TN caves to stay closed for third year to protect bats

[cavergirl]

"Caves on state lands in Tennessee will remain closed in an effort to slow the spread of White Nose Syndrome among the state’s bat population.
During the upcoming year, state and Federal agencies and non-governmental organizations will consult with recreational caving organizations to determine how to best manage the spread of this disease while allowing recreation."

and of course the usual rhetoric: "Scientists believe the affliction is primarily spread bat-to-bat as they cluster in caves and mines, but that it may also be unknowingly transferred from one cave or mine to another on the footwear, clothing and gear of humans visiting caves"
Read on:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110 ... /1969/NEWS

[PYoungbaer]

Here's another story by Tennessee Public Radio:

http://wpln.org/?p=27339

Cave Closures Aimed at Slowing Spread of Bat-Killing Disease, But Can’t Stop It

[LukeM]

But the largest transmission is definitely bat-to-bat transmission, and there’s very little you can do to control that because bats fly long distances.

And we have a lot of caves on private property that are protected as well, either through management agreements or cave gates… And really, the largest user-group of caves, the recreational caving community, are very, very conservation minded. They typically know where bat caves are, more than land managers such as myself, and they do a pretty good job of staying out of them when the bats are present.

Surely I'm dreaming.

[Steve Pitts]

Corey has received a lot of constructive feedback from the caving community. This is one case where it has been useful for cavers to engage with a Federal official about the truth of what is really going on!

[PYoungbaer]

FYI, Cory is a bat biologist who works for The Nature Conservancy, not a federal agency. He is also an NSS member, and the official NSS Liaison to TNC. He's been involved in the WNS investigation for several years, and has attended several of the national meetings. I think he spoke well in this story.

[Steve Pitts]

Thanks Peter!

[BrianC]

FYI, Cory is a bat biologist who works for The Nature Conservancy, not a federal agency. He is also an NSS member, and the official NSS Liaison to TNC. He's been involved in the WNS investigation for several years, and has attended several of the national meetings. I think he spoke well in this story.

He has had to listen to cavers that understand the issue! Maybe he is using real science now!