What is the Indiana Bat and why is it important?


The scientific name of the Indiana bat is Myotis sodalist.  Myotis means “mouse ear” and refers to the relatively small, mouse-like ears of the bats in this group. Sodalis is the Latin word for “companion.” The Indiana bat is a very social species and large numbers cluster together during hibernation. The species is called the Indiana bat because the first specimen described to science in 1928 was based on a specimen found in southern Indiana’s Wyandotte Cave in 1904. The Indiana bat is small, weighing only one-quarter of an ounce (about the weight of three pennies). In flight, it has a wingspan of 9 to 11 inches. The fur is dark-brown to black.

Indiana bats hibernate during winter in caves or, occasionally, in abandoned mines. For hibernation, they require cool, humid caves with stable temperatures, under 50° F but above freezing. During the six months of hibernation their stored fat is their only source of energy.

After hibernation, Indiana bats migrate to their summer habitat in wooded areas where they usually roost under loose tree bark on dead or dying trees. During summer, males roost alone or in small groups, while females roost in larger groups of up to 100 bats or more. Indiana bats also forage in or along the edges of forested areas.   To find out more about the Indiana Bat – go to the fish and wildlife link for fact sheet on the Indiana bat  https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/inba/inbafctsht.htm

So why all this information about the Indiana Bat?

We are very excited and proud to announce that Evergreen Conservancy just signed a Conservation Easement with Robindale Energy Services, Inc to protect a 45 acre plot of land that is a potential habitat for this bat. Robindale will continue to own the land but Evergreen holds an easement on the property which will continue in perpetuity, no matter the owner of the land in the future. We will be the stewards of this land and make sure that it continues to stay a protected habitat for the Indiana Bat. If you want to learn more about what an easement is you can find more information at http://conservationtools.org/guides/138

Thanks to Robindale for reaching out to us to work together to protect this land.