In its ongoing effort to protect Pennsylvania's varied and valuable bat populations, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources next month will begin limiting public access to three caves in Fayette and Westmoreland counties where bats hibernate in large numbers.

The caves, harboring some of the largest and most vulnerable bat populations in the state, will be closed to all visitors, beginning October 1, 2006 through May 30, 2007.

Specially-constructed locking gates are being installed at Coon and Lemon Hole caves, southeast of Blairsville, Westmoreland County, and Barton Cave, near Uniontown, Fayette County.

The three caves, all on state forestland within the Forbes State Forest District, serve as the winter home for bat species that include the big brown, little brown and Eastern pipistrelle. Hibernating numbers are estimated at more than 1,000 at Lemon Hole and Coon caves, and several hundred over-winter at the Barton site.

Known and valued for their enormous appetite for mosquitoes and other flying insects, bats have benefited from similar controls at other major hibernating sites. Each state forest site will be posted with the closing dates, and gates will be open and exploration permitted between June and September 2007.

Conforming to guidelines set by the American Cave Conservation Association/Bat Conservation International Standards, the hibernacula gates will exclude people but allow unobstructed airflow and bat movement. Also, because of remote locations, they are vulnerable to vandalism.

In addition to its ranger patrols and cooperation of the Game Commission, DCNR is enlisting the voluntary aid of organized caving groups to observe and report any potential damage or illegal intrusions at the gated caves.

Links: Indiana Bats, Wild Resource Conservation Fund

Season of the Bat – GreenTreks Network

9/8/2006