HANNIBAL PARKS & RECREATION Most of the over 250,000 Indiana bats have returned to the Limekiln Mine at Sodalis. There might still be some mating going on but they are also moving further into the mine to find their winter homes. As temperatures drop and insects become scarce, the bats will lower their body temperature to 48-50 degrees, the same that is inside the mine, slow their heart rate and breathing, and go into a torpor state to conserve their energy. They will come out of torpor occasionally over the winter to drink water or even change location but they do not eat and must live off the fat reserves they have built up over the summer. This is why it’s so important to leave bats alone in the winter. If they come out of torpor too often, they use up their energy reserves before spring and can die. The full program is approximately 2 hours and covers a 2 mile paved loop with a steep incline. Participants have the option to return sooner as desired. Please register as space is limited.