Caves & Caving
Jackson County lies in the heart of one of the most cave rich regions in the United States. Literally, hundreds of caves are located in the "Karst" areas of this county on both public and private land. Caves can be extremely dangerous to those unskilled in exploring this underground world.
Caves also harbor numerous species of specially adapted wildlife which are sensitive to disturbance. Two species of federally endangered bats are residents of many of the caves in Jackson County. Both of these species, Indiana Bats as well as Virginia Big-eared Bats, use caves for winter hibernation and/or summer maternity sites. Should you encounter large numbers of bats during a visit to a cave, the best practice is to leave immediately. Bats awakened in the winter may burn up their fat reserves and die before spring feeding begins. During the summer, female bats are extremely sensitive to human disturbance of maternity sites resulting in the abandonment of young.
To do caving correctly and safely for yourself and for other life forms dependent upon these unique ecosystems, it is recommended that you contact a local caving group or "Grotto" for assistance. To find one, we suggest checking with the National Speleological Society.
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy owns and manages over 1,000 acres of Bioreserve along Horse Lick Creek in Jackson County. Phone 606-878-7664 for more information.
For more information about scheduled membership outings in Horse Lick Creek, contact Jim Hays, Director of the Horse Lick Creek Bioreserve.