General Habitat:: A midwestern and eastern species, the Indiana bat can occur in the northwestern third of Georgia and possibly parts of South Carolina. There is a single record in Georgia, from a cave in Dade County. The species is listed as endangered for South Carolina, although there is no record siting for the state. The Indiana bat is a cave dweller and hibernates near the entrance of caves. Northern populations migrate to the limestone cave areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and West Virginia. Two caves in Kentucky and a mine in Missouri house 90% of the known U.S. population.
During winter, Indiana bats hibernate in dense masses on cave ceilings where they may number up to 100/ft2 (900/m2). Indiana bats mate in April before they disperse over a wide area that includes Georgia and, possibly, South Carolina. During summer, populations are less vulnerable because they do not use caves. Females roost with their young under the loose bark of trees. The major causes of decline seem to be disturbance of caves by people, including vandalism, commercialization and careless visitors. Pesticides are also implicated in their decline.
The Indiana bat forages along river and lake shorelines and above crowns of
trees in flood plains. It feeds on moths, beetles, flies, caddis flies and other
insects
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General Description:The Indiana bat is 3-3.5in (7.6-9.0cm) long with a wingspan of 9.5-10.5in (24.0-26.7cm). Fur is dark gray to chestnut colored and fine textured with a pinkish gray undercover.
