Cave and Adit Surveys 



A number of caves and mine adits were located and surveyed for 

 evidence of bat use on the Deer lodge National Forest. Caves that 

 were located and surveyed were: 



Vfest Fork Cave SW 1/4 NW 1/4 Sec 36 T6N R6W 

 Located on the West Fork of Rock Creek just north of State 

 Highway 38 on state land about 1 1/2 miles west of the Rock 

 Creek forks, this is a large shelter cave, about 10 feet high 

 and 25 feet wide at the mouth, and 20 feet deep, with a steeply 

 sloping back wall. There is a chamber to the right of the 

 entrance that ends in about 15 feet. Some cracks in the walls 

 and ceilings extend out of sight and could be used by bats for 

 roosting, ^k^ evidence of bat use was found. The bat detector 

 was enployed for about an hour after dusk, at the mouth of the 

 cave, and no bats were detected leaving the cave. 



Maxville Cave NE 1/4 Sec 16 T8N R13W 



Located in a limestone outcrop about 1/2 mile SE of the 



Boulder Creek road, and clearly visible above the trees, this 



cave is reached by a steep trail through Douglas fir 



forest. The opening is about 15 feet high and 3 feet wide. It 



opens into a room 15 feet deep with an extension that dead-ends 



within several feet and could be a bear den. ^to evidence of 



bat use was found. On September 8 two mist nets were set up 



near the entrance to this cave, and the bat detector was used 



17 



