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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 7, 2006 17:39:40 GMT -5
Razing of jail could go battyDemolition to force nocturnal animals out of their home Louis Cooper @pensacolanewsjournal.com Thousands of bats are being evicted from their Milton home to make room for a new judge. Demolition of the old Santa Rosa County Jail, adjacent to the courthouse in downtown Milton, is set to begin next week. Since the county stopped using the old jail nearly a decade ago, thousands of bats have taken residence. The land will be used for modular buildings for clerk of the court offices now in the courthouse. The vacated area of the courthouse will be reconfigured for a new courtroom and chambers for the new circuit court judge, who will take the bench in Milton come January. "Basically, everything in the courthouse now that is clerk's offices will go in the modular buildings," said Santa Rosa County Clerk of the Court Mary Johnson. "We may be able to leave the juvenile department in the building (next to the juvenile courtroom)." The departments to be moved include child support, family law, misdemeanor/felony and probate. A file room will be created in the main building to securely keep the records of current cases. Santa Rosa County Administrator Hunter Walker said the demolition, reconfiguration and modular buildings are not expected to top $2 million. The demolition will begin at night, when the bats are out of the building, Walker said. Noise and light are expected to keep them away. "Somebody said there are millions of them, but there couldn't be millions. It's a bunch, however many a bunch is," he said. "It's a sight to see when they all come flying out of there at dusk." Diane Norris, director of animal husbandry at The Zoo Northwest Florida, works with that facility's bat house. "I think they will stay away (from the demolition)," she said. "They will look for someplace dark and quiet to roost." She said people have little to fear from the bats, in case residents find the winged creatures sleeping under their eaves or in their garages. "They eat insects," she said. "They are not vampire bats, and they do not want to suck your blood." www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061007/NEWS01/610070322/1006
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 7, 2006 8:49:37 GMT -5
Bat babies gone; caverns site to reopen- LARRY COPENHAVER, Tucson Citizen Kartchner Caverns State Park's Big Room, closed since April to accommodate bats using it as a maternity ward, reopens Oct. 14. The Rotunda remained open through the period. Rotunda tours run $18.95 for ages 14 and older; $9.95 for ages 7 to 13. Big Room tours are $22.95 for ages 14 and older; $12.95 for those ages 7 to 13. Children 6 and younger are not allowed on Big Room tours. October Kartchner programs: ● Oct. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., learn how bats live and reproduce, what harms them, how they benefit humans and why many revere them. ● Oct. 17, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., learn to make a house to attract bats. Bats are notable consumers of mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects. Full story: www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/28634.php
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 23:24:57 GMT -5
Owls and bats delay hotel planPublished on 06/10/2006 The Cumberland News CONCERNS over bats and barn owls have delayed a planning application for the conversion of the Tarn End Hotel at Talkin Tarn, near Brampton. Cumbria County Council, which wants to sell the sandstone building, has applied for consent to extend and convert it into eight holiday apartments. The application went before Carlisle city councillors last Friday. But they put off making a decision to give English Nature and Cumbria Wildlife Trust time to comment on a consultants’ bat and barn owl survey. A previous survey found evidence of the creatures but the survey was carried out in winter when bats hibernate and, according to planning officers, was “not able to adequately assess the extent of the usage by these species”. A new report is now in the hands of conservation experts, who are likely to insist on measures to protect bats during any building works. ;D www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=420697
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 23:11:18 GMT -5
New care home plans must allow for bats ;D A CARE home catering for 78 old folk – and an unknown number of baby bats – could be built at North Wootton. West Norfolk development control board is on Monday due to consider an outline planning application for the home at The Lodge in Manor Road, opposite the church. The development includes construction of a 50 bed-space care home and 24 close-care bungalows, and conversion of the existing house to four close-care flats. If approved, conditions recommended include minimising disturbance to a pipistrelle bat maternity roost discovered in a roof junction. Maintaining access to an attic space for long-eared bats would also be required. Full Story: www.lynnnews.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=991&ArticleID=1809503
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 23:01:56 GMT -5
Bats and the temple wrecking ball(Norwich-WTNH, Oct. 6, 2006 5:37 PM) _ The Masonic Temple in Norwich is scheduled to come down next week. Some neighbors aren't worried about dust or debris. They worried about the bats living inside. * by News Channel 8's Tina Detelj Folks who live near the Masonic Temple say they see bats flying in and out of the building, in fact quite a few at night. So when the wrecking ball hits they wonder what will coming flying out. The Mohegan tribe is tearing down the Masonic Temple to restore a historic tribal cemetery buried beneath it. "Generally speaking these are insect eating bats," City Manager Bob Zarnetske said. "They are not vampire bats." Just your garden variety flying mammal. "Yes, I know there are bats around, but we have a heavy concentration there," says Frank DeMicco, who lives behind the temple. DeMicco is afraid once the wrecking ball starts swinging the bats will come flying out and head his way, into his chimney, his attic, his house. "Who's gonna get them out of my house if they come into my house," he said. "I'm given to understand they can fit into any kind of an opening." So just how many bats are in this building? Folks around here believe quite a few. "It's gonna look like smoke coming out of the chimney," says Ike Ferber. "There's that many of them." Full Story: www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5508147&nav=3YeX
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 7:11:05 GMT -5
Dead bat found with rabiesBy Carrie May Boomerang Staff Writer A dead bat infected with rabies was recently found in the Washington Park area, according to the Laramie parks and recreation director. Because of the discovery, the city of Laramie Parks and Recreation Department is warning Laramie residents to be cautious if they encounter bats. “Bats are a major reservoir of rabies in Wyoming and can lead to infection of humans and animals,” said Dr. Richard Luce, Centers for Disease Control field officer with the Wyoming Department of Health. “While bats can be beneficial for insect control, they do present a serious public health threat when they inhabit structures where humans live or congregate.” According to Paul Harrison, parks and recreation director, bats are migrational through Laramie. In the spring, summer and fall, they are quite common. “I don’t know what the frequency of exposure is, but in the night and early morning, they can be seen once the sun goes down,” Harrison said. Because bats do carry rabies, in an encounter, people should stand clear of even a dead bat and call Animal Control. “It is just not worth the risk of a bite or a scratch because it is so infectious,” Harrison said. Bats are typically not aggressive, but when they have rabies, they can be very unpredictable. All dead animals found by parks and recreation are tested for diseases, but it is alarming to have one come back positive for rabies, Harrison said. “It can absolutely spread to pets as well,” he added. Rabies is nearly always a fatal disease in humans, but it can be successfully prevented if treatment is started promptly after exposure. According to Luce, transmission of rabies from bat to human may occur from bites, even if the bite is not recognized from scratches; from other physical contact that breaks a person’s skin, or from contact with a mucous membrane. Luce, who is a veterinarian, said preventive treatment might be considered if there has been any physical contact with or handling a bat, even if bite marks are not seen. Full Story: www.laramieboomerang.com/news/more.asp?StoryID=105696
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 7:05:03 GMT -5
Bat near playgrounds tests positive for rabiesAssociated Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - School officials said a dead bat found between two playgrounds at Inverness Elementary tested positive for rabies. Cindy Warner, spokeswoman for Shelby County schools, said the bat was found by a gym class walking to the playground on Monday afternoon. Warner said the teacher raked the bat into a box and called animal control. The bat was sent to the state laboratory to be tested for rabies. The test came back positive Tuesday afternoon. "The first thing we did Wednesday morning was send our maintenance people out to look for infestations at the school," Warner said. No sign of infestation was found. An animal relocation specialist was brought in to do a second inspection. Warner said no children were allowed on the playground Wednesday. Full Story: www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15686171.htm
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 6, 2006 6:58:15 GMT -5
Teens charged in Bat Cave crimesCibola County Beacon, Friday, October 6, 2006 EL MALPAIS NATIONAL MONUMENT - National Park Service rangers and Cibola County Sheriff Office deputies issued $2,700 in fines to nine local youths Tuesday morning. The youths, reportedly from the Grants and Milan areas and ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old, skipped school Tuesday. Rangers found them entering the closed Bat Cave at the El Calderon hiking trail off of NM 53, according to the service. The service reported that the cave is closed to protect the public's health safety and the four bat species that live there: the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, the Little Brown Bat, the Pallid Bat and the special Townsend's Big Eared Bat. CCSO further reported that one youth was cited for possession of marijuana when CCSO found a minimal amount in his car. The youths reportedly killed a rattlesnake with a BB gun and had a sling shot, said CCSO spokesperson Lt. Harry Hall. “It's a national monument, like the Grand Canyon,” Lt. Hall said, adding that it is also illegal to take weapons and hunt there. A BB gun and slingshot are considered weapons, he said. The youths violated National Park Service regulations and federal laws, the park service stated. Full Story: www.cibolabeacon.com/articles/2006/10/06/news/news3.txt
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Post by jonsdigs on Sept 25, 2006 22:20:06 GMT -5
Iowa Woman Finds Drowned Bat in Tea Mug The Associated Press Monday, September 25, 2006; 10:36 PM CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- A western Iowa woman is recovering from the shock of finding a drowned bat in her tea mug after she sipped from the cup all day. The brown bat, about the size of two tea bags, was found a few weeks ago by a 60-year-old Woodbury County woman, said Chuck Cipperley, an environmental director for the Siouxland health office in Sioux City. See full story: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/25/AR2006092500830.html
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Post by jonsdigs on Apr 5, 2007 7:26:33 GMT -5
For Adults Only: Intro to Cave Restoration - 04/14 - 1-4p.m. Join Conservation Department Resource Scientist and cave expert Bill Elliott and members from Springfield Plateau Grotto Club to participate in restoration techniques at Bois D’Arc Conservation Area’s Watkins Cave. Meet at Andy Dalton Shooting Range. Ages 18-adult. Registration required. Call 888-4237. - Admission is Free Announcement
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Post by jonsdigs on Jan 16, 2007 5:04:18 GMT -5
Crawlathon pre-resigistration deadline is todayTuesday, January, 16, 2007 Herald-Dispatch (WV) Space is getting limited to take part in the one of country's best winter-time caving events as more than half of the trips for the 26th Annual Crawlathon at Carter Caves State Resort Park are sold-out. Today is the last day to pre-register for the wild caving weekend that runs Jan. 26-28 at the park, as well as in surrounding Carter County, home to more than 200 caves. More than 60 of the trips that are sold out include: wild caving trips, canoeing, pit plunging, vertical workshops, proper techniques of caving workshops, and kids trips. However, a few spots remain on some trips, mostly beginner level trips that would be good for children and anyone wanting to get their first taste of caving. Registration is $30 for adults (ages 13 and older); $15 for children 6-12. On site registration begins at 4 p.m. on Jan. 26. Cost includes three trips and a T-shirt. Payment must be received with the pre-registration. Call Coy Ainsley at (800) 325-0059 or go online at www.crawlathon.com. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Mar 16, 2008 6:54:31 GMT -5
Two men trapped in cave complexBBC 16 March 2008 Two cavers have been cut off by flood waters underground at the Dan-yr-Ogof caves in the Swansea Valley.Dan-yr-Ogof caves were discovered in 1912The men, who are local are two miles from the end the National Showcaves Centre for Wales, are in a dry area. The alarm was raised by security staff at the complex at 2200 GMT on Saturday and contact was made with the cavers at 0615 GMT. Mountain rescue teams said divers will assess the situation but the men are not in any immediate danger. Brian Jopling from the West Brecon Cave Rescue team which is involved in the rescue operation said the cavers have access to a cache of food which is kept in the caves and are in telephone contactt. Full story
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Post by jonsdigs on Feb 16, 2008 6:53:30 GMT -5
Tourist drowns in cave swimFigi Times Friday, February 15, 2008 POLICE are investigating the drowning of a 27-year-old Irish tourist in a cave in the Yasawa Group on Wednesday. Police identified the visitor as Jason Bernard, who was staying at the Coral View Resort, on Tavewa Island. Divisional police commissioner Emori Laqai said the tourist drowned while swimming in the Sawa-i-lau cave on Wednesday morning. Superintendent Laqai said Mr Bernard was swimming with seven other tourists and their tour guide when he drowned. Full Story
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Post by jonsdigs on Sept 20, 2007 18:35:22 GMT -5
Teens faced 'pitch black' underwater swim in cave rescueFriday, 21 September 2007 NZPA Six Auckland students are being commended for their bravery after a dramatic cave rescue last night which saw them having to swim two metres under water in darkness to get to safety.The six Northcote College students aged 14 and 15, their teacher, and a guide were trapped by rising water in the Waipu Caves, 40km south-east of Whangarei for five hours yesterday by rising floodwaters. The group, part of a Project K team, had been underground in a cave known as "2 tome" since mid-morning. Another group with one instructor left the caves about 3pm but the remaining group became trapped as heavy rain caused water levels to rise quickly, blocking the cave entrance. Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said it was a "tough situation" for the group. While waiting in part of the cave system for their rescue, they were kept warm and dry. Supporters and rescuers managed to get blankets and warm drinks through to them, and a communication line, Ms Kennett told Radio New Zealand. Ropes were then passed through and the group and they were pulled through the flooded entrance one at a time. The Fire Service pumped as much of the water out as it could, but the group were still forced to swim face down underwater, holding a guide rope, for the last two metres, she said. Full Story
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Post by jonsdigs on Aug 15, 2007 19:04:54 GMT -5
Man Rescued from Cave - See the VideoKaren Zatkulak WTVC Chattenooga, TN August 15, 2007 - 4:26PM A man is in critical condition after falling thirty five feet, landing in the bottom of a cave. The accident happened Saturday morning, in Marion County, Tennessee just north of Jasper. Go HERE to see the video. Chad Dubuisson and Rick Gattone have both been caving for many years. But this weekend when they headed out to drop forty five feet down into a cave, they had no idea their ropes would fail... sending Gattone plummeting to the bottom, and Dubuisson running for help. Dubuisson says, "The plan was to go in through the top and come out through the bottom, there's four repels along the way." But on the first repel his plan went terribly wrong when his caving partner Rick Gattone fell thirty five feet in a quarry in Marion County. Dubuisson says he felt, "Sheer panic. I was right near the lip of the pit when it happened, as quickly as it happened, it was over with." Dubuisson works at On Rope One and both he and Gattone have been caving for years. But when the knot just failed, Gattone fell. Sending Dubuisson a half mile down the mountain to call for help. Full Story
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Post by jonsdigs on Jul 29, 2007 22:56:54 GMT -5
Missing couple rescued by police - LabertoucheVictoria Police Media Release Mon 30 July 2007 A 28-year-old man from Endeavour Hills and a 31 year old woman were extricated by a Neerim South policeman about an hour and a half after they were reported overdue. The couple had been exploring the caves at Labertouche about 2.00pm yesterday when they found themselves unable to get out of a 20 foot deep hole. The man’s father alerted police shortly after 1.00am when he became concerned that the couple had not returned on time. Police arrived at the caves around 2.00am and discovered their car in the car park but no sign of the man or woman. The policeman entered the caves and located them very quickly, they were very cold but basically unharmed. After some assistance from the policeman, the man and woman were on their way home. Senior Constable David Fitzgerald Media Officer Story
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Post by jonsdigs on Jul 29, 2007 22:50:49 GMT -5
Pair rescued from caves ordealABC Melbourne Posted July 30, 2007 Two people had to be rescued by State Emergency volunteers and police overnight after being trapped for 12 hours in caves in Gippsland in south-east Victoria. A 28-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were exploring caves at Labertouche when they got stuck in a six metre hole yesterday afternoon. The father of the man reported his son missing at 1:00am AEST today. Police and the State Emergency Service searched the caves and had to pull the two people free. They were cold but unharmed. Story
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Post by jonsdigs on Jun 12, 2007 19:41:50 GMT -5
PA helicopter rescues hikers standed in sea caveKONP (Olympic Peninsula, WA) June 12th, 2007 - 10:57am (Port Renfew) --Two people were rescued by the Coast Guard from a sea cave at Owen Point on Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C., Monday. The Canadian Coast Guard in Victoria notified Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles at 5:40 p.m. that a man had reported two of his friends were trapped in the cave. While a Canadian vessel and Cormorant helicopter crew were dispatched by Victoria, a helicopter crew from Port Angeles was launched along with a 47-foot response boat crew from Coast Guard Station Neah Bay. The Port Angeles Coast Guard helicopter crew located the cave-like hole at 6:50 p.m. and proceeded to lower a swimmer who pulled the couple to safety with help from the pair's friends. The two had been swept by the sea into the cave along with a third man while hiking with two other companions at around 9:30 a.m. Two of the five American hikers managed to swim to shore, but their friends were trapped until one of the men extricated himself from the cave and hiked to a cabin to call for help. All five hikers, four men and one woman, were found and flown to Port Renfrew for medical attention. No serious injuries were reported. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Apr 30, 2007 8:27:14 GMT -5
Conservation officers arrested three men from cave rescueAP April 30, 2007 LACONIA, Ind. - Indiana conservation officers have arrested three men who were exploring a cave in southern Indiana. One of the men was slightly injured. The conservation officers' cave rescue team responded early yesterday to Small Mouth Cave on private property near Laconia, about 23 miles southwest of Louisville, Kentucky. Authorities say 21-year-old Garrett Jones of Georgetown had fallen about 15 feet from a ledge about one-quarter mile inside the cave. He was complaining of pain in his ankle but he declined treatment. Jones and two Louisville men who were with him were arrested on charges of criminal trespass. The men also face charges of cave trespass, removal of cave formations and vandalism to a cave. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Mar 24, 2007 19:30:39 GMT -5
Russian cave explorers escape quarry collapse24 Mar 2007 14:37:08 GMT Source: Reuters MOSCOW, March 24 (Reuters) - About 20 Russian cave explorers escaped injury when an abandoned quarry near Moscow collapsed on Saturday, an Emergencies Ministry spokesman said. Viktor Beltsov said a rock blocking the entrance to the cave had been removed and that there were no reports of casualties. "Nobody was injured. There were around 20 people inside, according to preliminary investigations," he said. Russian news agencies quoted police sources as saying the quarry, about 30 km south of Moscow, collapsed around 3 pm local time (1200 GMT). An earlier report had said up to 100 speleologists could have been trapped. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Feb 10, 2007 12:14:37 GMT -5
Cave group found safePeter Rolfe Victoria Herald Sun February 11, 2007 12:00am Two men and a woman lost in a deep Gippsland cave for more than 11 hours were found late last night.About 11.30pm, Warragul State Emergency Services volunteers located the trio, whose identities were not released. It is believed they were found due to the local knowledge of the SES crew, who were trained in caving. The group, aged in their mid 20s, entered the famous Labertouche Caves in Tarago National Park, near Warragul, about 12.10pm. They were due to emerge about 2.30pm, but failed to return from what had been expected to be a two-hour tour. A relative of one of the lost men raised the alarm about 7pm. The group was last seen entering the Labertouche caves When one man failed to return home by 7pm his wife contacted police. Police and SES volunteers last night scoured the site about 100km from Melbourne. SES spokesman Tim Wiebusch said a trained caving crew with lighting joined the search. "Apparently two of them have reasonable experience in caving, but they were due back a long time before they were reported missing. So there is some concern," he said before the group was found. "Initial information is that there were three people who went into the cave, but only two of them had any experience." Police spokeswoman Marika Fengler said there had been worry about the group's safety. "The concern is that they are lost or something has happened and they can't find their way out," she said. "Apparently it's quite easy to get lost because there are lots of different caves breaking off from the main one." Ms Fengler said it should have taken no more than two hours to visit the caves. She said one of the men had visited the caves several times before. The system is the most popular in the state among caving adventurers. It is beneath forest and granite boulders and has narrow chambers and tunnels. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Jan 25, 2007 15:48:08 GMT -5
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