Hm...
Posted: Jun 23, 2015 9:06 pm
In the June issue of Tagline (Chattanooga Grotto), Carolina Shrewsbury writes that, "There are countless arguments against free access to caves, and the loudest one is the spread of White-Nose Syndrome"
Is this an accurate claim? If not, is it considered productive to engage in the dissemination of inaccuracy in the name of minimizing impact? I think not, especially after being personally affected, over the past week, by the negative consequences of such behavior. During an effort to initiate the survey of some undocumented KY caves, I was told by the landowner that he had been informed by cavers that because of WNS it was illegal to go in caves.
Mrs. Shrewsbury also says that , "We do not want people outside of our specific scientific community to know where caves are or enter them if they happen to find an entrance."
The NSS, a "scientific community"? This is an increasingly tenuous designation. Certainly many scientific aspects remain, but are supported by the great minority of NSS members. Indeed, days are coming in which the NSS, if it wishes to exist at all, will be forced to shift much of its focus from science to cave acquisition/management and enabling recreation.
Is this an accurate claim? If not, is it considered productive to engage in the dissemination of inaccuracy in the name of minimizing impact? I think not, especially after being personally affected, over the past week, by the negative consequences of such behavior. During an effort to initiate the survey of some undocumented KY caves, I was told by the landowner that he had been informed by cavers that because of WNS it was illegal to go in caves.
Mrs. Shrewsbury also says that , "We do not want people outside of our specific scientific community to know where caves are or enter them if they happen to find an entrance."
The NSS, a "scientific community"? This is an increasingly tenuous designation. Certainly many scientific aspects remain, but are supported by the great minority of NSS members. Indeed, days are coming in which the NSS, if it wishes to exist at all, will be forced to shift much of its focus from science to cave acquisition/management and enabling recreation.