Is Bat Protection just a way to keep cavers out?

Most of the caves in the Shawnee National Forest are barred and closed to spelunking.

The current US Forest Service folks will likely never reopen them to spelunking opportunists.

They claim it's for bat protection and white nose syndrome mitigation. However, I've read some reports that WNS is under control for the most part and that many caves are fine to be reopened for recreational spelunking.

As a caver, I'm really interested in seeing how you feel about this situation?

Shawn said:

Most of the caves in the Shawnee National Forest are barred and closed to spelunking.

The current US Forest Service folks will likely never reopen them to spelunking opportunists.

They claim it's for bat protection and white nose syndrome mitigation. However, I've read some reports that WNS is under control for the most part and that many caves are fine to be reopened for recreational spelunking.

As a caver, I'm really interested in seeing how you feel about this situation?

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Caving bans only keep out cavers, spelunkers are still going to go in the caves!

krJoest said:

Caving bans only keep out cavers, spelunkers are still going to go in the caves!

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Truth.

I'm not a caver or spelunker, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

I've read the same thing about the white nose syndrome among bat populations showing signs of improvement. Maybe it's time to relook at opening some of the closed caves.

I suspect you're right in thinking that the cave closures for the protection of bats, while done for legitimate reasons, also was a convenient excuse to keep people out of caves. Some of reasons probably aren't unreasonable. People have trashed and graffitied caves and people have gotten lost, hurt, or trapped in caves, requiring expensive rescue efforts. Caves are often fragile environments that can be easily damaged without proper care.

In an ideal world the caves in the Shawnee and other National Forest would be opened on a permit basis for groups with proper instruction and equipment as long as conditions allowed. That way those who entered the caves would be held accountable for any trash or graffiti that appeared during their visit. It would keep out those who were not prepared and would make it possible to monitor when people came and went in case something happened.

Maybe a system of cameras near the entrances and a check out being required for those with a permit would work. An electronic lock that would allow entry with a code given when permits were issued and only valid for a certain time period would be better. Those things would be expensive to install and maintain, though, so I don't see that happening anytime soon.