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Tennessee Chapter Gates Alexander Cave

Cave shelters federally endangered Gray bat nursery.

Nashville, TN—8 August 2005—A Perry County cave, which serves as a baby bat nursery, has been gated by The Nature Conservancy to protect the Gray bat maternity colony that uses the cave every year.

Alexander Cave was donated to TNC earlier this year by a Florida businessman. The cave, as well as the surrounding 210 acres, was originally part of a large timber company holding that was sold to M.C. Davis, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., last year.

"The Nature Conservancy has wanted to find way to protect Alexander Cave for years and we had been communicating with the previous landowner. When Mr. Davis asked them about any special places on the property, they told him about the cave and our interest," said Heather Garland, cave and karst director for The Nature Conservancy.

When Davis learned that the cave served as a summertime nursery for Gray bat pups, he contacted Garland. Gray bats are on the federally endangered species list and up to 30,000 have been known to use the cave in the summer. With funds donated by Mr. Davis, the Conservancy erected a steel gate at the site this summer. Volunteers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Heritage Division of the Tennessee Environment and Conservation Department and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service helped with the nine day project.

"It is rewarding to join efforts with The Nature Conservancy, the state of Tennessee and local residents for long-term protection of a bat cave," said Davis.

The Conservancy may also work with the Heritage Division of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to have the site designated a State Natural Area.