I think I read somewhere that WNS has been found in man-made structures. Is that right ?
In my opinion, it would be better to build a permanent concrete structure near cave entrances to encourage bats to repopulate there, one that would be safe for the bats. The beetles and cave crickets could be moved to join them. And it would be easier to collect the guano. After all, bat guano poisons caves and cave water, and makes caving less fun. And what evidence do we have that bats have been using caves before man scared them away from their natural habitats ? Bats are perfectly happy living in the crevices of bridges and trees. Right ? Many people put their animals in outdoor structures. Why not do the same for bats. I bet Mr. Bamberger would agree. http://www.bambergerranch.org/news/images/chirop.jpg Of course, my idea is not new. http://www.batworld.org/wild_sanctuary/wild_sanctuary.html What is new is I am proposing cavers build permanent bat houses near cave entrances to give the bats an easy choice of places to spend the day sleeping. ( They could return to the cave when we are not caving if they really wanted ). Why do bats need access to Honeycreek Cave, for example, when Bracken Bat Cave is so close ? I take the side that certain caves should have gates to keep out the bats. Or at least certain passages should be blocked to keep out bats. Kartchner Caverns for example, Sonora, Midnight Cave, Lake Cave ( Slaughter Canyon ), caves with sensitive troglobitic aquatic life. In return, other caves could be set up to be only for bat use, like the Fredricksburg Bat Tunnel, etc. Of course, caves with known species that require bat guano, would be exempt from this. But I don't know which caves that would be. Couldn't these creatures be collected and moved to a bat sanctuary where humans are not allowed? David Locklear caver in Fort Bend County --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
