Rockies

[Mudduck]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47455361/ns ... vironment/

I've been a little out of touch so if I'm behind the times sorry

[David_Weaver]

I just came across the same article in Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/ ... 5F20120517

I take it this is a different USFS region than the region responsible for Colorado?

[PYoungbaer]

I take it this is a different USFS region than the region responsible for Colorado?

Yes. This is about Region 1; Colorado is Region 2. These Regions are the U.S. Forest Service Regions, which differ from USFWS, BLM, etc.

Region 2 has had the blanket cave closure order, worked with local cavers and Convention staff last summer to open a number of caves during the Convention. They were in the news a while back considering alterations to the current order: http://www.denverpost.com/dnc/ci_20407908/forest-service-considers-opening-bat-caves

Region 1, based in Montana and is spread over 5 states. Included are 12 National Forests located within the perimeter of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana; and the National Grasslands in North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota. There was talk a year ago about the possibility of cave closures both here and Region 4, which shares parts of some states with Region 1, such as Idaho, but they backed off while engaging local stakeholders, including cavers, and collecting more information.

The Center for Biological Diversity is turning up the heat. Here's their press release, which speaks for itself (in other words, I'm tired of pointing out the factual errors and hyperbole):

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2012/white-nose-syndrome-05-16-2012.html

[PYoungbaer]

Here's a story from the Montana Missourian, from a reporter who's covered the WNS and caving issue in that area for a while:

http://missoulian.com/news/local/montana-cave-access-remains-undecided-amid-new-bat-disease-reports/article_38499492-a15a-11e1-9f56-001a4bcf887a.html