Cave in Bighorns closed due to bats

Posted 8/20/19

Bighorn National Forest managers have temporarily closed a popular cave after finding that bats have taken up residence inside the cavern.

On a recent trip to Tongue River Cave west of Dayton, …

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Cave in Bighorns closed due to bats

Posted

Bighorn National Forest managers have temporarily closed a popular cave after finding that bats have taken up residence inside the cavern.

On a recent trip to Tongue River Cave west of Dayton, biologists discovered a maternity roost of Townsend’s big-eared bats.

“This species is considered sensitive [and] the Bighorn National Forest Plan mandates that a closure be placed in effect if bat maternity roosts are found,” forest officials said in a Thursday announcement.

Pups are typically born between May and July and the temporary closure of the Tongue River Cave is intended to allow the bats to rear their young undisturbed.

The National Park Service says that — beyond their enormous ears —  Townsend’s big-eared bats are known for “the unique habit of forming maternity roosts during breeding season.”

“The maternity roosts are established in areas with ideal temperature and humidity, and are easily disturbed; this has made the species somewhat rare,” the Park Service website says.

When the Tongue River Cave is open, visitors must first register and follow decontamination procedures to ensure they don’t spread a deadly fungus to the bats in the cave. The cave — along with three others — is closed every year from Oct. 15 to April 15 to protect hibernating bats from being disturbed.

For more information, contact the Bighorn National Forest’s Tongue Ranger District at 307-674-2600.

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