- Scientific Name
- Myotis sodalis
- Family
- Vespertilionidae
- Region
- North America, Nebraska, Rhode Island, USA, North Carolina, Vermont, Florida, Ohio, Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Arkansas, West Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Iowa, Massachusetts, Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Louisiana, New Jersey, Canada, Mississippi, New York, Quebec, Missouri, Pennsylvania
Pronunciation: my-oh-tis so-dal-is
The Indiana Myotis was one of the first bat species in the United States to be recognized as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the federal Endangered Species Act. This listing was largely due to declines recorded at winter hibernation sites in caves which, until very recently, were the only known roosts for this species. It is now known that in summer months, Indiana Myotis roost and rear their young under loose bark or in tree hollows. They are found throughout the Eastern United States from the central Midwest and upper New England states, south to the northern Gulf States and into northern Florida. In the winter, the largest hibernating populations of Indiana Myotis are found in only three states: Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri, where they form large, highly vulnerable aggregations. Human disturbance and alteration of hibernation caves, loss of summer roosting and foraging habitat due to deforestation, and pesticide poisoning have all contributed to the decline of the Indiana Myotis.
Despite protection at overwintering sites, Indiana Myotis populations continue to decrease in several areas of their range, indicating disturbance or loss of summer habitat. Because these bats are roosting mainly under exfoliating bark, their summer roosts are short-lived. A continually emerging mosaic of multi-aged trees needs to become available from year to year which can serve as roost sites. Moreover, like many cavity- or crevice-dwelling bats, Indiana Myotis switch roosts often throughout the summer maternity season. Maternity colonies appear to have at least one “primary roost” that is used by the majority of the colony. Over a dozen different “alternate roosts” may be used by portions of the colony intermittently. One reason for roost switching may be due to differing thermoregulatory needs at different stages of the reproductive process or as a result of environmental deviations from normal climatic patterns.
Indiana Myotis may also switch roosts due to increased parasites or unstable food resources brought on by drought or unusually heavy rains. Much more investigation into the habitat needs of this bat throughout its vast summer range is warranted, including the determination of food habits and foraging behavior. Additionally, this species could benefit from more investigation into the characteristics and densities of maternity roosts to achieve the goal of continued protection and monitoring of key hibernation sites.