Zoo Cave Repeat Monitoring and Assessment

Bodenhamer, Hans; Eaton, Gabby; Bigfork MT High School Cave Club

Report documents a summer 2014 monitoring visit to the Zoo Cave in Glacier National Park. Register data from Zoo Cave recorded 30 visitors from September 2009 to September 2014. This averages to 4 visitors per year, but because some visitors may not sign the register, actual visitation may be higher, but we estimate visitation is still less than 10 per year. Photo monitoring and VIP monitoring was established in 2005 and repeated in 2009 and 2014. All methods of monitoring were considered effective. Only one human caused change to features was recorded between 2005 and 2009. The recorded change involved trampling of a few animal scats. Other than this change, a few natural changes were recorded and most monitored resources remained unchanged from 2008 to 2014. Natural changes include wood rat movement of bones and scat, wood rat brought‐in vegetation, plant growth just outside the entrance, and growth and disappearance of hair like features thought to be fungus or nitrate crystals. Deposits that were thought to be to be decayed bat droppings in 2009 were reassessed and are now considered to be decayed wood rat droppings. The cave was more carefully searched for signs of bat use. Due to their work with MNHP and MFWP club members are now more capable at detecting and identifying bat sign. Two areas were located that contain verifiable bat droppings. One area has droppings in a high concentration, suggesting Zoo Cave may be an important site for bats.