Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 11
CREATURE FEATURE
by development or misuse. A top priority is protecting the
natural inhabitants, including blind cave fish, salamanders
in Tennessee and Virginia, and imperiled Indiana
bats, found mostly in Kentucky. Great pains are taken to
conserve the habitat of tens of thousands of endangered
gray bats, which pollinate crops and gobble up high numbers
of pests. Fricks Cave near Chickamauga, Georgia, for
example, is only open to SCCi members and supporters
one day a year, in the dead of winter.
" We don't know why about 30 to 35 of the 5,000 [gray
bats] that are there all summer stay, but they do, " says
executive director Ray Knott. " We go in ahead of time
and rope off where the bats are hibernating, and cavers
are to be quiet in that section and not disturb them and
not walk underneath them or shine lights upon them.
We have other caves that have bats that are maternity
colonies. "
One reason to care about these dark-loving creatures,
Knott adds, is that, " a lot of these cave-dwelling species
are kind of like the canary in the coal mine. If they start
dying off, it starts affecting things well beyond where
their habitat is. So we value all of them. "
SCCi also strives to preserve the region's rich cave history,
from prehistoric jaguar bones and Native American
drawings to saltpeter mine ruins from the Civil War. The
One reason to care about these
cave-dwelling species is that
they are kind of like the canary
in the coal mine.
organization has, for example, worked to shield rare inscriptions
written in the Cherokee syllabary on the walls
at Howards Waterfall Cave Preserve, the first site donated
to SCCi in 1991. Graffiti was starting to mar the writings
by the time they were discovered.
Educating students and the general public is another
priority for SCCi. So is striking a balance between protecting
the caves and promoting safe use. Says Knott: " We
don't necessarily need more people visiting caves. But I
was a Scout my whole life and our cave trips were something
I remembered. So I think it is important that young
people have the opportunity to visit these places ... and
understand why it's important to save them. "
For more info, see SaveYourCaves.org.
MAY/JUNE 2023 11
http://www.SaveYourCaves.org
http://www.tourcartercounty.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