Indiana Residents Sought Bat State Mammal Status

Nearly 5,000 residents have petitioned the Indiana General Assembly to formally designate the bat as the state mammal.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Wildlife

Indiana Residents Sought Bat State Mammal Status

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Should your state designate an animal as an official symbol to promote conservation awareness?

Supporters of the Our State, Our Bat movement have gathered nearly 5,000 signatures to urge the Indiana General Assembly to name the bat as the official state mammal. Indiana currently does not have an official state mammal recognized in its statutes.

Why it matters

Proponents hope the official designation will increase awareness for the Indiana bat, which faces significant threats from white-nose syndrome. This fungal disease causes bats to wake prematurely from hibernation, contributing to population declines of up to 90%.

The Indiana bat was originally identified in the Wyandotte Caves in Crawford County. Conservation groups are currently working to manage the species, which suffers from up to 90% population loss due to the Pseudogymnoascus destructans fungus.

The players

Little River Wetlands Project

This conservation organization works to restore and protect wetland ecosystems and supports the petition to name the bat as the state mammal.

Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America

This local conservation advocacy group is among those backing the movement to secure official state status for the bat.

The details

In addition to the petition, organizers launched an Indy Bat Mascot Contest to build community engagement for the cause. The initiative is supported by groups including the Little River Wetlands Project and the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America.

Bat Week occurs from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31, 2026.
The deadline for Indy Bat Mascot Contest submissions is Oct. 31, 2026.
Public voting for the mascot contest runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, 2026.
The winner of the mascot contest will be revealed on Jan. 1, 2027.

Culture Shift

The push to name the bat as the state mammal follows the documented trend of declining bat populations due to white-nose syndrome. This movement mirrors broader societal efforts to use state symbols as a tool for ecological education and species conservation.

Residents can get involved by submitting artwork for the mascot contest before the October deadline. Participating in the upcoming public vote will allow locals to directly influence the campaign's visual identity as it moves toward the legislative session.

The takeaway

Naming a state mammal can be an effective way to focus public attention on critical conservation issues like white-nose syndrome. Interested citizens should monitor upcoming legislative filings to see if the state government adopts the proposal.

What happens next

The public can vote on entries for the Indy Bat Mascot Contest from Nov. 1 to Dec. 1, 2026, with the winner scheduled to be announced on Jan. 1, 2027.