Post by L Roebuck on Sept 8, 2006 18:02:12 GMT -5
Bat Hibernating Sites Off-Limits to Forbes State Forest Visitors
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In its ongoing effort to protect Pennsylvania's varied and valuable bat populations, the state Bureau of Forestry next month will begin limiting public access to three caves in Fayette and Westmoreland counties where bats hibernate in large numbers.
The caves, harboring some of the largest and most vulnerable bat populations in the state, will be closed to all visitors, beginning Oct. 1, 2006, through May 30, 2007. Specially-constructed locking gates are being installed at Coon and Lemon Hole caves, southeast of Blairsville, Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave, near Uniontown, Fayette County.
"We are well aware that organized cave exploration groups respect the resource and stress responsible caving, including staying out of caves when bats are hibernating," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "Problems arise when cave visitors ignore requests to stay out of these winter hibernation areas, or hibernacula. Often they don't realize the potential harm they can cause."
The three caves, all on state forestland within the Forbes State Forest District, serve as the winter home for bat species that include the big brown, little brown and Eastern pipistrelle. Hibernating numbers are estimated at more than 1,000 at Lemon Hole and Coon caves, and several hundred over-winter at the Barton site.
"Heavy public visitation and other winter disturbances at Barton has pushed hibernating bats to less suitable areas in that cave, and we know any disturbance in any of the caves during this critical period can greatly reduce winter survival," said Aura Stauffer, chief of the bureau's Ecological Services section. "Waking of bats just once or twice during hibernation can significantly reduce their survival chances. Bats disturbed by cave users and vandals may not survive until spring, or, if they do, may have reduced reproductive success."
"We are confident this eight-month curtailment in recreational use is a sound conservation investment to protect and improve bat populations numbers at these three sites," Stauffer said.
Known and valued for their enormous appetite for mosquitoes and other flying insects, bats have benefited from similar controls at other major hibernating sites. Each state forest site will be posted with the closing dates, and gates will be open and exploration permitted between June and September 2007.
Conforming to guidelines set by the American Cave Conservation Association/Bat Conservation International Standards, the hibernacula gates will exclude people but allow unobstructed airflow and bat movement. Also, because of remote locations, they are vulnerable to vandalism.
In addition to its ranger patrols and cooperation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is enlisting the voluntary aid of organized caving groups to observe and report any potential damage or illegal intrusions at the gated caves.
For information on Pennsylvania's bat populations, as well as their state forest and park habitat, visit the DCNR Web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us
Article
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In its ongoing effort to protect Pennsylvania's varied and valuable bat populations, the state Bureau of Forestry next month will begin limiting public access to three caves in Fayette and Westmoreland counties where bats hibernate in large numbers.
The caves, harboring some of the largest and most vulnerable bat populations in the state, will be closed to all visitors, beginning Oct. 1, 2006, through May 30, 2007. Specially-constructed locking gates are being installed at Coon and Lemon Hole caves, southeast of Blairsville, Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave, near Uniontown, Fayette County.
"We are well aware that organized cave exploration groups respect the resource and stress responsible caving, including staying out of caves when bats are hibernating," said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Michael DiBerardinis. "Problems arise when cave visitors ignore requests to stay out of these winter hibernation areas, or hibernacula. Often they don't realize the potential harm they can cause."
The three caves, all on state forestland within the Forbes State Forest District, serve as the winter home for bat species that include the big brown, little brown and Eastern pipistrelle. Hibernating numbers are estimated at more than 1,000 at Lemon Hole and Coon caves, and several hundred over-winter at the Barton site.
"Heavy public visitation and other winter disturbances at Barton has pushed hibernating bats to less suitable areas in that cave, and we know any disturbance in any of the caves during this critical period can greatly reduce winter survival," said Aura Stauffer, chief of the bureau's Ecological Services section. "Waking of bats just once or twice during hibernation can significantly reduce their survival chances. Bats disturbed by cave users and vandals may not survive until spring, or, if they do, may have reduced reproductive success."
"We are confident this eight-month curtailment in recreational use is a sound conservation investment to protect and improve bat populations numbers at these three sites," Stauffer said.
Known and valued for their enormous appetite for mosquitoes and other flying insects, bats have benefited from similar controls at other major hibernating sites. Each state forest site will be posted with the closing dates, and gates will be open and exploration permitted between June and September 2007.
Conforming to guidelines set by the American Cave Conservation Association/Bat Conservation International Standards, the hibernacula gates will exclude people but allow unobstructed airflow and bat movement. Also, because of remote locations, they are vulnerable to vandalism.
In addition to its ranger patrols and cooperation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is enlisting the voluntary aid of organized caving groups to observe and report any potential damage or illegal intrusions at the gated caves.
For information on Pennsylvania's bat populations, as well as their state forest and park habitat, visit the DCNR Web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us
Article