The purpose of this area is to provide an outlet for
information about gating caves in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania
Game Commission has been the most visable and the single most
successful organization which actively protects this unique underground
habitat in Pennsylvania. This topic has spawned differing opinions,
rumors, and misconceptions for over five years now. It is hoped
that this archive will become an important resource to educate
those new to Pennsylvania caving and who have questions about
these certain management issues. In this way we might prevent
misinformation and rumors, and continue to move forward to achieve
our ultimate goals.
If you would like to ask a question about a subject or rumor concerning PA caves, or comment on anything your read in this area, email your message to:
Questions are privately answered by knowledgable people close both to the PGC and MAR. Bat Conservation and Management only functions as an information resource and is not affiliated with any organization or agency. All information viewed on these pages may not reflect the official policies of any agency or organization. Questions and answers may later appear on this FAQ page.
List of Pennsylvania Game Commission project sites
Askon Hollow Cave, Fayette County
Site is remote, owned by PGC. Active woodrat colony. Active bat
colony (approx. 100). Abundant delicate formations. Invertebrate
study in progress.
Canoe Creek Mine #2, Blair County
Accessable with vehicles, owned by DCNR. Former party spot. Significant
bat hibernaculm (approx. 15,000). Largest accessable hibernacula
in PA. Federally endangered Indiana bats.
Durham Iron Mine,
Bucks County
Extremely dangerous abandoned mine and former party spot before
gating. Owned by conservation organization. Major liability problem,
and one of the largest hibernacula in the state (approx. 8,000).
No visitation except scientific research.
Joe Raab Iron Mine, York County
Short walk, owned by York County. Party spot, major liability
problem. Small bat colony (approx. 75)
Little Wood Pussy Cave, Indiana County
Short walk. Owned by PGC. Small cave with active woodrat colony.
Few bats if any. Gated to provide undisturbed woodrat monitoring
site.
Mt. Rock Cave, Huntingdon
County
Short walk, private landowner. High year-round visitation. Second
largest big brown hibernaculum in PA. Summer access controlled
by cave club, Nittany Grotto, NSS. PGC assisted with gate
design.
Salisbury Mine/Cave, Somerset County
Accessable with vehicles, owned privately. Former party spot.
Significant bat hibernaculum (approx. 2,500) with federally endangered
Indiana bats. Landowner controls summer access, refuses entry.
Schofer Cave, Berks
County
Accessable with vehicles, owned by PGC. Party spot. High visitation
before gating. Few bats (approx. 5). No historic bat colony since
cave was discovered by quarrying. Gated to determine if bat colony
can be established with reduced human disturbance. Invertebrate
study in progress.
Seawra Cave, Mifflin
County
Short walk, private landowner. High year-round visitation before
gating. Significant bat hibernaculm (approx. 2,000) with federally
endangered Indiana bats. Summer access controlled by cave club;
Huntingdon County Cave Hunters, NSS. PGC assisted with gate
design.
Steifel Park Mine, Beaver County
Accessable with vehicles in abandoned quarry, now a community
park owned by Borough of Ellwood City. Former party spot, major
liability problem. Significant bat hibernacula (approx. 2,000)
Strangford Cave, Indiana County
Accessable with vehicles, owned by PGC. Former party spot. Active
woodrat colony. Few bats (approx. 20) despite suitable temperatures,
entrance and passage configuration, and overall site location.
Gated to determine if bat colony can become established with reduced
human disturbance. Invertebrate study in progress.
US Steel Mine #2
Accessable with vehicles, owned by PGC. Former party spot. One
of the top five largest
known hibernacula in Pennsylvania (approx. 6,000).