Proposal to close southeast NFS caves

[cavedivingwoman]

'Just saw this:
http://a123.g.akamai.net/7/123/11558...T3_1634241.pdf

[fishinmaniac]

You've got to be kidding me

[Omisson]

Caves not underwater cave systems ...


Dan-O

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

[tursiops]

And only caves on National Forest Service land. Here is a map for FL.

[tursiops]

I emailed the point-of-contact:
Dennis L. Krusac, Certified Wildlife Biologist
Endangered species Specialist
USDA Forest Service
1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Suite 816 N
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-347-4338 (office)
404-660-4377 (cell)
404-347-4154 (fax)
to ask when the deadline for comments was, and why the deadline was not in his letter.
His response:
"Thanks Mel. Agree with you, there should have been a date and there was in my original letter. I was told we don’t need to specify a date and we would consider comments up until the decision is made. The decision will be made no later than May 21, 2014, the date the current closure order expires. To adequately consider comments, please get them to me no later than May 9, 2014. That way we can be sure they get the attention they deserve. Thanks for your interest and have a wonderful day. Dennis"
This is all about saving the bats. Probably even if it inconveniences some dry cavers.

[gschaut]

Caves not underwater cave system...

I diver from Wisconsin told me that they closed an underwater cave in order to protect local bats from an incursion of white nose syndrome.

So... do bats tend to prefer back mount or side mount?

[apitkin]

This is all about saving the bats. Probably even if it inconveniences some dry cavers.

If only.

Unfortunately the science just does not back that up.

[Kelly Jessop]

If only.

Unfortunately the science just does not back that up.

If only some credible research backed that up,but in the mean time panic mode ensues,and the easiest thing is to close it. Lord help us if we see a loss of troglobitic species in the caves we dive,the same thing would occur,since those species are already imperiled by FNAI.

[tursiops]

If only.

Unfortunately the science just does not back that up.

Are you a white-nose syndrome denier?

[apitkin]

Are you a white-nose syndrome denier?

Not denying it exists, just not convinced it is caused by human activity.

If the WNS evidence was even half as strong as the climate change evidence, I think dry cavers would have no problem staying out of caves voluntarily.