Bat Caves?

[toni]

I've just started to cave and this week learnt the skills of SRT.
I'm really interested in locating caves with Bats in. I'm based in Sheff so looking for something as close as possible! Does anyone know of any?
Any suggestions would be welcome, close by or not.
I've not looked into restrictions (wild life wise) as yet so if you know of any please tell.

Many Thanks.

 

[martinr]

I've not looked into restrictions (wild life wise) as yet so if you know of any please tell.

http://www.bats.org.uk/batlaw/batlaw_in_detail.asp

 

[cap n chris]

I guess anyone with knowledge of caves containing bats will be wise enough to avoid wider publication of such information by using the Private Messaging feature of this site!

 

[toni]

Thanks for the link Martin.
Chris? Quite rightly put me in my place :blink:
Jules has just shown me how to 'search' the forum for similar topics/answers that may already exist.
Many apologies for wasting your time  :-[

FYI Chester Zoo Bat Cave is fab-u-lous, just not the same as viewing it in situ 

 

[martinr]

Many apologies for wasting your time

No need to apologise. Pleased we could point you in the right direction. This is one of the purposes of the forum - sharing info.

 

[graham]

http://www.bats.org.uk/batlaw/batlaw_in_detail.asp

People should note the use of the "recklessly" on that page. Intent does not need to be proven. This is quite a strong law.

 

[Big Jim]

Toni, the best thing to do would be to join your local Bat Group.  I'm not sure if Sheffield Bat group do much underground stuff, but a hard core of us in Derbyshire Bat Group do quite a bit of cave/mine surveying for bats. Much of this has been done with the help of members of the DCA and PDMHS. 

PM me and I'll let you know how to join - usually details would be on our website, but we are just having it re-vamped at the mo.

Jim
DBCG

 

[underground]

Toni, may be worth contacting Sorby Natural History Society - I believe still based at Weston Park Museum and well presidented by a chap called Derek Whiteley...

Or contacting Big Jim above, as a Bat Group sounds a perfect starting point 

 

[whitelackington]

Bat Groups should be banned 

 

[cap n chris]

... from what? Hunting Rhinos?

 

[toni]

Bat Groups should be banned

because...?

I'm intrigued, please expand 

 

[Downer]

Bat Groups should be banned

because...?

I'm intrigued, please expand 

I think I can safely say Whitelackington has already expanded

 

[whitelackington]

Well tis blinkingly obvious aint it. :-\
Diggers find and open new caves.
Bats then take up residence.
Newbie cavers are let in.
Oh, whoopie they see some bats,
they tell people
Cave that was not enterable before now has extreeme conditions put on it.
Now diggers have nothing against bats
only bat groups

 

[graham]

Well tis blinkingly obvious aint it. :-\
Diggers find and open new caves.
Bats then take up residence.
Newbie cavers are let in.
Oh, whoopie they see some bats,
they tell people
Cave that was not enterable before now has extreeme conditions put on it.
Now diggers have nothing against bats
only bat groups

Give me one instance where that has happened.

 

[whitelackington]

Shute Shelve Cavern,
Axbridge!

 

[graham]

Shute Shelve Cavern,
Axbridge!

I think you will find that the bats knew about that place before you did.

 

[toni]

Newbie caver's are let in.

O.K, so its 'newbie' caver's you harbor angst for, because you were obviously never one of those!

 

[cap n chris]

...
Diggers find and open new caves.
...
Cave that was not enterable before now has extreeme conditions put on it.

I don't see any problem with this on the grounds that new caves tend to be in pristine condition and they also tend to get protected by some sort of access conditions/restriction/protection - whether the reason for this is the presence of bats or the presence of pristine surfaces makes no great odds, surely?

 

[Big Jim]

I agree, diggers do open up more caves/mines which effectively creates more hibernacular for bats. Good point.  I have also heard more talk of gating in cavers/mine exploration circles than in Bat Conservation Circle's, quite understandably as even I (as a Bat Conservationist) can see why caves and mines need protecting from idiots to preserve their geological/archaeological value. If it keeps the idiots out, we all win.

Just be careful around bats and carry on caving

Jim