Our State, Our Bat: Indianas Official Mammal Petition

09/20/2026

We are less than a week away! Mark your calendars colony!

Double the Fun: Catch Us at the Indiana Bat Festival & Dobbs Park! 🦇

We are so excited to share that we’ve been invited to the 21st annual Indiana Bat Festival hosted by ISU! If you’re in the area, make sure to come visit our booth.

We will have fun coloring pages for the kiddos, our campaign stickers available, a physical petition sheet, and more! But wait! The fun doesn't stop there!

We will also be heading over to Dobbs Park later that evening for their event too, where we'll have both our stickers and (hopefully) shirts available for sale! 💚🦇

Come hang out with us, grab some gear, chat about our favorite flying mammals, and help us celebrate. We can't wait to see you there colony!

09/19/2026

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🦇 Meet Mosley!

This tiny endangered Indiana bat was found in downtown Indy needing a little help. She’s currently resting, gaining weight, and getting ready to return to the wild soon.

Send her some mealworms by donating at rewildingindiana.org/donate.

09/18/2026

Our State, Our Bat has made the paper! 🦇📰

We are so honored and excited to be featured in the Indiana Daily Student!

Writer Elizabeth Schuth captured the heart of our grassroots movement. From why the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is the ultimate candidate for our state mammal, to the incredible growing network of mayors, conservationists, and supporters across Indiana,(including a special spotlight on Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson’s official support!) who are helping us build toward the 2027 General Assembly.

Whether you've been following along from day one or are just discovering "Our State, Our Bat," this piece does a wonderful job breaking down why protecting our state's only namesake mammal is a win for Hoosier pride, agriculture, and local biodiversity.

Grab a cup of coffee, give it a read, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Read the full article here: https://www.idsnews.com/article/2026/09/indiana-state-mammal-bat-campaign-bloomington-mayor-support

The campaign to make the Indiana bat state mammal.

09/18/2026

The Indy Bat Mascot Contest is now open! 🦇🎨

09/18/2026

Big Cave Country Win for Our State, Our Bat!🦇

We are thrilled to announce that the Central Indiana Grotto has officially stepped up to endorse our campaign!

As a dedicated community of cavers, explorers, and subterranean conservationists, the Central Indiana Grotto knows firsthand how vital Indiana's incredible cave systems and underground ecosystems are.

Their support brings a powerful voice of scientific and subterranean expertise to our movement as we work toward the 2027 General Assembly.

From protecting our natural habitats to educating the public about the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), having our local grotto on board is an absolute honor.

Thank you so much to everyone at the Central Indiana Grotto for standing with us and championing our state's unique natural heritage! 💚

Want to join the movement? Sign our petition and get involved at the link in our bio!

09/17/2026

Voices of the Movement: Petition Comment of the Day! 🦇

We’ve been blown away by the comments you all are leaving on our change.org/BattyForIN petition. We want to start highlighting one each day!

Such a profound truth. Protecting native species like the Indiana bat isn't just about a title, it's about recognizing our deep responsibility to safeguard the intricate ecosystems that keep our state alive and thriving. Thank you, Ara, for capturing the core heart of our mission. 💚🦇

As we continue to share the petition to hit these monthly goals, let’s also push for more comments explaining the why behind the support! These all will be printed and taken with us to the Statehouse this Fall! Let’s not just show the General Assembly our support, but also tell them why we support these little Hoosier Hero’s!

09/17/2026

WE'RE TURNING INDY BAT INTO A CONTEST! 🎨🦇

When we first announced that we were looking for an artist to help bring our mascot, Indy Bat to life, we weren't quite sure what the response would look like.

We were excited to see the interest from artists who reached out and were willing to help us create a mascot for Our State, Our Bat.

But after giving it some thought, we've decided to pivot and open the opportunity up to everyone!
Instead of choosing one artist behind the scenes, we're inviting artists from all over to show us their own interpretation of Indy Bat.

Whether you're a professional artist, a hobbyist, a digital artist, or someone who simply loves Indiana bats and enjoys creating. We want to see what Indy Bat looks like through YOUR eyes.

🦇 SUBMISSIONS: Now through October 31, 2026
🗳️ PUBLIC VOTING: November 1 – December 1, 2026
🏆 WINNER ANNOUNCED: January 1, 2027

The winning design will have the opportunity to become the official Indy Bat mascot as we transition from the Our State, Our Bat campaign into our next chapter of Indiana bat conservation awareness in 2027.

And because we want this to be about the art and the character, not simply who has the biggest following, public voting will be only one part of the selection process. Entries will also be considered using established judging criteria focused on things like Indiana bat representation, Indiana/Hoosier connection, creativity, mascot character, conservation connection, and versatility.

📋 Important: This contest is open to artists 18 and older. Artwork must be original, human-created artwork. Traditional and digital artwork are welcome, but AI-generated artwork will not be accepted.
All of the official rules, artwork requirements, voting information, and submission instructions are included in the entry form.

👉 Ready to bring Indy Bat to life? Enter the contest here: https://forms.gle/JZfbvDCJ7gg9eMop9

We can't wait to see what you come up with. Let's give Indiana's own bat a character of its own!

Stay Batty, Indiana!

09/17/2026

Big News for Our State, Our Bat!🦇

We are beyond thrilled to announce that the Crawford County Recreation and Tourism Department has officially joined our coalition with a letter of support!

As the heart of Indiana’s incredible cave country, and home to the legendary Wyandotte Cave, where the Indiana bat was first discovered by science in 1928, Crawford County knows firsthand how vital our subterranean heritage is.

They understand that designating the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) as our official state mammal isn't just about celebrating our unique wildlife; it’s a wonderful boost for local ecotourism, outdoor recreation, and regional pride.

A massive thank you to the Crawford County team for championing our native species and standing with us as we build momentum toward the 2027 General Assembly!

Want to help us grow the movement? Drop a comment below, join the street team, and add your voice to the petition! 💚

09/16/2026

Voices of the Movement: Petition Comment of the Day! 🦇

We’ve been blown away by the comments you all are leaving on our change.org/BattyForIN petition. We want to start highlighting one each day!

Heck yeah, David! That is the exact kind of high velocity energy we need as we build our coalition for the 2027 General Assembly. Move over, bald eagles and bison…the bat bros have entered the chat. 🦇😎

As we continue to share the petition to hit these monthly goals, let’s also push for more comments explaining the why behind the support! These all will be printed and taken with us to the Statehouse this Fall! Let’s not just show the General Assembly our support, but also tell them why we support these little Hoosier Hero’s!

09/16/2026

Another city has joined the colony! 🦇🏛️

Mayor J.D. Wilson and the City of Sullivan have officially signed on in support of designating the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) as our official state mammal.

Being home to a rich agricultural heritage and deep connections to southern Indiana's unique landscape, Sullivan understands firsthand the incredible economic and ecological value our native bats provide as natural pest control.

Thank you, Mayor Wilson, for standing with us to celebrate Hoosier history, science, and environmental stewardship!

Want your town, business, or organization to join the momentum before the 2027 session? Drop a comment or send us a message to get involved!