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Tom Gilleland wrote:Does anyone have any information on making a cave gate Javalina friendly? Has anyone built one?
tncaver wrote:jaa45993 said: "Tom, maybe you could put the gate further into the cave than javalina are willing to go."
Now that is a great idea! Not only would it allow javalina and other larger animals into the dark zone of the cave but would also maintain the natural look
of the entrance from the outside.
tncaver wrote:Hey cob, I guess we humans aren't considered natural.
As for the javalina's doing things in the cave...if there is no evidence that they were doing damage before a gate was installed
then why would a gate be needed?
Maybe instead of gating off a cave, a fence or gate could
simply be put across the access road or around a cave, rather than right across the entrance. That would keep ATV's out and maintain the beauty of the entrance.
I think there are ways to protect caves without always having to put a gate on the entrance. Seems to me, a gate on an entrance should be a last resort. And a last resort won't be realized until other methods are tried first. I've not heard of other methods being tried first
on the vast majority of gatings.
One particular conservation group prides themselves
on keeping everyone out of their caves and off the lands they acquire. It amazes me that they get so many donations. I just can't see donating money to groups that buy up wonderful places and won't let
anyone see those places
....except for scientists.
I for one don't like cave gates but acknowledge that
in some rare cases they are needed.
In my humble opinion there are way more cave gates than there are caves that need them
tncaver wrote:Too bad the so called conservation groups in the US haven't been doing that all along. I'm sure the conservation groups would find much less resistance to their cave gates if they were not seen from the outside. There is also that old saying that applies here...out of site out of mind. Putting cave gates much further into a cave would eliminate two of the major objections brought up by anti cave gaters. Those being the ugly look of gates on caves (not natural) and the keeping out of other large natural animals that also use caves.
tncaver wrote:Yes, NZ, I see your point about the javalinas being destructive. Basically all pigs tear up the ground, but usually only where there is food to be rooted up. In TN it is much more likely for bob cats, coyotes, skunks, ground hogs, raccoons to use caves. I have met a raccoon in a cave before and their tracks are seen frequently. Also coyote scat is common these days. Wild pigs are not common, but I have come across a beaver nest in a cave.
Most of the gates in TN are the huge, ugly outside type, although there is one cave managed by the SCCi that has a gate 60 feet inside the cave. Some caves are being managed by having a fence around the property or a gate across the road. But many simply have a conservation sign, a short explanation of any rules to be followed and a kiosk to protect paper work from the weather.
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