Lost River - Karst Information Portal

Welcome to the caves of Indiana! We hope
you find something to your taste, be it
dry and horizontal or wet and vertical.
Indiana has had a long and sometimes
checkered history of caving. On the one hand,
our universities have produced many fine
scientists who have had cave-related specialties
and interests and on the other hand, we have
produced many party-hearty types. The former
have been responsible for much written about
caves and the latter have been responsible for
much written in caves.
The bad old days of careless attitudes
towards caves are mostly over but unfortunately
you will still find some graffiti and the occasional
pile of trash. Quite a great deal of effort has
been expended by our grottos in the cleaning
and restoration of some of the more abused
caves. The effort continues to this day.
The rural nature of the NSS National
Convention setting belies the fact that
Indiana is the 14th most populated state while
ranking 38th for land area. This makes it one
of the more densely populated states in the
nation. Furthermore, Indiana ranks 46th in
the amount of publicly owned land set aside
for conservation and recreation, with over 96
percent of its land area being privately owned.
My point is that wherever you go, the land—no
matter how wild it seems—belongs to someone,
and that someone may still remember past
problems with “spelunkers.”
Indiana’s organized caving community
has worked hard over the years to establish
good relationships with as many landowners
as possible and to educate them on the value
of their caves, whether it be the relationship to
their drinking water or the lives of the creatures
within. Attitudes towards bats are changing as
well, thanks to favorable press coverage and
classroom science courses. There is even a push
to have the Indiana bat designated the Indiana
State Bat. Please help out by treating with
276
Caving and Conservation in Indiana
By Richard Vernier, Convention Conservation Chairman
respect any landowners you might encounter
and let them know that you appreciate the
opportunity to visit their caves.
In the area of the convention, both the
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
and the Hoosier National Forest are large
landowners. They are aware of the caves on their
properties and take an active interest in them.
They are progressive regarding recreation in
their caves and are very conservation minded.
Studies of cave life have been contracted and
management plans written for many of the caves
on these properties. A number of the employees
of these entities are cavers and will be present
at the convention to answer questions and lead
a few trips. Please respect them and don’t do
anything to the detriment of their relationship
with the caving community.
Similarly, our commercial cave owners are
mostly NSS cavers and are very supportive
of cave conservation efforts. Please be a good
representative of the NSS National Convention
when you visit their properties. Also, try to
be unobtrusive if you are on a tour with noncavers.
Have a great time at the convention, party
all you want at the campground and the Howdy
Party but please be responsible when you cave.
Please respect the landowners (private and
public); and above all, respect the caves and
their inhabitants.
Some things that you can do to help:
• Follow the instructions regarding access.
• Close any gates you open and don’t annoy
the cattle, pigs, goats, skunks, and the
like.
• Be discrete when changing clothes.
• Pack it in, pack it out.
• Stay on established trails.
• Try to avoid muddying cave streams (I
know, that’s going to be hard to do in
Indiana but do your best).
• Don’t hassle the cave critters, even the