Pennsylvania Center For Environmental Education

What is PCEE
 




Resources for EE
 



Interacting With PCEE
 
Jobs & Volunteering
 

 
Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology
4.7 Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species
Congratulations to
Fayette County: Lyn Davis Carbon County: Beth Sheckler Venango County: Sue Leese and Larry Spencer
York County: Brian Blum and Matthew Ogg
Cumberland County: Katie
Montgomery County: Gloria Brown, Jess Liberatore, Alex Kanoff, R.C. Wainwright, Rebbecca Goldberg, Amanda West, and Abbie Klinghoffer
~ Stuart Hankin, Owen Cleaver, Lauren McGovern
for submitting the correct answer!
The Indiana Bat is endangered largely due to human disturbances during hibernation.
The Indiana bat is a small, non-descript brown bat that is easily confused with the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), a very common Pennsylvania species. Its range includes parts of the midwestern and eastern United States. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, recent surveys in this state have found the Indiana bat in only two caves, five limestone mines and two coal mines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimate that there are 500,000 individuals left in the species throughout its entire range.

~ Indiana Bats hibernate in large, tightly-packed colonies. During hibernation they lower their body temperature and respiration and live off the fat reserves they stored up in the previous months.

~ When a hibernating bat is disturbed by a caver, researcher, or other person, it awakens and causes a ripple effect that eventually wakes up the entire colony. When the bats wake up, they have to increase their metabolism and burn up fat reserves in order to bring up their body temperature.

~ If they are disturbed too many times during hibernation, they will burn too much of their stored energy and will literally starve to death before spring.

OTHER REASONS FOR ENDANGERMENT

 Loss of cave habitat due to cave-commercialization and man-made changes to cave climates. Indiana bats return to the same cave every winter. Visitors touring caves drives bats away, as does changing the cave climate. The bats require caves with temperatures of about 37 to 45 degrees F and high relative humidity. Blocking the entrances or changing the air-flow in these caves changes the climate and makes them an unsuitable place to hibernate. As a result, it is now estimated that 90% of Indiana Bats roost in only 7 caves, making them even more susceptible to disturbance.
Loss of summer habitat. In the summer, maternity colonies roost behind the bark of dead trees in upland forests, floodplains and along stream corridors. Logging may be destroying their habitat.
Possible pesticide poisoning. Since bats in the United States are insectivores, use of pesticides in agricultural areas may be harmful to many bat species.
Intentional vandalism to hibernating sites and to bats.
What can be done to protect the Indiana Bat?
Listing:
The Indiana bat was put on the endangered species list in March of 1967. This forbids people from harming or killing the bat and requires federal agencies to work to protect it. The act requires that a recovery plan is formed describing ways to help the bat survive.
Habitat Protection:
Caves with large hibernating colonies should be protected from disturbance. In Pennsylvania, caves are being fitted with gates that keep people out and do not disrupt air-flow. Protecting forested lands is important in order to provide summer roosting habitat.
Research:
Continually monitoring population levels and habitats is necessary in conserving the species.
Education:
It is important that people learn the truth about bats, aside from all the myths. When folks begin to understand how important these creatures are, they will be more apt to work for their conservation.


Try to name some other endangered species.
Think about some of the reasons they may be endangered and how we might protect them.