White Nose Syndrome was a major topic of discussion at the West Virginia Cave Conservancy’s Board meeting on March 15.  Some Conservancy members felt that the Conservancy should follow Virginia’s lead and close the Conservancy’s caves until more is known about WNS.

After considerable debate, the Board decided to follow official closure recommendations provided by appropriate government agencies.

The Board then agreed to close Island Ford Cave since it’s in Virginia and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has requested a moratorium on wild caving in the state.  The closure will remain in effect until the Virginia caving moratorium is lifted; signs giving WNS information and explaining the reason for the closure have been posted at the cave entrance.

Dave Cowan is the Cave Manager for Lobelia Saltpeter Cave, which is owned by the Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc., but managed by WVCC.   Dave said that Craig Stihler of the WV Division of Natural Resources informally had told him that endangered bats have been observed in the cave in the past so Dave requested that, with SCCi’s concurrence, Lobelia Saltpeter be closed.  The Board agreed with this request and that cave is now considered closed.

The other six caves owned or managed by WVCC remain open for now. None of the Conservancy’s caves contain significant bat populations.