Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE Usage of caves by bats depends upon several factors, two of the most important (which are likely linked) are ceiling temperature/passage humidity and life cycle stage (hibernating and popping out pups). Layered upon the 2 big factors are several smaller factors like ceiling/wall architecture (domes, ledges, etc), cave length, cave depth, passage orientation, passage dimensions, cave streams, cave pools, overall cave architecture, surface topography, dominant surface winds, vegetation encroachment around entrances...it gets messy and complicated quickly! But all of these factors combine (some more than others) to help direct bats to an ideal roost site based upon temperature requirements and life cycle stage (warm moist areas for the naked pups or cool/cold areas for hibernation).
Some bats cluster near entrances while some may be found several km into the passage...it all depends upon the mess mentioned above and what humans have done or are doing to the cave (messing with air flow, disturbing the bats, etc.). Bat caves are very exciting places to investigate and study, although some cavers fell they ruin a perfectly good cave. -----Original Message----- From: Nancy Weaver [mailto:nan...@io.com] Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2008 3:50 PM To: Texascavers@texascavers.com Subject: [Texascavers] bats cats and mice someone mentioned to me a trivial pursuit question regarding what mammal lives in caves? the answer of course is bats . . . which got me to wondering if bats habitually live any further into a cave than the bears, cats etc which use caves as dens. I've personally seen evidence of mice thriving way past the light zone and a climb or two down . . . Nancy --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE --------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit our website: http://texascavers.com To unsubscribe, e-mail: texascavers-unsubscr...@texascavers.com For additional commands, e-mail: texascavers-h...@texascavers.com
