Patton Cave

[marine2f3]

Hey everyone I just went to Patton cave this weekend in Charles C Deam Wilderness and let me tell you is was awesome. Not a long cave it took 20 minutes to go all the way through but it was really fun. If you have the time i suggest you make the trip to see it.

 

[westfork]

caves are all closed in indiana to help curb the spread of white nose fungal disease in bats.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5404.htm

pretty sure this applies to national forests as well. somebody correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[shibumiseeker]

caves are all closed in indiana to help curb the spread of white nose fungal disease in bats.

DNR: Bat Disease

pretty sure this applies to national forests as well. somebody correct me if i'm wrong.

You're not wrong. All caves on state and federal property in Indiana are closed and there are fines and potential jail time for violating the closure.

This does not apply to privately owned caves, but Patton is on the Hoosier National Forest and is closed.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

You're not wrong. All caves on state and federal property in Indiana are closed and there are fines and potential jail time for violating the closure.

This does not apply to privately owned caves, but Patton is on the Hoosier National Forest and is closed.

I'd heard about this but for some reason I thought it had been lifted or rescinded... my caving days are over for the most part anyhow.

 

[shibumiseeker]

I'd heard about this but for some reason I thought it had been lifted or rescinded... my caving days are over for the most part anyhow.

Not yet. WNS has been found in Indiana this year and the DNR is evaluating the closures each year.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Not yet. WNS has been found in Indiana this year and the DNR is evaluating the closures each year.

So what is the fear? That human spelunkers are going to inhale this bat nose fungus and go into another cave, sneeze, and pass the fungus along to other bats?

 

[shibumiseeker]

So what is the fear? That human spelunkers are going to inhale this bat nose fungus and go into another cave, sneeze, and pass the fungus along to other bats?

The fear is spreading it through contaminated clothing and equipment, in spite of the fact that thus far there is no direct evidence that it spreads this way, or that if it does that it is a primary path.

Basically it's the bureaucratic "well, we don't know what to do so we'll do something" and the caving community doesn't swing enough $$$ to make them accomodate.

 

[Archbishop]

The fear is spreading it through contaminated clothing and equipment, in spite of the fact that thus far there is no direct evidence that it spreads this way, or that if it does that it is a primary path.

Basically it's the bureaucratic "well, we don't know what to do so we'll do something" and the caving community doesn't swing enough $$$ to make them accomodate.

Exactly this. And yes as others have pointed out this closure does include Patton's cave. Last time I was there, early summer, there was a sign on a board stand, but it had been tossed off to the side.

 

[Fabiga5]

The last time I was at Patton's Cave this summer too I saw that the sign had been put back up directly in front of the cave entrance. Hopefully, the DNR will lift the ban soon, I think that the cave is really cool in the winter with the ice formations.