Interesting that Carlsbad Caverns, home to how many tens of thousands of bats,
and visited by how many tens of thousands of people, MANY from states where WNS
is in full swing, is not closed. Ah, the real reason...it generates MONEY....I
know that it is NPS, but what good is a knee jerk reaction from the BLM going
to do except alleviate some consciences, thus allowing them to throw up their
hands to the sky and say that they honestly did all they could......HOW
PATHETIC on the part of BLM. ALSO HOW TYPICAL.
Just a thought......WOULD A LITTLE REAL SCIENCE help here folks??????? And
YES, it is my, and millions of others TAX DOLLARS that are paying for this
knee-jerk jerk-asenine reaction.
Thank you.
Carl......
On Jan 26, 2011, at 9:05 AM, Ken Harrington wrote:
> Here is a notice from BLM for anyone who did not see Jennifer's e-mail on the
> same subject.
>
> Ken
>
> Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass - It's about dancing in the
> rain.
>
>
>
> > Subject: BLM News Release:
> > To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];[email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected];[email protected]; [email protected];
> > [email protected]
> > From: [email protected]
> > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:40:37 -0700
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> > Sorry for the delay in forwarding this. The federal register notice
> > defining BLM's initial closure of 28 caves with significant bat roosts was
> > published yesterday. Here is the news release that went to media late
> > yesterday - received wide coverage overnight with AP, NPR and others.
> >
> > White-Nose Syndrome Threat Closes 28 BLM Caves in New Mexico
> >
> >
> > Santa Fe – The Bureau of Land Management published notice in the Federal
> > Register today closing 28 caves to public visitation for the next two years
> > in an effort to reduce the threat of White-nose Syndrome to bats. The
> > temporary closures affect caves that are known to have significant bat
> > roosts.
> >
> > White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease that has killed over one million
> > hibernating bats in the East and Southeast in the past four years. The
> > fungus associated with the disease, Geomyces destructans, was found on a
> > bat in western Oklahoma last May thus elevating the concern that the fungus
> > might next arrive in New Mexico. The fungus is known to be transmitted
> > from bat to bat and from cave to bat. Scientific data also indicates that
> > fungal spores may be spread inadvertently by humans, their clothing, or
> > caving gear from one cave, mine or bat roost to another.
> >
> > Today’s closure notice is a continuation of the interagency efforts to
> > protect New Mexico’s bats that included the development of the White-nose
> > Syndrome Interagency Response Plan for New Mexico in November 2010. Various
> > user groups and interested publics provided input into the state plan and
> > helped develop criteria used to identify significant caves and strategies
> > for preventing human transmission of the fungus.
> >
> > The following BLM caves are now closed:
> >
> > Field Office BLM Caves Closed Due to WNS
> >
> > Roswell Bat Hole, Big-eared, Corn Sinkhole, Crockett's,
> > Crystal, Feather, Fly, Fort Stanton, Malpais
> > Madness, Smiley, Sun Spot, Torgac's, Torgac's Annex,
> > Tres Ninos and Martin-Antelope Gyp Cave Complex
> >
> > Carlsbad Billy the Kid, Dry, Endless, McKittrick, Rusty
> > Hinge, Sand, Adobe, and Yellowjacket
> >
> > Las Cruces Geronimo, U-Bar and Lepto Splat
> >
> > Socorro Ladrone
> >
> > Rio Puerco Pronoun Cave Complex
> >
> >
> > Although other caves and mines on BLM public lands remain open, subject to
> > prior restrictions and/or permit requirements, the public
> > is discouraged from entering any caves and
> > underground abandoned mine features on public lands to limit the potential
> > spread of the fungus. Mandatory decontamination of
> > clothing and gear is required of anyone entering
> > non-commercial caves or mines on federal lands. The most current WNS
> > decontamination protocols and gear dedication procedures
> > are available at
> > http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/index.html.
> >
> > New Mexico is home to 28 species of bats, including sixteen that hibernate
> > in state. Bats play a critical role in many cave ecosystems and are
> > important nocturnal insectivores that help control insect populations
> > throughout the summer season.
> >
> >
> > For more information, please visit:
> >
> > http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/wildlife/white-nose_syndrome.html
> > http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/about.html
> >
> > http://biology.usgs.gov/wter/wns.html
> >
> >
> >
> > -BLM-
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > Donna Hummel
> > Acting Chief, Office of External Affairs
> > USDI, Bureau of Land Management
> > New Mexico State Office
> > 301 Dinosaur Trail
> > Santa Fe, NM 87508
> > Office: 505/954-2019
> > Cell: 505/660-8528
> > Fax: 505/954-2010
> > Email: [email protected]
> > (Document link: Donna Hummel)
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