In the near-midnight darkness of the Cherokee National Forest, Dr. Joy O'Keefe and three research technicians sit around a table in the middle of a fire road, waiting for bats.
Comments do not represent the opinions of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, nor does it review every comment. Profanities, slurs and libelous remarks are prohibited. For more information you can view our Terms & Conditions and/or Ethics policy.
In response to the spread of white-nose syndrome, the Forest Service has closed all caves on Federal lands as well as make the "recommendation" that all states in this region follow suit as well (insofar as closing caves on state-owned lands).
One proposed vector of infection is that cavers are spreading the disease via their equipment; i.e. a caver goes into cave A, which has a white-nose infestation, and then goes into cave B at a later time, thereby introducing the spores to a new cave ecosystem.
However, after several years, this has yet to be proven in a single case. All that has been done is that caves are closed and government grant money is being handed out to those with a vested interest in seeing a long-term "epidemic".
Now raise your hand if you think those caves will ever be open to the public again....
Heading off white-nose fearIn the near-midnight darkness of the Cherokee National Forest, Dr. Joy O'Keefe and three research technicians sit around a table in the middle of a fire road, waiting for bats.
In response to the spread of white-nose syndrome, the Forest Service has closed all caves on Federal lands as well as make the "recommendation" that all states in this region follow suit as well (insofar as closing caves on state-owned lands).
One proposed vector of infection is that cavers are spreading the disease via their equipment; i.e. a caver goes into cave A, which has a white-nose infestation, and then goes into cave B at a later time, thereby introducing the spores to a new cave ecosystem.
However, after several years, this has yet to be proven in a single case. All that has been done is that caves are closed and government grant money is being handed out to those with a vested interest in seeing a long-term "epidemic".
Now raise your hand if you think those caves will ever be open to the public again....
Or login with:
New Account