Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 10
CREATURE FEATURE
CHRIS HALLEEN
WM SHREWSBURY
Caves
Saving
the
The Southeastern Cave Conservancy works
to protect these underground spaces
-and the critters that live there.
By NANCY HENDERSON
t's been more than three decades since 14 outdoor
enthusiasts launched a nonprofit so they could take
ownership of a 3-mile-long cave donated by a Northwest
Georgia landowner. Before long, the focus of
the newly formed Southeastern Cave Conservancy
Inc. had mushroomed into something much more.
Kris Green, one of the original co-founders, remembers
it well. " The group said, 'Well, we need to create
an organization that can provide for recreational opportunity
as well as conservation and have an arm that
would provide education so that people would understand
why caves and the critters in the caves are important
and need to be saved. "
Today, SCCi is billed as the largest land conservancy
I
RON MILLER
Caves offer lures both at the surface entrance and below the openings, but
visitors need to keep in mind the sensitive nature and aspects of both the caves
and their inhabitants.
in the world solely dedicated to caves and karsts, the surrounding,
water-carved limestone landscapes. Based in
Signal Mountain, Tennessee, the organization now manages
more than 170 caves in 35 preserves in seven states,
owning most of them outright and partnering with landowners,
government agencies and other nonprofit groups
to safeguard others. Trained scientists oversee research
projects, and volunteers closely monitor the caves in an
effort to thwart vandalism, poaching and the spread of
invasive plant species. Free permits are required to visit
any of the SCCi preserves.
According to the organization, the Southeast is home
to thousands of caves, many of which have been harmed
10 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG48
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com