Post by Brian Roebuck on Feb 9, 2008 18:32:38 GMT -5
Getting ready for my first cave bio collecting trip
I'm finished packing for my first cave biological specimen collecting trip! I know that on Sunday I'll post some pictures and descriptions of what we did and what we found, so I thought I'd post some background about the project.
My husband and I love to visit a particular cave sort of near where we live. I'm not going to post the name of the cave or where it is because it's a very sensitive place and I don't want to publicize specifics. However, the federal government bought the cave back in the 1980s to protect an endangered bat species. Due to the extremely technical nature of the cave (lots of rappelling, climbing, crawling, and various strenuous activities are required to get pretty much anywhere in the cave) government employees really can't visit most parts of the cave. However, they really do need to know what sorts of plants and animals are on the refuge property, but especially what kinds of animals are inside the cave, simply so they can figure out if any special plans are necessary to protect any sensitive or vulnerable species. Luckily, the cave is located in an area where there is not a lot of development, but at some point in the future, water pollution or something similar may become an issue, so it would be good to develop a baseline of what sorts of animals currently inhabit the cave.
Generally cave explorers always follow a rule of never taking anything out of a cave. Not a tiny rock, certainly not cave formations, and no animals. The rule we go by is "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." I have lived by this rule during the 25+ years I've been exploring caves, so actually the idea of capturing animals inside a cave and removing them is kind of a foreign concept to me. However, I'm willing to bend the rules in this case because it will certainly help protect the cave and its creatures.
theinfinitesphere.blogspot.com/2008/02/getting-ready-for-my-first-cave.html
I'm finished packing for my first cave biological specimen collecting trip! I know that on Sunday I'll post some pictures and descriptions of what we did and what we found, so I thought I'd post some background about the project.
My husband and I love to visit a particular cave sort of near where we live. I'm not going to post the name of the cave or where it is because it's a very sensitive place and I don't want to publicize specifics. However, the federal government bought the cave back in the 1980s to protect an endangered bat species. Due to the extremely technical nature of the cave (lots of rappelling, climbing, crawling, and various strenuous activities are required to get pretty much anywhere in the cave) government employees really can't visit most parts of the cave. However, they really do need to know what sorts of plants and animals are on the refuge property, but especially what kinds of animals are inside the cave, simply so they can figure out if any special plans are necessary to protect any sensitive or vulnerable species. Luckily, the cave is located in an area where there is not a lot of development, but at some point in the future, water pollution or something similar may become an issue, so it would be good to develop a baseline of what sorts of animals currently inhabit the cave.
Generally cave explorers always follow a rule of never taking anything out of a cave. Not a tiny rock, certainly not cave formations, and no animals. The rule we go by is "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time." I have lived by this rule during the 25+ years I've been exploring caves, so actually the idea of capturing animals inside a cave and removing them is kind of a foreign concept to me. However, I'm willing to bend the rules in this case because it will certainly help protect the cave and its creatures.
theinfinitesphere.blogspot.com/2008/02/getting-ready-for-my-first-cave.html