NEW CITRUS COUNTY CAVE IS CLOSED
By Bill Walker

The new cave in Citrus County is temporarily closed for bat maternity season. Go somewhere else for now (TBAG should have some new ones opening up soon!) The cave is closed from April to September.

Soon after the cave was discovered, Robert Brooks approached the Forest Service about the cave. We were all concerned about the cave closing. If you haven't been there before, the cave is located in a quarry that is being reclaimed (filled in.) The bulldozers have come right up to the entrance of the cave, and the entrance is in danger of silting in. Brian dug the entrance out during the cavort.

The cave also contains a large bat colony (several thousand) that is in danger of losing it's roost from the closing of the cave. Robert Brooks has been working with a biologist from the Forest Service and they have made some progress in saving the cave. The FS is going to remove the dirt mountain and rocks from the entrance. They will also erect a fence around the entrance. Cavers should have full access, but it will be closed for bat maternity season.

So... go somewhere else! TBAG has a few really promising digs going and I have a sweet dig that is into going walking passage. We will all have a few new caves open in a month or so!