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| All participants get a safety briefing reguardless of being a rookie or long time veteran of bat counts. | This is to ensure safety and park regulations are followed. | We had 14 counters this year which would be divided into two teams to make the count go a bit faster. |
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| Then it was time to make our way down the entrance of the cave. | This way is no longer used by the tours due to a ceiling collapse a few years ago blocking the trail. | |
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| But since there is little human movement down this a way, the bats tend to gather a bit more here so we go there. | Although this year they tricked us and were in the exit/new entrance of the cave. | |
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| Once here Mike Caywood (Park Manager) gives us all an ideal on how to look for these little critters up there on the ceiling! | They can be individuals or in tightly packed clusters. | |
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| One group goes to the lowest part of the cave and has to crawl though lots of tight openings to get to Lower Cave. | These are the brave souls that went on that journey | |
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| Meanwhile the other group takes the high road. This picture from the entrance of Lower Cave. | ||
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| They are wayyyyyy up there!! | ||
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| A common cave bat (myotis velfier) and a large majority of the count! | You will see the same bat taken from many different views.... | ... as scientists (and park personell) look for signs of WNS (White Nose Syndome) |
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| The high group is done and is coming back to get back on the trail. | A couple of pictures also have a hand, finger, bic pen next to the bats to show size perspective. | |
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| Don't worry... they don't fall... when we sleep, we relax but a bat tightens up their grip firm on the rock. | Mike had special lighting installed on some of the crystal walls to change color and show off the crystals. | |
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| Then to the collapsed area... we will go though this area to get back on the trail and continue our count. | The problem here is there is an exposed wire that is believed to be live so you have to come down on the debris east like. | We found the wire and all were able to avoid it safely... |
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| ... but they all got a chance to get dirty! <grin> | Just then the Lower Cave people joined us again. | |
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| The collapse has 100's of tons of rock but giant sections of the roof fell and act like a table and we crawl under the table. | The tightest spot is either on your belly on the stairs out to the side or take a crouched side passage. | You can quickly find out if you have claustrophobia! :) |
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| Thus.... no way tourists are brought this way anymore! Too dangerous (and too dirty!) <grin> | ||
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| You can shine your light on a crystal and the entire crystal shines! | Lots of crystal broke here but it is illeagle to take it from the cave. | |
