Hubbards Cave gate project in the news

[Komebeaux]

You cannot easily weld or cut stainless steel.

The reason for the upgrade is because the original designs for Gray Bats are actually working too well. I don't know about Hubbards, but Tobaccoport Cave created such a great environ for the Grays, that a maternity colony moved in. That large a number of bats had trouble navigating through the gate. The new gate installed in Tobaccoport utilizes an open chute that angles upward and is covered with expanded steel.

[JoeyS]

You cannot easily weld or cut stainless steel.

True, at least not in the field, unless you have a plasma torch. Another benefit of stainless is that because it is so cut resistant, vandals will usually give up when trying to breach a gate.
As far as the Dunbar Cave gate being left unpainted, I have a real good hunch why and it has nothing to do with conservation concerns... But I'm going to keep that to myself...

[Evan G]

There a wonderful picture of the installing of the gate on Flickr that was posted by PretzlGirl:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caving/291678519/

[Komebeaux]

Joey, now you have my curiosity piqued.


Send a PM if you care to elaborate.