet size, toe hair length, pink lips and a keel on the calcar.
Indiana bats live in hardwood forests and hardwood-pine forests. It is common old-growth forest as well as agricultural land like croplands and old fields. Overall, the bats mostly live in forest, crop fields, and grasslands. As an insectivore, the bat will eat both terrestrial and aquatic flying insects like moths, beetles, and mosquitoes and midges.
The Indiana bat is listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It has had serious population decline, estimated to be more than 50% over the 10 years, based on direct observation and a decline on its extent of occurrence.
Read more about Indiana Bat: Description, Distribution, Plant Communities, Major Life Events, Cover Requirements, Food Habits, Predators, Endangered Status
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