I am writing to you about the cave closures on public land the USFWS caving moratorium and why I don't think it's accomplishing what it's intending to do.
A blanket closure of all caves is overboard. It is reasonable to close known bat hibernaculum, but not all caves have bats and most caves are not bat hibernaculum. I'm asking you to persuade the USFWS and government land management to not close non-bat hibernaculumm caves when bats are not in hibernation and caves without bats year round. Most caves have few or no bats and that is why all caves do not need to be closed. While it has been proven that WNS is following known bat migrations, there is a lack of proof that cavers are spreading WNS.
Another issue is that while organized cavers are observing the moratorium, spelunkers and vandals are not. There has been a rise in vandalism in caves and I attribute this to the lack of our “neighborhood cave watch” which tends to keep them out. Organized cavers are conservation minded. But not all who enter caves are cavers nor with good intentions for the biology and geology of the caves.
As a volunteer and at my own expense I have been striving to put together a youth caving program in my area for several years. 2008 was the best year yet. Several volunteers and I took approximately 80 youths and their adult leaders underground and introduced them to caves and their unique environment. Because of those we took underground I was able to be invited to do “cave talks” to their groups. Here I was able to personally talk to 250 people about this subject over the 2008 year. Even if they never went underground they had a very good idea what it was really about and a better understanding of the importance to preserve and take care of caves. At the end of 2008 my hope and goal was to double that for 2009 and reach 500 youth and their leaders to educate them.
With the influx of WNS into Pennsylvania and the caving moratorium I had to tell all the groups that I had promised for the year 2009 that we would not be going underground until the moratorium was lifted. As a result I have not been able to secure any interest in “cave talks”. Here, one year later, I have reached no youth and their adult leaders. No one has learned from me the importance of caves. No one has learned from me about how important bats are and what they do for us. I have no audience to talk about the importance for WNS research.
The caves we have used for youth group education have no significant bat population. Any caves that do have a significant bat population can be easily avoided and a small handful of local caves in the same region can be used. This would limit the number of caves the guides are exposed too. Along with the recommended decontamination protocols we can still effectively educate many youth. Most of the youth and leaders we take caving have never been in a cave before, and if they go again it won’t be for a year or more if they are lucky. So the argument of cross contamination by them just doesn’t seem valid.
For those that say that at least we are not killing bats, I insist that we still are. Without a reasonable voluntary education program in place bats will continue to be misunderstood and not valued for their position in our ecosystem and economy. The general population will continue to see them as a flying pest to be feared and exterminated. Or at the very least not valued enough to spend money to find out how to cure WNS.
I hope I have convinced you that closing all caves to cavers is not good for all caves or their inhabitants. Please talk to the USFWS to change their recommendation of a blanket cave closure and moratorium.
Thank you,
Allen Maddox
National Speleological Society Youth Group Liaison Committee, Chair
Philadelphia Grotto, Youth Group Liaison
Dragon Breath Grotto Venturing Crew 9, Advisor
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Letter to USFWS about Youth Group Caving and the Volunteer Caving Moratorium
I'm using my personal email address so this is not seen as an NSS Youth Group Liaison Committee opinion. This is just my own insights from accumulation on my positions as Chair of that committee (www.caves.org/youth), the MAR Youth Group Liaison Committee Regional Coordinator (www.caves.org/youth/mar_regional_coordinator.html), the Philadelphia Grotto Youth Group Liaison (www.phillygrotto.org/content/view/40/54/), and the Advisor for Dragon Breath Grotto Venturing Crew (http://www.dragonbreathgrotto.org/).
I have been striving to put together a youth caving program in my area for several years. 2008 was the best year yet. Several volunteers and I took approximately 80 youths and their adult leaders underground and introduced them to caves and their unique environment. Because of those we took underground I was able to be invited to do “cave talks” to their groups. Here I was able to personally talk to 250 people about this subject over the 2008 year. Even if they never went underground they had a very good idea what it was really about and a better understanding of the importance to preserve and take care of caves. At the end of 2008 my hope and goal was to double that for 2009 and reach 500 youth and their leaders to educate them.
With the influx of WNS into Pennsylvania and the caving moratorium I had to tell all the groups that I had booked for the year 2009 that we would not be going underground until the moratorium was lifted. As a result I have not been able to secure any interest in “cave talks”. Here, at the end of August, I have reached a total 0, zero, zilch, nada, none, no youth and their adult leaders. No one has learned from me the importance of caves. No one has learned from me about how important bats are and what they do for us. I have no audience to talk about the importance of writing their Senator to vote for more funds for WNS research. I appreciate the gravity of the situation of WNS and the devastation to a critical link in our environment, and I understand that it is suspected that there is a possibility of cave to human to bat transmission of this deadly disease.
Honoring the caving moratorium, unfortunately, has made me become the “Grand Pooba of No Caving” and not the “go to guy” for educating our youth about caves. My suspicion is that even with reaching out to as many youth organizations as I can to encourage them to honor the caving moratorium, that there are many that will either ignore or don’t know about the moratorium or WNS. Youth groups are not interested in hearing that they can’t go caving. They seek us out to experience first hand caves and what they have to offer. With the caving moratorium in place I can no longer perform my position as originally defined. Even as unpleasant as this has become, I am still here with information about caving for interested youth groups.
For those that say that at least we are not killing bats, I insist that we still are. Without a reasonable voluntary education program in place bats will continue to be misunderstood and not valued for their position in our ecosystem. The general population will continue to see them as a flying pest to be feared and exterminated. Or at the very least not valued enough to spend money to find out how to cure WNS.
Another thought I have concerning the caving moratorium is that most of the caves we have used for youth group education have no significant bat population. Those caves that do have a significant bat population can be easily avoided and a small handful of local caves in the same region can be used. This would limit the number of caves the guides are exposed too. Along with the recommended decontamination protocols we can still effectively educate many youth. Most of the youth and leaders we take caving have never been in a cave before, and if they go again it won’t be for a year or more if they are lucky. So the argument of cross contamination by them just doesn’t seem valid. However we are still observing the caving moratorium.
I've sent this to you not to vent frustration, but to explore with you the possibility of your help to educate youth groups about WNS and what the USFWS is doing to solve the problems of WNS. I’m looking for a “hands on” type of education and not just brochures. The demographic I deal with are largely high school and college aged young men and women that have a fair understanding of biology and geology. Most of our youth cavers within our core unit are on an education path that will be leading to careers in the sciences. It would be a profitable investment in future resources to help us educate these young men and women about caves, bats, and WNS. If there were any way we can together facilitate such an experience, I would very much like to help to put something together.
I have been striving to put together a youth caving program in my area for several years. 2008 was the best year yet. Several volunteers and I took approximately 80 youths and their adult leaders underground and introduced them to caves and their unique environment. Because of those we took underground I was able to be invited to do “cave talks” to their groups. Here I was able to personally talk to 250 people about this subject over the 2008 year. Even if they never went underground they had a very good idea what it was really about and a better understanding of the importance to preserve and take care of caves. At the end of 2008 my hope and goal was to double that for 2009 and reach 500 youth and their leaders to educate them.
With the influx of WNS into Pennsylvania and the caving moratorium I had to tell all the groups that I had booked for the year 2009 that we would not be going underground until the moratorium was lifted. As a result I have not been able to secure any interest in “cave talks”. Here, at the end of August, I have reached a total 0, zero, zilch, nada, none, no youth and their adult leaders. No one has learned from me the importance of caves. No one has learned from me about how important bats are and what they do for us. I have no audience to talk about the importance of writing their Senator to vote for more funds for WNS research. I appreciate the gravity of the situation of WNS and the devastation to a critical link in our environment, and I understand that it is suspected that there is a possibility of cave to human to bat transmission of this deadly disease.
Honoring the caving moratorium, unfortunately, has made me become the “Grand Pooba of No Caving” and not the “go to guy” for educating our youth about caves. My suspicion is that even with reaching out to as many youth organizations as I can to encourage them to honor the caving moratorium, that there are many that will either ignore or don’t know about the moratorium or WNS. Youth groups are not interested in hearing that they can’t go caving. They seek us out to experience first hand caves and what they have to offer. With the caving moratorium in place I can no longer perform my position as originally defined. Even as unpleasant as this has become, I am still here with information about caving for interested youth groups.
For those that say that at least we are not killing bats, I insist that we still are. Without a reasonable voluntary education program in place bats will continue to be misunderstood and not valued for their position in our ecosystem. The general population will continue to see them as a flying pest to be feared and exterminated. Or at the very least not valued enough to spend money to find out how to cure WNS.
Another thought I have concerning the caving moratorium is that most of the caves we have used for youth group education have no significant bat population. Those caves that do have a significant bat population can be easily avoided and a small handful of local caves in the same region can be used. This would limit the number of caves the guides are exposed too. Along with the recommended decontamination protocols we can still effectively educate many youth. Most of the youth and leaders we take caving have never been in a cave before, and if they go again it won’t be for a year or more if they are lucky. So the argument of cross contamination by them just doesn’t seem valid. However we are still observing the caving moratorium.
I've sent this to you not to vent frustration, but to explore with you the possibility of your help to educate youth groups about WNS and what the USFWS is doing to solve the problems of WNS. I’m looking for a “hands on” type of education and not just brochures. The demographic I deal with are largely high school and college aged young men and women that have a fair understanding of biology and geology. Most of our youth cavers within our core unit are on an education path that will be leading to careers in the sciences. It would be a profitable investment in future resources to help us educate these young men and women about caves, bats, and WNS. If there were any way we can together facilitate such an experience, I would very much like to help to put something together.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Rachel's First Caving Trip
On August 1, 2004, a few members of the Philly Grotto decided to do a “beginners” trip and take family members to intro
duce them to caving.Trip leader Ellen had her daughter Alex, who is an experienced caver, and grandson Kealan along. Marcy brought her brother Don and his 2 sons Josh and Ryan. I had my daughter, Rachel, and her friend Kelly along as first timers. And of course Amos came along never resisting a chance to help out newbies learning to cave and provide essential equipment and guide us to the cave.This was a late afternoon caving trip. We entered the cave at about 3:00 PM. Splitting into two groups, we showed our charges around and explained the features and biology an
d explained the delicate nature of the environmentSome areas were wetter than previously experienced. The most decorated room was about two and a half feet deep in water. It was decided it would not be good to take the new folks in there. Without too much of any incidences and a lot of fun, two hours quickly turned into four.
Before we get started, we didvided up into 2 groups. Amos, Josh, Rachel, Kelly, and I are in this one.
duce them to caving.Trip leader Ellen had her daughter Alex, who is an experienced caver, and grandson Kealan along. Marcy brought her brother Don and his 2 sons Josh and Ryan. I had my daughter, Rachel, and her friend Kelly along as first timers. And of course Amos came along never resisting a chance to help out newbies learning to cave and provide essential equipment and guide us to the cave.This was a late afternoon caving trip. We entered the cave at about 3:00 PM. Splitting into two groups, we showed our charges around and explained the features and biology an
d explained the delicate nature of the environmentSome areas were wetter than previously experienced. The most decorated room was about two and a half feet deep in water. It was decided it would not be good to take the new folks in there. Without too much of any incidences and a lot of fun, two hours quickly turned into four.Before we get started, we didvided up into 2 groups. Amos, Josh, Rachel, Kelly, and I are in this one.
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