Indiana bats (myotis sodalis) are federally protected and are only found within North America's western states including areas of Virginia. They were added to the federally protected list in the late 1960's. Human distrubances had caused the decline in population of the Indiana Bat. Bts are a fragile species and all human contact should be avoided with them. Additionally, bats can also can carry rabies and human contact shoud be avoided to avoid possible exposure.
The Indiana bat is a medium sized dull gray bat. It has an average length between 1.5-2" long but has a wing span of 9-11". This relatively small bat weighs less than a quarter ounce. It has mouse like ears with soft dull gray or dark brownfur.
Indiana bats are a social species that hibernate in large colonies often in caves and in large abandoned mines. Mating occurs just before entering the cave before hibernation. Males will wait at the cave entrance and mate with unmated females. The female will store the sperm over winter until the time she ovulates which occurs in the spring once they wake from hibernation. The female will be pregnant for 3 months and give birth to just one pup in late June to July. The pup will be weaned in about 30 days.
The Indiana bat diet consits mostly of flying insects such as moths, flys, stinging insects, and beetles.