Why is the Indiana Bat endangered?
• People are moving into the forests where the bats live and cutting down the large, old trees there. The bats make their summer roosts in the gaps between the bark and the tree trunk of these trees. With the trees gone, the bats have no place to rest or live in warm weather. • People are also causing problems in the caves where these bats hibernate in the winter. People may block cave openings, for instance. This changes the temperature, air flow, and humidity of the caves change–and that can be dangerous – even deadly – for the bats. • Pesticides – poisonous chemicals used to kill insects – may be a problem for the bats. That means fewer bugs for the bats to eat. And feeding upon poisoned bugs may allow the poison into the bats’ bodies. • It’s difficult for the Indiana bat population to grow, because female bats give birth to only one baby each year. What’s being done? Protection: The Indiana bat is on the endangered species list. That means it is protected by law from being harmed
