Bat Specimens from Woodward Cave at the Smithsonian Institute Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History contains bat specimens of Indiana Bats collected at Woodward Cave in 1929. The were added to the museum by V. Bailey on November 9, 1929. The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a medium-sized, gray, black, or chestnut bat listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It lives primarily in eastern and midwestern states and in parts of the south of the United States. The Indiana bat spends summer months living throughout the eastern United States. During winter, however, they cluster together and hibernate in only a few caves. Since about 1975, the population of Indiana bats has declined by about 50 percent. Based on a 1985 census of hibernating bats, the Indiana bat population is estimated at about 244,000. About 23 percent of these bats hibernate in caves in Indiana. The Indiana bat lives in caves only in winter; but, there are few caves that provide the conditions necessary for hibernation. Stable, low temperatures are required to allow the bats to reduce their metabolic rates and conserve fat reserves. These bats hibernate in large, tight clusters which may contain thousands of individuals. Indiana bats feed entirely on night flying insects, and a colony of bats can consume thousands of insects each night. The range of the Indiana bat overlaps with that of the more narrowly-distributed gray bat (Myotis grisescens), also listed as endangered. The Indiana bat spends summer months living throughout the eastern United Sates. Indiana bats give birth to only one young in midsummer. The young bats are capable of flight in a month. They spend the rest of the summer and fall accumulating fat reserves for hibernation. In the fall, bats congregate in caves and begin a swarming period. During this time, the bats will fly in and out of their cave throughout the night. Mating occurs during swarming period, but females store sperm during hibernation and do not become pregnant until spring. In spring, bats emerge from hibernation and migrate to their summer homes. Females form maternity colonies of up to 100 individuals during the summer. The Indiana bat was listed as "endangered throughout its range" in the Federal Register, March 11, 1967. Reasons for the bat's decline include disturbance of colonies by human beings, pesticide use and loss of summer habitat resulting from the clearing of forest cover. Populations in New York and New England are also threatened by the spread of white nose syndrome.

Bat Specimens from Woodward Cave at the Smithsonian Institute

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History contains bat specimens of Indiana Bats collected at Woodward Cave in 1929. The were added to the museum by V. Bailey on November 9, 1929.

The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is a medium-sized, gray, black, or chestnut bat listed as an endangered species

by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It lives primarily in eastern and midwestern states and in parts of the south of the United States.

The Indiana bat spends summer months living throughout the eastern United States. During winter, however, they cluster together and hibernate in only a few caves. Since about 1975, the population of Indiana bats has declined by about 50 percent. Based on a 1985 census of hibernating bats, the Indiana bat population is estimated at about 244,000. About 23 percent of these bats hibernate in caves in Indiana. The Indiana bat lives in c

aves only in winter; but, there are few caves that provide the conditions necessary for hibernation. Stable, low temperatures are required to allow the bats to reduce their metabolic rates and conserve fat reserves. These bats hibernate in large, tight clusters which may contain thousands of individuals. Indiana bats feed entirely on night flying insects, and a colony of bats can consume thousands of insects each night. The range of the Indiana bat overlaps with that of the more narrowly-distributed gray bat (Myotis grisescens), also listed as endangered. The Indiana bat spends summer months living throughout the eastern United Sates.

Indiana bats give birth to only one young in midsummer. The young bats are capable of flight in a month. They spend the rest of the summer and fall accumulating fat reserves for hibernation. In the fall, bats congregate in caves and begin a swarming period. During this time, the bats will fly in and out of their cave throughout the night. Mating occurs during swarming period, but females store sperm during hibernation and do not become pregnant until spring. In spring, bats emerge from hibernation and migrate to their summer homes. Females form maternity colonies of

up to 100 individuals during the summer.

The Indiana bat was listed as "endangered throughout its range" in the Federal Register, March 11, 1967. Reasons for the bat's decline include disturbance of colonies by human beings, pesticide use and loss of summer habitat resulting from the clearing of forest cover. Populations in New York and New England are also threatened by the spread of white nose syndrome.