I had sent this just to Donna as a reply, but feel that, again, all levity aside, that there is merit in the suggestion of one person to coordinate cave closures or not, for all three agencies, if this is even possible.....You can't close just some of the caves, leaving others open such as Carlsbad, with the huge bat population there. It doesn't make sense, nor is it productive, or conducive to understanding the problem of the spread of WNS. I do not advocate the closing of the caves due to WNS-BUT, if is coming to that, then close all the caves, for the reasons stated below. Carl......
Begin forwarded message: > From: Carl Pagano <pagan...@comcast.net> > Date: April 29, 2011 10:46:42 AM MDT > To: dhum...@blm.gov > Subject: Re: [SWR] Fw: Carlsbad Caverns National Park Announces Cave Closures > > I had suspected that. Years ago, I helped put in the bat gate. > > All levity aside, it would be prudent, and look a lot better, if the > agencies, i.e. NPS, FS, and BLM, got together for a coordinated effort.. > Doing this piecemeal looks bad and is not a scientific method for determining > the spread of WNS. Either close all the caves, including Carlsbad, or leave > all of them open. Bats, are intelligent, and will find a new gig if > conditions looks better. You can't stop that. All three agencies should > coordinate and make a decision very quickly to close all the caves or not > close them. > > By closing all caves to human traffic, a more scientific determination can > be made as to the spread of WNS, i.e. if you still see the spread of WNS, > then you can prove beyond any doubt that it wasn't because of human traffic. > > Carlsbad is the kicker,....people come from all over the country to see > Carlsbad. This has an obvious big impact on the City of Carlsbad. How do you > close an entire National Park, at least on the inside? > > I wonder what the percentage is of people who come from back east where > WNS is prevalent? Remember too, that spores are almost indestructible, except > with some pretty nasty chemicals. Spores are made by some organisms just so > they can survive in adverse conditions. In some cases producing spores is a > last resort by the organism to survive. > Understand, that I am not a scientist. I work in a hospital, where we deal > with spores and contamination often. Unfortunately, the only thing that kills > spores is something severe, like a 409, or simple soap and water, which is > impractical in a cave environment. > > Seems that this issue needs to be settled, with all three agencies involved > in a coordinated effort. > A suggestion, as has been done in the past with other issues, would be to > appoint one person to direct all three agencies regarding WNS and what to do > about it. Doing this piecemeal looks foolish, non-productive, and is not > compatible with any scientific method, nor does it promote true scientific > study. > Carl...... > > On Apr 29, 2011, at 7:30 AM, dhum...@blm.gov wrote: > >> Carl, >> Yellowjacket is closed. >> ________________________________ >> Donna Hummel >> Deputy Chief, Office of External Affairs >> USDI, Bureau of Land Management >> New Mexico State Office >> 301 Dinosaur Trail >> Santa Fe, NM 87508 >> Office: 505/954-2019 >> Cell: 505/660-8528 >> Fax: 505/954-2010 >> Email: dhum...@blm.gov >> >
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