Biologists with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) discovered an endangered bat species that had not been captured in the state since 2015.
Indiana bats have been federally endangered since 1967. Biologists found the species while searching the Nantahala National Forest in Graham County for colonies that survived white-nose syndrome (WNS).
“We had recently captured little brown bats, another WNS-susceptible species, in the area and expanded our survey effort in the hopes of catching more little brown bats and possibly other WNS-survivor species,” NCWRC bat biologist Katherine Etchison said.
White-nose syndrome has killed an estimated 6.7 million bats since 2006 and has been especially damaging to bat populations in North Carolina’s mountains.
Despite their name, Indiana bats are native to several eastern states. Wildlife specialists said a single Indiana bat was confirmed in Haywood County five years ago during a roost survey, a method used to identify critical habitat. Mist-netting, by comparison, allows biologists to capture and examine bats by hand.
Bats consume billions of insects each year, providing an important ecological service. Indiana bats can live for about 14 years.