Cave Conservation

Welcome to our caves program. Cave habitats are very important to many bat species, including most U.S. Endangered species. Bats use caves for winter hibernation, for rearing young in the summer, and for other seasonal purposes.

BCI's Caves Program is involved with the following: 

Cave Assessments to quantify what species are using the site and to describe the type of use. We also visit caves to learn how many and what species may have used the cave in the past, and why they may no longer do so.

Cave Censuses to monitor populations over time, especially for Threatened and Endangered species.

Cave Management Plans to provide a long-term blueprint for visitation, research, and resource protection.

Cave Gating and other forms of unattended protection designed to prevent unnecessary disturbance and reduce liability.

Microclimate Research to define the temperature and humidity needs of cave-dwelling bats, and to characterize roost suitability for particular species.

Microclimate Restoration to re-establish airflow and other conditions altered through physical changes to the cave, such as from commercial development.

Training of biologists and cavers in assessment and protections techniques.

In other words, we try to help with anything related to cave habitats and cave-using bat species.

Bats and caves are inextricably related. Many bats have evolved behaviors and physical adaptations (such as echolocation) that allow them to exploit cave habitats. And many caves are critical refuges for many species of bats. Different bats use caves for hibernation, rearing young (maternity sites), migratory stopovers, night roosts, and swarming sites, see here. In the United States, there are approximately 40,000 known caves, but fewer than 5% are ideally suited for bats. Thus, it is imperative that we protect those needed for bats survival.

For more information  on bats and caves, contact caves@batcon.org