Post by Andy on Nov 16, 2007 9:27:52 GMT -5
By TIM PRESTON - The Independent
OLIVE HILL — Vicious acts of violence against more than 100 endangeredbats at Carter Caves State Resort Park have enraged state and federalwildlife officials.
The victims were a group of federally protected Indiana bats, whichofficials say vandals found hibernating in an undisclosed cave withinthe state park.
The vandals apparently used rocks to crush some of the small bats, whileothers died after being knocked into a stream. The first bat kill isbelieved to have happened between Oct. 21 and 24, and the second strikewas reported Oct. 27.
Former park naturalist John Tierney said bat conservation efforts at thepark have been extremely successful in recent years, most notably atSaltpetre Cave where the Indiana bat population went from “a handful”before the cave was sealed during hibernation season to an estimated9,000 to 10,000 animals at last count.
Tierney said the recent killing is a sad occurrence, although not a newphenomenon.
“People have fears. There are historic incidents,” he said, adding,“People have seen too many vampire movies.”
Fish & Wildlife Resources spokesman Traci Hemberger said several youthswere arrested during the 1960s for killing an estimated 10,000 Indianabats at Carter Caves.
Jonathon Lewis of Olive Hill, who serves as president of the cave andwildlife conservation group Esso Grotto, said he recently saw picturesof many of the Indiana bats killed at Carter Caves during October.
“It was like seeing a little puppy — just defenseless,” Lewis said,explaining many people misunderstand bats and their importance innature. “I had a whole mixture of emotions. The problem is past; youjust have to figure out what you can learn from it.
“It’s a lack of education and the Hollywood image,” he continued.“Enforcing the law won’t do enough until we educate people about batsand what they do for us.”
Fellow Grotto member Allen Blair, who has followed the development ofthe Carter Caves Indiana bats as a journalist and as a cave explorer,said he was perhaps most shocked the bat killers took advantage ofanimals, “which were both defenseless and sleeping.”
Blair said the bat deaths are a setback to professionals and dedicatedvolunteers who have put many years of effort into the project to helpIndiana bats thrive in the area.
“This could be a success story like the bald eagle,” he said.
Lewis and Blair agreed Indiana bats are a sensitive species whichrequire specific conditions for hibernation and reproduction.
Indiana bats have been included on the federal endangered species listsince 1966 and officials say their populations have been steadilydeclining until recent years. The caves at Carter Caves State ResortPark are home to the state’s largest hibernating population of the species.
Violations of the Endangered Species Act can result in a maximum penaltyof a $100,000 fine and a year in prison. Anyone with information aboutthe bat deaths at Carter Caves is asked to contact Special Agent BobSnow of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (502) 582-5989 Ext. 29.
OLIVE HILL — Vicious acts of violence against more than 100 endangeredbats at Carter Caves State Resort Park have enraged state and federalwildlife officials.
The victims were a group of federally protected Indiana bats, whichofficials say vandals found hibernating in an undisclosed cave withinthe state park.
The vandals apparently used rocks to crush some of the small bats, whileothers died after being knocked into a stream. The first bat kill isbelieved to have happened between Oct. 21 and 24, and the second strikewas reported Oct. 27.
Former park naturalist John Tierney said bat conservation efforts at thepark have been extremely successful in recent years, most notably atSaltpetre Cave where the Indiana bat population went from “a handful”before the cave was sealed during hibernation season to an estimated9,000 to 10,000 animals at last count.
Tierney said the recent killing is a sad occurrence, although not a newphenomenon.
“People have fears. There are historic incidents,” he said, adding,“People have seen too many vampire movies.”
Fish & Wildlife Resources spokesman Traci Hemberger said several youthswere arrested during the 1960s for killing an estimated 10,000 Indianabats at Carter Caves.
Jonathon Lewis of Olive Hill, who serves as president of the cave andwildlife conservation group Esso Grotto, said he recently saw picturesof many of the Indiana bats killed at Carter Caves during October.
“It was like seeing a little puppy — just defenseless,” Lewis said,explaining many people misunderstand bats and their importance innature. “I had a whole mixture of emotions. The problem is past; youjust have to figure out what you can learn from it.
“It’s a lack of education and the Hollywood image,” he continued.“Enforcing the law won’t do enough until we educate people about batsand what they do for us.”
Fellow Grotto member Allen Blair, who has followed the development ofthe Carter Caves Indiana bats as a journalist and as a cave explorer,said he was perhaps most shocked the bat killers took advantage ofanimals, “which were both defenseless and sleeping.”
Blair said the bat deaths are a setback to professionals and dedicatedvolunteers who have put many years of effort into the project to helpIndiana bats thrive in the area.
“This could be a success story like the bald eagle,” he said.
Lewis and Blair agreed Indiana bats are a sensitive species whichrequire specific conditions for hibernation and reproduction.
Indiana bats have been included on the federal endangered species listsince 1966 and officials say their populations have been steadilydeclining until recent years. The caves at Carter Caves State ResortPark are home to the state’s largest hibernating population of the species.
Violations of the Endangered Species Act can result in a maximum penaltyof a $100,000 fine and a year in prison. Anyone with information aboutthe bat deaths at Carter Caves is asked to contact Special Agent BobSnow of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (502) 582-5989 Ext. 29.
