Holy spelunker: Forest Service closes its caves, mines in 5 states to fight bat fungus

Forest Service closes caves to fight bat fungus

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Thousands of caves and abandoned mines on federal land in five states will be off limits to explorers for the next year to help prevent humans from inadvertently spreading a disease that’s fatal to bats.

The U.S. Forest Service said Tuesday it was barring entry to caves in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota because of white-nose syndrome, which has killed nearly a million bats in the eastern and southern U.S. and is spreading west.

Deputy Regional Forester Tony Dixon said it was impractical for the agency to widely enforce compliance, given the vast number of caves in the Rocky Mountain region. He appealed to cave explorers to voluntarily adhere to the restriction and help the agency determine which caves and mines don’t harbor bats.

It’s possible caves without bats can be reopened, he said.

Forest Service regions in the East and South have already imposed bat cave closures.

The Rocky Mountain region consists of 22 million acres of forest and grassland in the five affected states, with more than 30,000 abandoned mines and hundreds of caves, Dixon said.

There will be exceptions to the closure, he said. For instance, scientists will be allowed to conduct research and collect data that can be used to help monitor the situation, and commercial operators could get special permits if they have decontamination procedures.

Wonderland Cave at Sturgis, S.D., the only concessionaire cave affected by the order, will be allowed to remain open because it controls public access and can prevent introduction of the fungus, Dixon said.

In addition, caves on private land are not affected by the Forest Service order, but Dixon said the agency will work with owners to educate them on the disease.

The Forest Service will post signs at caves and kiosks as well as information on its website, notifying the public about the closures, Dixon said.

The fungus linked to white-nose syndrome appears to thrive in cold, moist caves and affects hibernating bats. It is transmitted bat-to-bat, and it’s believed that it can be transported on the clothing and gear of people visiting or exploring caves. There have been no cases of the fungus affecting humans.

Dixon said possible cases of the fungus have been found in bats as far west as Oklahoma, which borders Colorado and Kansas.

The fungus forms a white covering that irritates the bats’ faces and wings, burns up the mammals’ fat reserves and awakens them early from hibernation. Stricken bats exhibit unusual behavior, such as flying during the day, with many starving or freezing.