Indiana
Indiana’s bats are emerging from hibernation. Here’s why that’s a good thing
UV light may be key to fighting White-nose syndrome
A deadly bat disease continues to spread across Wisconsin, exacting what a Department of Natural Resources official described as a “catastrophic” toll on the state’s cave-dwelling bats. Now, University of Wisconsin researchers think the fungus-killing properties of ultra-violet light, may aid their fight.
Wochit
Bats across Indiana are waking from hibernation and moving out of their caves in search of food.
These flying mammals play a vital role in Indiana’s ecosystem and even its economy. Feeding on beetles, mosquitoes and moths, a single bat can eat half its body weight in insects each night, benefitting Hoosiers out for an evening stroll as well as farmers plagued with pests.
Benefits of Indiana’s bats
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources estimates bats save the country’s agriculture industry more than $3.7 billion each year by acting as a natural pesticide. Not only do they protect plants, but bats help propagate them. The bats in the state pollinate plants and spread seeds, helping sustain a diverse ecosystem.
The state is home to 13 bat species, some hanging around in trees while others finding caves and mines for shelter. Most cave bats in Indiana are listed as state endangered animal and face unprecedented death rates due to white nose syndrome. A majority of Indiana’s migratory tree bats are species of special concern.
What cave-dwelling bats are found in Indiana?
Big brown bat: One of the healthiest populations of bats in the state, big browns primarily roost in trees and structures during the winter and find caves, mines and other structures during the winter. These bats feed on insects and have an impressive 13-inch wingspan. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Eptesicus_fuscus)
Gray bat: Listed as a federal and state endangered species, gray bats find summer and winter roosts in caves and mines. The greatest disturbance for these bats are humans disturbing hibernating colonies. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Myotis_grisescens)
Indiana bat: The first recorded Indiana bat was found in the state’s Wyandotte Cave. They’re listed as federal and state endangered, and in the summer roost in trees, and search for caves and mines in the winter. Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to the species. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Myotis_sodalis)
Little brown bat: These state endangered bats prefer three roosts: day, night and hibernation. These roosts vary depending on the ambient temperature and include anything from buildings and trees to under rocks and in piles of wood. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Myotis_lucifugus)
Northern long-eared bat: These bats are listed as endangered in Indiana and face habitat loss due to timber harvesting. Insecticides are also affecting the food supply. These bats can be found roosting in trees during the summer and caves in the winter. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Myotis_septentrionalis)
Tri-colored bat (pipistrelle): Heavily affected by white-nose syndrome, these bats are listed as a state endangered species. While the individual hairs on these bats are tri-colored, they mostly appear dark yellow. Tri-colored bats roost in trees in the summer and in caves during winter. (More: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pipistrellus_subflavus)
How has white-nose syndrome affected Indiana’s bats?
In 2009, the year before white-nose syndrome was discovered in the state, biologists counted about 220,315 hibernating bats. By 2020, that number dropped about 17% due to the disease.
Tri-colored bats saw the greatest death rate in that time frame, dropping from a population of 1,163 to only about 100. Little brown bat populations declined 89%, big brown bats dropped 47%, and Indiana bats saw the smallest effects, dropping 15%.
Latest research: White-nose syndrome is killing Indiana bats. Colder caves might save the vital bug eaters
Here’s how to help Indiana’s bats
Installing bat boxes can help provide emergency shelters for bats that might need them when proper roosts are unavailable. Planting pollinator gardens are also going to help bat populations, as they support native insects that help sustain bat populations.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk
IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Indiana
Retro Indy: Five years ago Covid confined March Madness to Indiana
Just three days before Selection Sunday in March of 2020, the NCAA announced that March Madness, like so many other events that spring, would be cancelled due to the new virus upending life. The decision marked the first time in tournament history that the final weeks of the college basketball season would not be played, squashing Atlanta’s plans to host the Final Four.
When the following year rolled around, the NCAA decided that March Madness would not succumb to the virus once more.
With a vaccine only on the horizon and hundreds of Americans still dying each day, the organization announced in November of 2020 that while the tournament would go on, it would certainly not be business as usual. All 67 games, NCAA officials said, would be held in one location. Central Indiana was the first choice as Indianapolis had been on tap to host the Final Four April 3-5.
The plan, said NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt in a November 2020 IndyStar article was to present “a safe, responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we’ve experienced.”
In January the NCAA made it official: All games would be played in and around Indianapolis in a modified version of a bubble.
Holding the tournament in one place just made sense, NCAA officials told IndyStar. Unlike in a typical year when a winning team would travel multiple times before the championship, this system would minimize travel, which could inadvertently expose players and coaches to the virus.
Two months later when the tournament kicked off on March 18, 55 of the 67 games were scheduled to be played in Indianapolis venues, such as Gainbridge (then Bankers Life) Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse. Purdue’s Mackey Arena and IU’s Assembly Hall also hosted games.
While the first Covid vaccine had arrived a few months earlier, few people outside of first responders and the most vulnerable had been immunized, so in an effort to avoid large crowds, the Indianapolis sites all capped tickets at 25% capacity. That meant only 17,500 people could attend games at the largest venue, Lucas Oil Stadium. The college arenas allowed far smaller audiences, with IU limiting attendance to 500 people.
A week before the tournament began Marion County Public Health Department officials and Mayor Joe Hogsett asked attendees to make smart public health choices, such as social distancing and obeying the face masks mandate. Referees donned masks as much as possible as did coaches and players on the bench.
The NCAA regularly tested athletes, administering 28,311 tests Covid tests during the tournament, 15 of which came back positive.
Post-mortems after the tournament asked whether the NCAA had made the right call. Two high profile deaths occurred in the aftermath of the tournament — one a University of Alabama superfan who had traveled to Indy for the games and the other a St. Elmo bartender. But proving a direct link between their deaths and the tournament would prove impossible, and some public health experts said the NCAA had done everything it could to protect athletes and fans short of canceling the event.
A study conducted by IU, Regenstrief researchers and others that appeared in August 2021 in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that while mask wearing had theoretically been compulsory, about a quarter of attendees at the games were either not wearing masks or doing so inappropriately. Still, in an IndyStar article about the study Indiana Sports Corps president Ryan Vaughn termed the event “a resounding success.”
The following year, with a vaccine widely available and far fewer daily deaths from the virus, the tournament returned to a typical schedule, concluding in New Orleans’ Ceasars Superdome. More than 69,00 fans attended the final games, according to the NCAA. Local authorities had lifted the mask requirement by this point.
“Last year was about survival. Just having championships in any way, single site, keep everybody safe and be successful,” Gavitt said in an NCAA news release in late April 2022. “I think this year was about advancing.”
Indiana
Federal legislation that Braun calls ‘crazy’ is aimed at Bears and Indiana – Indianapolis Business Journal
Indiana
Record warmth followed by strong storms tonight | March 26, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH-TV) – Strong thunderstorms likely later this evening with all severe weather threats possible. It is going to be warm and windy with record highs today. Much cooler air works into Indiana for the end of the week.
TODAY: Partly cloudy conditions later this afternoon with warm and breezy conditions. It is going to be a beautiful and summer-like day across parts of Indiana. We will look for high temperatures to climb into the lower eighties which will set a new daily high record. The record for today is 80 set back in 1907. Winds will be gusty out of the southwest near 20 to 30 mph.
TONIGHT: A cold front approaches the state bringing a really good chance of strong to severe thunderstorms. A few thunderstorms may develop out ahead of the main line and some of those thunderstorms could contain some large hail along with a tornado risk as well. We are under a level 3 risk of strong storms out of a level 5. So there is confidence that a lot of these storms could reach severe criteria. Threats would be damaging winds and large hail. The tornado risk is low across parts of Indianapolis but it is not zero. A slightly higher risk of tornadic activity is possible in northern sections of Indiana.
Heavy rainfall could also lead to some flooding in parts of the state. Areas may see anywhere between 1 to 3 inches of rainfall.
Best timing on the thunderstorm activity will be anytime after 8:00 p.m. and lasting until Friday morning around 4.
TOMORROW: A few early morning rain showers will be possible on Friday. The main weather story is that it will be much cooler. High temperatures will climb around 49 which is below our normal high of 56. Winds switch direction out of the northeast and it will be a bit breezy at times as well. Low temperatures late Friday night into Saturday morning will drop into the upper twenties.
7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: A chilly start early Saturday morning but we will see lots of sunshine for the afternoon. High temperatures will climb around 52 for the afternoon.
Cloud cover returns on Sunday but it will be dry for the most part. Look for high temperatures to climb into the lower 60s.
Warmer next week with temperatures reaching the low and even middle and upper 70s by the middle part of the week. A dry start on Monday with some scattered showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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