First, really great photos and many thanks for sharing them with us.
Sadly, expect more gates on caves. Right now there is a really huge push to close off/gate most caves in the US. Currently all caves in the rocky mountains are closed to all human visitation. This after the CBD filed action to close all caves on all federal lands in the US. Here is the link and what they said.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news ... -2010.html
Forest Service Will Close Caves in Rocky Mountain Region to Protect Bats From Lethal Disease
Group Advocates for Closures Across West
RICHMOND, Vt.— More than six months after the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition to close all federally managed bat caves in the lower 48 states, the U.S. Forest Service has indicated it intends to close caves on federal forests and grasslands in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and most of Wyoming and South Dakota. A devastating bat-killing disease known as white-nose syndrome has spread rapidly from its original epicenter in upstate New York four years ago. The Center has demanded that more proactive steps be taken to protect bats, which are dying by the millions in the eastern half of the country.
The reason stated is WNS. But I think it is more about removing even more public access to public areas.
Mike
