Management of Arizona county-owned cave questioned

[Wayne Harrison]

Two years ago, Pima County learned that it owns a cave that has formations said to rival the state's Kartchner Caverns. Now, there are questions about how Pima County is protecting it.

La Tetera cave is located on the far southeast side inside Pima County's Colossal Cave Mountain Park.

The county keeps its exact location secret to keep people out. But some researchers say, to protect the wonder, they need to get in.

The few people who've seen it say La Tetera has bones of extinct animals, dripping formations and a red floor laced with white crystals.

It's unlikely you'll ever be allowed in. Instead, Pima County plans to use this cave for scientific research. The issue is when.

<a href="http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4955163&nav=HMO6">Story, video, picture</a>