I find it truly fascinating and a telling comment on the people who
post on this listserve that there have been 20+ postings complaining
about the location of TCR (which is, after all, just a party, and
precious little if any caving ever happens at TCR), while not one
person has commented on this posting and the implications of WNS on
caving in Texas and the surrounding states.
Diana, truly tired of having to hit the delete button this afternoon.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Butch Fralia" <[email protected]>
Date: August 2, 2010 4:20:53 PM CDT
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: [Texascavers] TPWD Executive Order re: WNS and cave access
This is being forwarded to the list from Logan McNatt who cannot
post from his work e-mail address….
Butch
This is a general policy statement that applies only to caves on
TPWD properties, e.g. state parks and wildlife management areas.
Decisions are being made on a case by case basis. So far, Gorman
Cave at Colorodo Bend SP is the only cave normally open to visitors
that has been closed. The policy was developed after much thought
and consultation with other agencies, including Bat Conservation
International. Logan
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORDER NO. 010-005
The Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
orders the restrictions to public access to certain department lands
and facilities as provided herein.
Due to the detection of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in bat populations
in nearby states, the Executive Director has determined that it is
necessary to authorize staff of the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (the department) to restrict public access, where
necessary, to caves or other natural features on state parks,
wildlife management areas, and any other lands under the management
of the department, in order to prevent the possible spread of WNS as
a result of human contact.
WNS is a fungal pathogen whose etiology, pathology, distribution,
and dispersal have not been well studied and are not well
understood. WNS is believed to disrupt the feeding and hibernation
cycles of affected individuals, leading to death in almost all
cases. WNS poses no threat to human beings. At the present time, WNS
is not known to have spread to Texas; however, since its discovery
in the northeastern United States in 2006, it has spread southward
and westward and now has been detected or is suspected to exist in
14 states and two Canadian provinces, including the states of
Missouri and Oklahoma. Although the mechanics of WNS transmission
are not definitively known, mammalogists have recommended the
closure of hibernacula (areas where bats hibernate) to human contact
in order to minimize the potential spread of WNS. WNS has been
detected in nine species of bats thus far (little brown bat, eastern
small-footed bat, northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat, big
brown bat, Indiana bat, gray bat, cave myotis, and southeastern
myotis). Because several of the species of bats known to be
susceptible to WNS are found in Texas, the department believes it is
prudent to identify and close to public access those areas under the
control of the department where physical contact between humans and
bats or bat habitat may occur.
It is therefore ordered that department staff is authorized to
restrict public access, as necessary, to any feature or area under
department control in order to prevent the spread of WNS. Department
staff is also authorized to allow controlled access to caves and
other areas under conditions prescribed by the department, including
escorted visitation, limitations on activities and conduct, and
decontamination protocols.
The department will prominently post those areas that are closed to
public access, and will publish a list of the closed areas on the
department website.
This order is issued pursuant to §81.401 of the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Code, and 31 Tex. Admin. Code §59.132(a), §59.134(e),
§65.192(f), §65.204(d). This order is effective immediately.
Signed this the 29th day of July, 2010.
Carter Smith
Executive Director
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Diana R. Tomchick
Associate Professor
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Rm. ND10.214B
Dallas, TX 75390-8816, U.S.A.
Email: [email protected]
214-645-6383 (phone)
214-645-6353 (fax)
